Roadsters in the old days had low-cut doors with no roll up windows. As does this Ford pickup, for one reason or another. But since it’s still sporting its roof, it’s only half-way there to being a genuine roadster.
Or more like one-third of the way, as the passenger side door is still intact. Does the owner like a bit more fresh air than average, or?
There are a few trucks with the “half door” modification that run around here. I’ve seen a couple Bronco IIs including one that had other sawzall work and a conduit frame to make it a convertible, and an older Toyota pickup or two. I know at least one of the BIIs has a set of winter doors that are still intact, but not matching.
A real puzzler. Perhaps damage to upper door, and this what the solution was? But, why not just replace the door from a junk yard?
When these were new it was common for smaller municipalities to cut the doors down for parking patrol work .
Often they’d do seriously crude and unsafe right hand drive conversions too .
This one looks so chopped up I bet it’s a Bubba or Farm fix typ deal .
-Nate
Heh. Maybe the owner has exceptionally long upper arms . . . ? Note also (I think) a steering-wheel knob. How many names for that rare device are there ? I can’t think of one, now . . .
Are you thinking of a possible Orangutan owner to explain the monkey business door? Please forgive my insult to orangutans if an insensitive insult is perceived.
I always called the steering wheel knob a spinner. We used to use them on tractors without power steering.
I’ve always called them “suicide knobs” and I’ve also heard ’em called “necker’s knobs” 🙂 .
On modern cars it’s difficult to hang your arm out the window. You know all that safety junk is in the way. Still I like to roll up my windows when it’s cold or raining, so I’m not sure this mod worked out.
I would guess that this was modified for newspaper delivery. With an elastic around the paper, the modifications allow for arm movement and the paper for a good toss.
That’s my guess, too. Throwing them out the passenger side doesn’t require a cut down door on that side, and the knob on the steering wheel allows driving and flinging at the same time.
Yeah, I never thought of that, but very plausible. Knew someone back in the day that did that for a living. Bet that is a very lost profession now. I live outside Louisvillle Ky. A metro area of over 400,000+ and our daily newspaper Courier-Journal, been around since the early to mid 1800’s. Now looks like a small towns weekly paper! Smaller overall size, and very few sections. No one reads newspapers anymore!
The Hello Kitty magnet is a nice touch!
Perhaps this vehicle is actually owned by a Mad Max-esque, Hello Kitty-loving survivalist who cut down the door to better fire weapons out at the coming zombie hordes. I mean, sure, a paper delivery modification makes more sense, but why not try for the colorful explanation? 😉
Maybe originally owned by an RFD operator who didn’t what to spring for a RHD Cherokee? Reminds me of the cut down door Dodge panels the Post Office used back in the mid 50s.
Funny, it’s the opposite of current F-150s, where the belt line is cut down at the front of the door.
Knew two RFD carriers that did this, one an early Datsun pickup, the other a Studebaker Lark. Suspect many uses, on my uncles ranch, working as a teen one of the 40’s Chevies had half a door so we could lean over and turn on/shut off valves and levers without getting in and out of the truck a hundred times a day. It also makes sense for a paper carrier in a small cab. Know one guy who has had a variety of large American cars for rural delivery. The Biggest, his ’64 Imperial Crown 4 door. With windows down there is plenty of fling room.
Names form the past …Wheel spinner, Necker knob, Suicide knob.
I have 2 mounted on my lawn tractors makes the job much easier and frees up my right hand for cold water or a cold one while cutting the lawn.
Excellent input on the functionality of the cut down door ad one good piece of humor or two about the size of the guy who might be the driver. I tend to think that function is the reason. I would not have thought of these uses. Thanks guys!
When using the truck on a challenging four wheel drive trail, the cut out makes it easier to lean out and see what your tires are doing on the driver side.