The History of Gullwing Doors and Why They Were So Rare

You’ve probably seen them before. Those wild car doors that swing up like the wings of a bird, instead of opening out like normal ones. They’re called gullwing doors, and for years they’ve been one of the most eye-catching, unusual, and downright cool features in the car world. You don’t see them much on the streets of Manchester or Stockport when you’re heading down the A6 or parked up near the Trafford Centre, but when you do, you can’t help but stare. They’ve been in some of the most famous cars ever made, and at the same time, they’ve also been a nightmare for engineers and drivers. Let’s face it, they look amazing, but they come with a lot of baggage.

So why were they so rare? And what’s the story behind them? Let’s break it down in a way that feels less like a boring history lecture and more like us having a chat over a brew.

The First Legend: Mercedes-Benz 300SL (1954-1957)

If you’re talking about gullwing doors, you’ve got to start with the big one. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL. This car hit the scene in the mid-1950s and completely blew people’s minds. It looked like something from another planet compared to the Fords, Austins, and Morris Minors knocking about Britain at the time. Those doors lifted straight up like wings, and suddenly, driving became theatre.

The 300SL wasn’t just a looker. It was the fastest production car in the world when it launched, with its fuel-injected straight-six engine. It was a proper engineering marvel. Celebrities, race car drivers, and wealthy playboys of the day wanted one parked outside their homes. But the gullwing doors were what made it unforgettable.

The funny part is, those doors weren’t originally a style decision. Mercedes had built a racing car with a very strong tubular frame, which made the sides of the car really tall. That design gave the car brilliant strength and handling but left no space for conventional doors. So, the engineers shrugged and said, “Let’s hinge them at the roof.” Out of necessity came an icon.

But, of course, reality bites. Owners quickly realised gullwing doors weren’t ideal. Imagine pulling up in a tight car park in Stockport, only to realise you can’t open the door properly without hitting the ceiling or wall. And if you parked next to another car too close, good luck getting out without clambering through the boot. In the summer, the cabin got stuffy too, since you couldn’t just crack the door open for air.

Still, all the awkward bits couldn’t stop the 300SL becoming legendary. Today, they’re worth millions. People don’t see the impracticality anymore-they just see beauty, innovation, and one of the most famous silhouettes in motoring history.

The Time-Travel Machine: DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1983)

Fast-forward to the 1980s, and gullwing doors got another moment in the spotlight. The DeLorean DMC-12. If you’ve watched Back to the Future, you already know this car. Stainless steel body, brushed metal look, and those doors lifting up like you were about to blast off into space. It was the car that turned into a time machine on the big screen, and that’s enough to make it unforgettable.

In reality, though, the DeLorean story was a bit of a mess. John DeLorean, a former bigwig at General Motors, set out to create his dream car. He wanted it to be futuristic, affordable, and fun to drive. The gullwing doors gave it that wow factor straight away. Parked anywhere in Manchester city centre, you’d draw a crowd instantly.

But the car itself didn’t quite live up to the hype. It wasn’t especially fast, despite looking like it belonged in a sci-fi film. Reliability was hit and miss, and the company was struggling financially almost from the start. Production lasted only a couple of years, and then the whole operation collapsed. The dream faded.

Then came Back to the Future in 1985. The film gave the DeLorean a second life. Suddenly, kids everywhere knew about gullwing doors. The car’s shortcomings didn’t matter anymore. It became cool forever. You could argue that without the film, the DeLorean would’ve been a forgotten flop, but now it’s a cultural icon.

Just like the 300SL, though, gullwing doors brought headaches. If the hydraulic struts weakened, the doors got heavy and could slam down unexpectedly. And in rainy weather, they had a nasty habit of dripping water straight onto your lap when you opened them. So, while they were fun, they weren’t exactly practical for a Manchester drizzle. Still, no one cared-the DeLorean looked like the future.

The Modern Supercar Nod: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (2010-2014)

Mercedes weren’t done with gullwing doors. Decades after the 300SL, they brought the idea back with the SLS AMG. This wasn’t just a sports car; it was a statement. A long bonnet, monstrous V8 engine, and those gullwing doors swinging skyward like a tribute to the original.

The SLS felt like a love letter to Mercedes history. It reminded everyone of the 300SL but with 21st-century muscle. The car could rocket from 0 to 60 in around 3.8 seconds and roar down the motorway like thunder. Imagine pulling up on Deansgate or outside Old Trafford in one of these-the entire street would stop and stare.

But Mercedes also knew the old gullwing problems needed fixing. They added explosive bolts to the hinges, so if the car ever rolled over and trapped the doors, they’d detach and let you out. It sounds extreme, but it solved one of the biggest safety concerns.

For all its theatre, the SLS still had the same daily-life awkwardness. Those doors looked incredible on wide-open roads or outside fancy hotels, but try using them in a Stockport multi-storey car park and you’d start to question your life choices. Even so, buyers didn’t care. The SLS wasn’t built for practicality-it was built for passion, heritage, and showing off.

And honestly? It worked. The SLS cemented itself as one of the greats. It proved gullwing doors weren’t dead-they just needed the right car to carry them.

Family Car with Flair: Tesla Model X (2015-Present)

Now, this one was a real curveball. Tesla decided to bring gullwing-style doors-well, technically “falcon wing doors”-to a family SUV. That’s right, the Model X isn’t a sports car or a concept; it’s a seven-seat electric people carrier.

The logic was actually clever. Normal SUVs can be a pain when you’re trying to get kids in and out in a tight parking space. Tesla’s falcon wings have a double hinge that lets them fold up and out without hitting the car next to you. So, in theory, you could park in a narrow terraced street in Manchester and still load kids into the back with no drama.

But theory doesn’t always match reality. Those doors are packed with sensors and motors to make them work. That makes them complicated and, well, fussy. Early owners complained about glitches, slow opening speeds, and doors that refused to budge if a sensor got confused. It’s a lot of technology for something that should just let you get in and out.

Still, you’ve got to give Tesla credit. They made gullwing-style doors part of everyday life. Suddenly, it wasn’t just millionaires or film stars showing them off. Families could have them too, and that made the Model X stand out in a crowded SUV market. You don’t see many on Stockport roads yet, but when you do, you know instantly what it is.

The Wild Prototypes: Mercedes-Benz C111 and Aston Martin Bulldog

Some of the best gullwing stories never made it to the production line. Take the Mercedes-Benz C111. Built in the late 60s and 70s, it was less of a car you could buy and more of a rolling science experiment. Mercedes used it to test radical engines, including rotary and turbo-diesel setups. Painted in bright orange and fitted with gullwing doors, it looked like something a comic book hero would drive. People expected it to hit showrooms, but it never did.

Then there’s the Aston Martin Bulldog. A one-off wedge-shaped prototype built in 1979, it looked insane even by today’s standards. Gullwing doors added to its spaceship vibes, and it hit 192 mph in testing. But money problems at Aston Martin meant the Bulldog never became more than a dream. Decades later, it was restored, proving that some cars are too wild to be forgotten.

These prototypes show that gullwing doors always stirred excitement, even if the cars themselves didn’t make production. They were statements. Rolling reminders that car design can be about fun as much as function.

The Exotics: Pagani Huayra, Apollo IE, and Melkus RS 1000

Gullwings have also found a home in the wildest of exotic cars. The Pagani Huayra, for example, is an Italian hypercar that costs millions. Its gullwing doors open to reveal a cabin that looks like an art project. Every detail is over the top, and the doors just make it even more dramatic.

Then there’s the Apollo Intensa Emozione (IE). With a name like that, you know it’s not subtle. This car looks like something from a video game, and the gullwing doors fit perfectly with its insane design.

On the other end of the spectrum, you had the Melkus RS 1000 in East Germany during the Cold War. It wasn’t flashy or powerful, but it had gullwing doors. That alone gave it a little flair in a part of the world where most people drove Trabants. It showed that even small manufacturers wanted a slice of that glamour.

So Why Were They Rare?

By now, you’ve probably noticed a pattern. Gullwing doors are showstoppers, but they’re not practical. They’re tricky to design, expensive to build, and awkward to use in tight spaces. They make sense on cars that are meant to be dramatic and rare, but not so much on the everyday runabouts you see driving through Stockport town centre.

You see, most people just want doors that work. Something simple, easy to fix, and reliable. Gullwings, as cool as they look, don’t tick those boxes. That’s why even today, with modern engineering, they’re still rare. They’re best suited to cars that are more about making a statement than popping to Aldi.

At Dace Motor Company, we love seeing rare and unusual cars, and gullwing doors are right up there with the most talked-about designs. But let’s be honest, if you’re in Stockport or Manchester looking for a car that’s reliable, practical, and doesn’t require you to open your doors like a bird flapping its wings, we’ve got you covered.

Our showrooms across Stockport and Eccles are packed with used cars from brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and more. You won’t find a gullwing on every corner, but you will find something that suits your life, your budget, and your driveway. And who knows-if you fancy something unusual, we’ll always help you track it down.

Cars with gullwing doors might be rare, but that’s what makes them so fascinating. They’re a little slice of car history that proves sometimes the most impractical ideas can leave the biggest mark.