The vanishing car door was an intriguing concept but proved to be unfeasible in practice.

      Disappearing Car Doors via Internet Archive

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      It’s intriguing how today’s algorithms can unearth old content from the internet and present it to large audiences. Without this phenomenon, the video showcasing an innovative “disappearing car door” system from a now-defunct company called Jatech would likely have been forgotten long ago. There's very little information available about it, but the continuous influx of YouTube comments suggests it will continue to perplex viewers for years to come.

      The video was posted by an account named “Disappearing Car Door” 18 years ago; this, rather predictably, is its sole contribution to the platform. In the three-minute video, we witness demonstrations of the system using two Lincoln Mark VIIIs. These doors have been extended by 10 inches to avoid the car’s original B-pillars and swivel underneath the vehicle as their windows slide down. In another demonstration of a different prototype, we see a door rotate downward without lowering the effective floor of the car, which would be useful since ground clearance seems to be one of the system’s main challenges.

      One might assume that side impact safety would be another concern, but Jatech claimed that their concept not only maintained crashworthiness but actually enhanced it. While details are sparse, the company mentioned a “structural reintegration of the door with the unibody” and a uniquely designed door frame system they referred to as “Cruciform” on their website, which is fortunately still retrievable via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.

      Jatech also asserted that it collaborated with “the finest and most experienced coach builders in the U.S. and Europe” to develop this technology. Additionally, they suggested the presence of some sort of manual override.

      The exact amount of time spent developing this system is unclear, but it appears to have a lengthy background. According to the company, the Lincoln Mark VIII prototypes were allegedly created on Ford’s recommendation after Jatech was invited to visit Ford’s design subsidiary Ghia in Italy. Cadillac also reportedly showed interest.

      However, neither manufacturer moved forward with the concept, and as of 2010, Jatech was still seeking to commercialize its innovation. The company’s website stated in a snapshot from 15 years ago that the “designers of the exciting Disappearing Car Door technology are now prepared to equip your favorite car with our cool, sexy, safe, and convenient automatic car door.” Jatech even offered to “design an original vehicle body” to integrate the technology. Although no such models appear to have existed, the site included sketches of generic sports cars, suggesting that Jatech believed its solution could work across various styles.

      Credit goes to Jatech for the disappearing door’s advantages. The enlarged opening was well-suited for vehicles with rear seating but lacking back doors. The swiveling mechanism also required minimal space when opening, allowing for closer parking alongside other vehicles without the risk of contact. Furthermore, note how the side mirrors on the Mark VIII prototype are mounted on the A-pillar rather than the door, enabling an exiting passenger to use that mirror to gauge when it’s safe to leave the vehicle.

      This alternate model keeps the flip-down door contained within the car’s body. In that respect, it resembles the method BMW used with the Z1, although it’s also more intricate.

      Despite these advantages, the drawbacks appeared to outweigh them. Without more precise information or crash test data to back up the claimed safety benefits, skepticism remains regarding their validity. Even with a manual override, maneuvering such a heavy door could prove challenging, and if it jammed post-collision, it would be problematic.

      Complexity is another evident issue. If you examine the interiors of the converted Jatech vehicles’ doors, you’ll find they are entirely featureless—lacking pockets, design elements, and more. It’s possible the company didn’t prioritize custom door cards for these prototypes or that space and clearance posed significant challenges. Regardless, one has to wonder why Ford and GM did not pursue the idea, especially given that it appeared quite innovative.

      Nonetheless, that simple three-minute advertisement has accumulated over 21 million views on YouTube as of now, indicating that despite its flaws, Jatech accomplished something noteworthy. Who can predict how many views it will garner by the time it resurfaces in our social feeds in another five to ten years?

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