"Disappearing door" Lincoln concept turns up on eBay

It's not often we cover fourteen year old cars 'round here, but it's also not often that a rare concept vehicle with crazy "disappearing" doors turns up on eBay. That's what happened to this one-of-a-kind Lincoln Mark VIII, which narrowly avoided the scrap heap back in the day and apparently went on to make one owner very happy all these years. As the story goes, Lincoln commissioned Joalto Design to modify the car after worrying about its ability to fit in tight parking spaces. Joalto's solution was to have the door slide under the car, a process that turned out to be surprisingly graceful (check out the video at the link below). For some unknown reason, Lincoln turned 'em down and ordered the vehicle destroyed. Needless to say, that didn't happen, and this piece of automotive futurism could now be yours for the right price (Iast we checked bidding was around the $19,000 mark with the reserve not yet met).

[Via SlashGear]

[belcho @ Jul 11th 2007 8:25PM]

Very cool. Wonder what kind of side impact those doors can take?

[Rob @ Jul 11th 2007 8:43PM]

I was wondering the very same thing. I know is not a car that went into production, but there are no arm rests, or windows switches on them.

I think that that concept would've worked. Now, the safety aspects of it as far as side impact protection is where it gets a bit questionable.

[Electromodo @ Jul 11th 2007 8:49PM]

Well, when I see all that Wranglers without doors or UPS tracks, I think some people would hardly care of the safety.

Otherwise the concept is just great (you can add retractable arm rests on the side of the seats or smth. like that for better comfort).

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 11th 2007 9:37PM]

I think we can all agree that they have the "visual impact" thing pretty well established though, right?

IE: It looks really cool.

[Secret Asian Man @ Jul 11th 2007 8:52PM]

Obviously this particular car doesn't have any side air bags, but I see no reason why you couldn't integrate one into that concept. I'm guessing the hydraulics is under the car and not in the door.

I'm more concerned with the door's capability to help reinforce the cabin's cage from crumpling from a front or rear collision.

[Blackstar @ Jul 11th 2007 10:36PM]

Yeah, but is it an Autobot or a Decepticon?

[Martin Trautmann @ Jul 12th 2007 4:58AM]

Naybe it's obvious because of the age - but I do not see any technical reason against installing side airbags in the door.

[groundZ @ Jul 11th 2007 9:01PM]

Umm, the armrest is right there on the pic, tacked on to the side of the seat.

[Casey S @ Jul 11th 2007 9:12PM]

Now that my friends is an ugly-ass car.

[Mo @ Jul 11th 2007 9:18PM]

Cant wait till its car jacking season again!

[Josh @ Jul 11th 2007 9:31PM]

So I guess if your battery dies, you're fucked? Not to mention the moving parts.

K.I.S.S.

[Owen V @ Jul 11th 2007 9:31PM]

its hard to see, is the driver's side the same or is it a standard door?

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 11th 2007 9:35PM]

'Said, son you're gonna drive me to drinkin' if you don't stop modding that
Hot
Rod
Lincoln!

[Warhorse @ Jul 12th 2007 9:31AM]

HA! Perfect post!

[Dave @ Jul 11th 2007 9:53PM]

Read the fine print -- the driver side door is already broken. Somehow the coolness factor is a little lacking when you have to climb in on the passenger side. Might as well paint it orange and put a confederate flag on top.

[densone @ Jul 11th 2007 10:48PM]

The only thing I can think of is if I rolled that piece of shit into a lake and tried to get out. Go Go Gadget door.. With my luck, my jeans would be caught in the door too. ..not to mention the huge ass compressor in the trunk. What if someone rear ended that thing. You would be hit by an exploding air tank. I would totally hack it to ride with the doors open. Like Jeep.

[Paul @ Jul 12th 2007 12:47PM]

If your car is sinking in a lake, the pressure won't allow you to get the door open anyway. It's out the window or nothing.

[Mr. B @ Jul 11th 2007 11:49PM]

It would be a hell of alot easier to get into this car in tight quarters than any other car (except a delorean, lambo, etc)

[nicleT @ Jul 12th 2007 1:20AM]

This car will be full up of snow in a second in a heavy winter storm !

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jul 12th 2007 2:12AM]

Video Of the Door in Action!
http://www.ronsusser.com/images/movietest/857.swf

[birddog @ Jul 12th 2007 2:22AM]

man that thing moves a bit faster than i expected! that sucks the driver door's broken though & his "skilled mechanic" who fixed the pass. side couldn't figure it out. also no window on the driver's side? ouch. and um, the trunk space is interesting.. not really sure what to think there. looks like pvc & wire spaghetti are on the menu. then there's that deadly air tank densone mentioned.. too bad mythbusters wasn't around back then. they could have at least aimed the thing the other way.

um something positive, something positive.. teh interior looks stock-ish. wtf is that gauge in the glove box (i think) though? can't read it. i got level but i think i see a niner in the first word.

15k+? why not? honestly if i had the money to collect cars i'd consider it. wouldn't pay more than say a c6 costs though.

[sean @ Jul 12th 2007 6:21AM]

DeLoreans require 14" of clearance to open - IIRC that's the smallest of any gullwing car.

This car obviously requires much less than 14" of space to get into.

[R1cebrner @ Jul 12th 2007 8:14AM]

Maybe the Window Switch is in the middle of the car like on bmws. The window goes up and down. If it isn't already there it shouldnt be too hard to make it

[Steve @ Jul 12th 2007 8:48AM]

No wonder this never made it to production. Take a look at the startup sequence:
http://www.ronsusser.com/scripts/ebay/view.asp?i=857/41.jpg

[Ray-- @ Jul 12th 2007 10:04AM]

hate to open that door during a brisk winter storm... lol nothing like a wide open orfice in your car to collect blowing snow/rain..

[atf3 @ Jul 12th 2007 9:25PM]

I remember this car from the 2001 Woodward Dream Cruise. It passed me while I was watching the cruise in front the car audio shop where I used to work. The doors dropping below the car as it passed was definitely something to see. Dreamed of all the attention I'd get -- if my car did this -- for weeks. Didn't hear much about it until three years ago when a co-worker mentioned of working on the project. Definitely a sweet ride, especially when its right in front of you

[PJ @ Jul 12th 2007 10:08PM]

The drivers door is damaged & not working. You are one step away from being locked up inside a sardine can. According to someone who said they saw this car up close & personal, once the doors go under the car, there is zero clearance, so if you park over a rock or a bottle or a can or anything & open the remaining door .... CRUNCH! ... And that's assuming that you perfectly follow the start up instructions Steve's comment linked to! Can you imagine having to jack up the whole car just because your remaining door is all jacked up on a rock underneath it? LOL! BTW - where is the jack on that car, anyway - under the trunk hydraulics?

[jorgemsousa @ Jul 12th 2007 11:39PM]

Pretty cool car for the A-team.