When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok.....I'm gonna go down this road because I am curious. I see a lot of 4 door cars on this site so I am sure this will come with it's consequences but again, I am curious and I mean no ill will.
Growing up, I had several family members who were very involved in the car industry. Because of that I grew up around cars old and new. It seemed like I was attending some type of car event every weekend. At 16, I started judging for a fairly big yearly show (500-600 cars). During that time period (late 70's through early 90"s) you never saw a 4 door at a classic or show car event. In fact, it was frowned upon! There seemed to be an un-written rule that you just avoided 4-doors at all costs.....they weren't worth anything......and restoring them was foolish. If someone did, they didn't dare bring it anywhere near a show or cruise. I actually know of car shows that just flat out didn't allow them! To this day, I have to admit that I still have that 2-door snob mentality. So of course, 4 doors seem to be everywhere now. I can't go to a cruise or a show without seeing at least 2-3 sedans there. Even now this strikes me as odd. So I am curious......what are others thoughts on this?
Are you just happy to see a car being restored?
Could care less?
Is there anyone else willing to admit they used to think about 4 doors like me?
Last edited by StarRacer; May 9, 2021 at 08:00 AM.
I don't know anyone who was ever as extreme as that in regard to their attitude toward four-doors. I also never heard of a car show that would turn away a car because it had four doors. I wouldn't participate in a show with an attitude like that.
Four-door cars are becoming more popular because all the two-doors are used up. It's the same reason that station wagons are becoming more popular.
I don't know anyone who was ever as extreme as that in regard to their attitude toward four-doors. I also never heard of a car show that would turn away a car because it had four doors. I wouldn't participate in a show with an attitude like that.
Four-door cars are becoming more popular because all the two-doors are used up. It's the same reason that station wagons are becoming more popular.
Well.......nice to meet you. Trust me, I lived it!
Well.......nice to meet you. Trust me, I lived it!
I don't deny what you said. I'm just saying that I, in my nearly 30 years of attending and helping to stage car shows, have never encountered the attitudes you describe.
When these cars were new, four doors = family cars. We avoided them like the plague and considered them parts cars. Two doors outsold more doors well into the 1970s, because they looked cooler and Americans weren't morbidly obese and could still fit into the back seat.
Over the years I've dismantled some nice 4 door cars using parts for 2 doors. Kinda wish I could turn back the clock to undo that. Just as I've dismantled some full sized cars, nice 2 door full sized just for the engines. But I feel times have changed somewhat. I can appreciate any old car that's being restored or cared for. Heck, I'd take the time to walk around an old Rambler I saw in a store parking lot now!
I don't deny what you said. I'm just saying that I, in my nearly 30 years of attending and helping to stage car shows, have ever encountered the attitudes you describe.
X2^^^^^ I attend may shows and never have heard of a more door not being allowed, I have 1 and its probably as sporty as yours. You and a few others are admittingly judgmental but the majority of us like all types of vintage cars, IMHO I could care less what you or others think and the car club I'm in always wants me out cruising with them.
When these cars were new, four doors = family cars. We avoided them like the plague and considered them parts cars. Two doors outsold more doors well into the 1970s, because they looked cooler and Americans weren't morbidly obese and could still fit into the back seat.
See? This makes sense and explains some of the thoughts back then.
When these cars were new, four doors = family cars. We avoided them like the plague and considered them parts cars. Two doors outsold more doors well into the 1970s, because they looked cooler and Americans weren't morbidly obese and could still fit into the back seat.
I'll take this even further, we also avoided 6cyl cars, most big luxury cars, station wagons, and pickup trucks.
I've seen some very nice restorations of 4-door cars, especially in the past 5 or so years, at car shows. I like to see them, as well as the 6cyl cars (recently saw a restored '68 6cyl F85), station wagons (saw a '69 unrestored VC a couple of years ago), and pick-up trucks just because they are a somewhat unique feature at car shows. If it's a muscle car, a family sedan or a work vehicle, they are all classics to me and it is great to see the variety on display.
Randy C.
PS: My wife's first car was a '63 Ford Galaxie 4-door and I refer to it as her "chic-mobile" as it seemed to me that during my teenage years all the cars the girls drove were 4-doors! I've showed her some nice 2-door '63 Galaxies for sale but she tells me that if she ever got one it would be a 4-door!
Last edited by rcorrigan5; May 9, 2021 at 10:14 AM.
Jay Leno has a 4 door Coronet with a Hemi in it. Price is one of the big reasons 4 door cars are more popular than they used to be. Most of the 2 door cars have been restored or resto-moded and the prices have gone through the roof. Four doors offer and alternative.
When I was in high school bullies used to beat up kids for driving four doors. Everyone made fun of anyone that did something to a four door to try to make it into something. Factory four door performance cars were rare and unusual, and only barely accepted because they had big blocks and three pedals.
During the Yuppie era they were rebranded as "performance sedans". Enthusiasts attitudes began to slllooowwwwly change. Then the big three's design teams caught up. Now one of the most badass fast cars Chrysler has doesn't even come in a two door.
When I was growing up no one I knew would have considered restoring a four door, for me I probably just preferred 2 doors because that's what I grew up with, we had a small family and 4 doors weren't required so all the family cars were 2 doors.
Now that being said I now would have no problem with a more door restoration, while 2 doors seem to dominate the car shows I am seeing more and more 4 doors in fact there was a guy with a 1969 Buick Electra 4 door at the last cruise in, stunning restoration I would have been damn proud to be the owner !! I'm all for restoring any old vehicle to preserve a bit of history no matter how many doors they have !!
and consider this imagine walking the streets of Any Where USA 1930's,1940's, 1950's, 1960's look at the cars parked or driving down the street
they were not all 2 doors. Add me to the fine with four list.
Back in the day, we were grateful to get just about anything that ran, cars in the salt belt of Montreal where I lived as a kid was had a death sentence at an early age unless they were stored for winter. Up in our part of Canada, a lot of Chevrolet and Pontiac sedans were the best sellers. Pontiacs in Canada were based on Chevy chassis. The 4-doors were very handy for transporting band equipment and other bulky items. The sleeper factor was great, we would stuff larger engines into them, ditch the Powerglides for THM 350's or 400's. Oldsmobiles factored a lot into our past with the requisite (455) Cutlass models, and very rusty 442's as well. The Cutlasses were mostly 4-door hardtops and a few sedans. One sleeper, a 455 71 Delta 88 was one of the stock cars to beat in the days of smog equipment in its infancy. That car moved like crazy, the cars got respect for how they moved, nobody cared about a less door or a more door. Same with a 57 4-door Chevy that would appear at the Friday night drag races, that car was the top choice to win a race. I never recall any hate, or dismissing the 4-doors back in the day. I got my enlightenment of this subject as the internet shrunk our world. Subjectively some cars have much better lines in the 4-door models versus the less door models. Take a look at the side view of a 1975 Cadillac 2-door, it looks (subjective) clumsy and way too long with that long door and really long quarter panel. The nose looks stubby in comparison for lack of a better term, they were actually huge cars as we know. The shorter doors and larger side opening overall bring the shape of the car into better balance. Perhaps a better roof line like Chrysler, GM and Ford 2-door had in the late 1960's would have helped the look of the Cadillac, but roof rollover standards were coming into effect. Fate brought to me the vehicles I have now, including a 72 Vista Cruiser, 66 Ninety-Eight LS, 80 Eagle sedan. Yawn to some, but to conclude, many folks fix up a car for themselves, what they like, and the stories that go with them, not the value that goes with them in a money sense, and certainly not to feel like they will be more 'in' or accepted the 'me too' crowd. Never mind what others think, enjoy your rides for your own smiles per mile!
Back in the day, we were grateful to get just about anything that ran, cars in the salt belt of Montreal where I lived as a kid was had a death sentence at an early age unless they were stored for winter. Up in our part of Canada, a lot of Chevrolet and Pontiac sedans were the best sellers. Pontiacs in Canada were based on Chevy chassis. The 4-doors were very handy for transporting band equipment and other bulky items. The sleeper factor was great, we would stuff larger engines into them, ditch the Powerglides for THM 350's or 400's. Oldsmobiles factored a lot into our past with the requisite (455) Cutlass models, and very rusty 442's as well. The Cutlasses were mostly 4-door hardtops and a few sedans. One sleeper, a 455 71 Delta 88 was one of the stock cars to beat in the days of smog equipment in its infancy. That car moved like crazy, the cars got respect for how they moved, nobody cared about a less door or a more door. Same with a 57 4-door Chevy that would appear at the Friday night drag races, that car was the top choice to win a race. I never recall any hate, or dismissing the 4-doors back in the day. I got my enlightenment of this subject as the internet shrunk our world. Subjectively some cars have much better lines in the 4-door models versus the less door models. Take a look at the side view of a 1975 Cadillac 2-door, it looks (subjective) clumsy and way too long with that long door and really long quarter panel. The nose looks stubby in comparison for lack of a better term, they were actually huge cars as we know. The shorter doors and larger side opening overall bring the shape of the car into better balance. Perhaps a better roof line like Chrysler, GM and Ford 2-door had in the late 1960's would have helped the look of the Cadillac, but roof rollover standards were coming into effect. Fate brought to me the vehicles I have now, including a 72 Vista Cruiser, 66 Ninety-Eight LS, 80 Eagle sedan. Yawn to some, but to conclude, many folks fix up a car for themselves, what they like, and the stories that go with them, not the value that goes with them in a money sense, and certainly not to feel like they will be more 'in' or accepted the 'me too' crowd. Never mind what others think, enjoy your rides for your own smiles per mile!
I have owned a boat load of cars since I bought my first car at 14. The only older four door cars that I have owned were wagons. Vista Cruisers and Sport Wagons. To say four door cars were much cheaper than two doors back in the day doesn't hold so much weight. Sure they were cheaper but all cars were. I paid 300 for my SX. My first Olds was a two door 69 Cutlass. White blue top and interior. Buckets console air and otilt. I paid 800 for that car. 1500 for my original owner 70 442. Factory OAI. Factory dual gate. Rally red car. Back in the 70's-80's you couldn't give muscle cars away. One of my brothers paid 750 for a factory 440 6 bbl 69 Road Runner. Another paid 1500 for his 70 W-31. One big factor in older four door cars is the cost to "restore" them. You can't get your money spent generally out of a two door restoration. Four door? Good luck on that.
I have no problem with four door cars. Just not the flair of a two door. In today's market four door cars are much more accepted. Look at the Charger? Hellcat Charger? Come on now. Take that in a heartbeat. Hell I drive a four door 99 Lexus 280k on it. I love it. Apples and Oranges comparing today's cars to the older cars.
Last edited by no1oldsfan; May 9, 2021 at 01:24 PM.
In my opinion, first thing to throw to trash-bin is the current/incoming ( after restoration) value of your car.
You like it? Forgot the rest, do it to your liking, 2 or 4 or better yet, 5 doors.
I take that attitude always. Who gives an F what someone else likes better. It's all opinion. Plenty of mustang fans out there. You couldn't give any mustang that I would keep. Zero. It's all personal opinion.
I don't know where you guys grew up, but I never got beat up because I drove a 4 door. In fact it was just the opposite. When someone has a car and someone else does not, the someone becomes a bit of a hero. My first car, which I still own, was a 70 Cutlass 4 door sedan. I bought it from a girl in high school. She graduated and got a good job and wanted something new. She told me everyone in her class liked her car the best because they could stuff more people in it to ditch study hall and go to 7-11.
I drove what I could afford. I lived in the rust belt and most kids in school had 4 door cars that were rusted up to the windows. They were hand-me-downs and it beat walking. By the way, my car had the exact same drivetrain as a "way cooler" two door Cutlass S would have had, 350 automatic, two barrel and peg leg. It would -smoke- anything the anemic 80s had to offer. You want performance, go ahead and build it. Nothing better than a 4 door sleeper whooping a Camaro or a Mustang.
I too had the attitude to avoid 4 doors, but back in 2008 was looking for a Buick Skylark 4 speed car found a 4 door 4 speed that was restored nicer than any 2 door in my price range, proceeded to drive it for the next 4 yeats as a daily driver, one of the better purchase, now have a appreciation for any older car no matter how any doors.
Four door cars use to be considered parts cars. They tended to be less abused, less molested, abd cheaper. That all started to change about 15-20 years ago. The first 4door that I can recall that caught my eye was the 94 Impala.
It’s hard to argue that a 4 door is more practical. The argument that 2 door cars are considered more “sporty” is a matter of opinion and to be honest, highly subjective.
I have noticed 4 door cars at car shows recently. I personally have no problem with them, especially if the have a interested history or story. I have never personally seen or heard or anyone turned away from a show for trying to enter a 4 door car, and I’d have a serious problem if they did. Maybe if that show would limit Camaro or mustang entries to no more than 4 total they might be allowed to shun a 4 door car?
A few production numbers, just for grins. I just spot checked a few years (1964, 67, and 70) from Helen Early's numbers in Setting the Pace. These are A-body totals only. 2drs include Club/Sport Coupes, Holiday Coupes, and Convertibles. Wagons include flattops and Vistas.
It seemed back in High School all I thought about was how a car would look modified (L60's craigers, headers, etc) . The few 4doors that other kids had done that to looked wrong. I still vividly remember a 63 Falcon 4 door all jacked up in the rear, etc. So 4 doors didn't fit my desires. But, after I got older and have become more nostalgic about my younger years I fully embrace 4 doors as stock original looking cars. Still not a fan of "hot rodded" 4doors, but I love original ones. But, how can you explain it? Something turned you on when you saw it as a 15 year old and you still get turned on when you see it today! On another site someone asked what people thought about the old sixties show cars, ( orange crate,
stage coach express and others I can't think of now), I said I loved them, even though they are absolutely worthless as a functioning car....
Someone on this forum has a beautiful blue 70 Cutlass 4 door that he can't seem to sell, and that is kinda sad. I think there's still a big prejudice against 4 doors, one that I do not share, although I did years ago. Now, I hate to see any car in decent shape stripped for parts when it looks restorable, or enjoyed as is, simply because it's not worth much. But, you can't save all of them.
Back when I was in High School in 1988 I was always teased about driving my Emerald Green 1973 Cutlass Town Sedan with a peeling black vinyl top. The only person that got teased worse than me was my friend who would buy station wagons for $75.00. I always wanted a classic Oldsmobile but could never afford them. Over twenty-three years ago I finally bought my classic for $3,000.00 which nobody wanted because it was a 1969 Cutlass Supreme Holiday Sedan. At that time I took it to a few car shows, but no one would give it any interest because it was a four door. I stop taking it to shows after that and just drove it for enjoyment. About three years ago I started having people start yelling out nice car when I would drive it past them. After that I started my restoration of it. The restoration was harder and more expensive because all of the unique four-door and Supreme parts. Shortly after having it painted and changing over to Rally wheels I went took it to my first all Oldsmobile show. I was just going to show it and not enter it into the judging. When I went to register it the guy at the table told me how they never see four doors and that I should have it judged. Then he said that if I didn't have the money he would pay to have it judged. That threw me for a big loop, and I paid to have it judged. During the show, I was amazed about how many people said they liked it because it was a four-door. Then when the judge came over, he said do you know how rare this car is. I told him that I thought there would be between somewhere between 75-100 of the 1969 Holiday Sedans left. He told me that he doubts that there are 50 left in the world. That car show my Supreme took first place in it's category. Since that time I have only entered it into a couple of non Oldsmobile shows but I still get a lot of people talking about how they like it because it is a four-door.
No hate for 4 doors from me. I will admit, my tastes have changed along with the offerings from the OEMs over the years. Now, you just don't see many two door new cars. Hell, when Chevy was still making the Monte (last gen 95-07), I used to joke -- and still do, when I see them -- that I bet the interior reeks of cigarette smoke and has multiple burns in the carpet and upholstery. Sadly, it's often true. And there's usually an Earnhardt sticker somewhere on the car.
