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Jan 20, 2023 11:56:23 GMT
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5 series, too. Not sure if it started with the e34 or e39 though. E34 certainly had it, became quite notorious for rubbing through the wiring to the rear wiper or lights if the glass part of the tailgate was used frequently 😅 Mine was like that, and been repaired bodged at least twice before I got it. After finally getting it open with a Powerprobe, I decided the opening was so small it wasn't worth dismantling the back of the car to fix it again, especially as new looms were over £100 each. The double sunroof was another feature that didn't work as well in practice as it did on paper. Out of the thirtyish cars I've owned, that's the one I liked the least as there was always something that was just off enough to be really annoying. If it had been a saloon, I would have got rid of it much sooner.
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Jan 20, 2023 11:58:44 GMT
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Yes please. In a modern I prefer an up tailgate to side opener. Depends what you're going to put in it; side openers are much better for loading heavy items.
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braaap
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,592
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Jan 20, 2023 12:17:43 GMT
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It took me years to realise the EG Civic had a split tailgate rather than a regular full hatch, always seemed like an odd design choice Did they all come like that? Then I didn't know till yesterday, when Rich showed it in this thread.
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,864
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Jan 20, 2023 12:34:19 GMT
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E34 certainly had it, became quite notorious for rubbing through the wiring to the rear wiper or lights if the glass part of the tailgate was used frequently 😅 Mine was like that, and been repaired bodged at least twice before I got it. After finally getting it open with a Powerprobe, I decided the opening was so small it wasn't worth dismantling the back of the car to fix it again, especially as new looms were over £100 each. The double sunroof was another feature that didn't work as well in practice as it did on paper. Out of the thirtyish cars I've owned, that's the one I liked the least as there was always something that was just off enough to be really annoying. If it had been a saloon, I would have got rid of it much sooner. Ah yes of course the tailgate button was part of that loom as well 😅 mine had evidence of electrical tape on the look before I bought it, I think I used the glass tailgate all of about 4 times in the time I had it, although that was also partly down to it needing new gas struts which seemed awkward to get to so I never changed them! I did enjoy the double sunroof though, although you never really got the full panoramic sunroof experience from it. Mine worked well enough that I sold it separately to someone else with a touring when I broke mine for parts, didn't half weigh a ton when I unbolted it!
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,864
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Jan 20, 2023 12:40:55 GMT
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It took me years to realise the EG Civic had a split tailgate rather than a regular full hatch, always seemed like an odd design choice Did they all come like that? Then I didn't know till yesterday, when Rich showed it in this thread. I believe so! But then this is the same era that the CRX del sol had the equally ridiculous but excellent transtop roof arrangement so I shouldn't be so surprised
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Jan 20, 2023 13:18:54 GMT
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I love them! Modern, again but the Renault Modus had them.
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Jan 20, 2023 22:11:09 GMT
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I love them! Modern, again but the Renault Modus had them. The boot chute! The Modus was first out in 2004 so it's nearly 20.
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I think these are conversions on Land Rovers rather than original spec, using the bottom half from a pickup and the window part of a hard top door.
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,338
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Fairly sure that was an option on Series Landies. I had one in my early teens. By which I mean the hard top, which I mean I built a treehouse in four trees, then sketchily winched the Landie top up on to it. That was an ace treehouse.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,833
Club RR Member Number: 174
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I hate them, but that's mainly because several of our regular customers drive L200/Navara pickups with truckman type plastic bed tops on and it makes it a massive pain to load anything heavy.
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Jan 21, 2023 10:06:05 GMT
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Does the Studebaker Wagonaire count, its glass drops but the roof slides.
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74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
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Jan 21, 2023 10:10:47 GMT
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bloody E34 tailgate!! have had the glass part decide to pop open and act as a spoiler a few times...
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Jan 21, 2023 10:38:32 GMT
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The late 60s Ford US station wagons have what they called the "magic tailgate" which you can roll down the window and drop it, or you can side open it. Its a neat idea. Obviously if you have an electric window in the tailgate (my LTD does despite having manual windows in all the doors) the damn window won't go up and down properly/reliably and the catch which allows it to only drop when the window is right the way down will jam... but its not as bad as what happens to those old GM "clamshells" when they act up!
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jan 21, 2023 11:10:32 GMT
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Those clam shell things look amazing & I’m guessing, as big a pita too
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Jan 21, 2023 11:58:52 GMT
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That Studebaker is just awesome. The Amazon estate prototype had that set up too, but sadly it didn't make it to production.
Many of the examples posted don't appear to be gaining any useful advantage, simply added weight and complexity. I think that they are not worth bothering with if it doesn't drop flat to extend the load bay (and at a comfortable seating height), and doesn't also have a rotating / hinged numberplate.
However, if it does do those, and the top half can be properly controlled (e.g. not just gas rams, but also a way of locking it at different angles), then they are utterly brilliant. I find it easier to load with a drop down tailgate as heavy items can be lowered on more easily by two people due to access to the sides too. Only one side has a gas ram - the other is a locking strut, so if driving with the top open, it is held securely, rather than bouncing around on the rams. Great for either carrying a long load out the top, being able to hold the top closed when the bottom is open, or just have it open only slightly for ventilation (e.g. for dogs).
I love the set up in my Amazon because it is so useful as a reliable and extremely practical workhorse, and that is also the reason my father bought it in 1994, not as a classic car. The only drawback that the Amazon has is in that respect is the lack of a split folding rear seat. That is something that I may remedy one day.
When he first saw it, a uni friend who is a motoring journalist (now editor of one of the major modern car mags) wanted to use it as a wild card in a modern estate car group test to highlight how impractical many modern estates have become in comparison.
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Jan 21, 2023 12:14:20 GMT
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That Studebaker is just awesome. The Amazon estate prototype had that set up too, but sadly it didn't make it to production. Many of the examples posted don't appear to be gaining any useful advantage, simply added weight and complexity. I think that they are not worth bothering with if it doesn't drop flat to extend the load bay (and at a comfortable seating height), and doesn't also have a rotating / hinged numberplate. However, if it does do those, and the top half can be properly controlled (e.g. not just gas rams, but also a way of locking it at different angles), then they are utterly brilliant. I find it easier to load with a drop down tailgate as heavy items can be lowered on more easily by two people due to access to the sides too. Only one side has a gas ram - the other is a locking strut, so if driving with the top open, it is held securely, rather than bouncing around on the rams. Great for either carrying a long load out the top, being able to hold the top closed when the bottom is open, or just have it open only slightly for ventilation (e.g. for dogs). I love the set up in my Amazon because it is so useful as a reliable and extremely practical workhorse, and that is also the reason my father bought it in 1994, not as a classic car. The only drawback that the Amazon has is in that respect is the lack of a split folding rear seat. That is something that I may remedy one day. When he first saw it, a uni friend who is a motoring journalist (now editor of one of the major modern car mags) wanted to use it as a wild card in a modern estate car group test to highlight how impractical many modern estates have become in comparison. Why on earth do you need a ‘rotating hinged number plate’?
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Jan 21, 2023 12:23:56 GMT
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So that the number plate is still visible when the lower tailgate is down (e.g for a long load), and thus the car can still be legally driven! No point having bumper mounted number plates on an estate, as that's where a towbar would be...
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Last Edit: Jan 21, 2023 12:25:01 GMT by Paul H
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Jan 21, 2023 12:44:48 GMT
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The thread title made me think of the older gen Skoda Superb Hinged tailgate. It had two release buttons, one for boot lid only and one for full tailgate opening. Ive never seen it on any other model.
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Last Edit: Jan 21, 2023 13:58:54 GMT by Rich
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Jan 21, 2023 12:46:26 GMT
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So that the number plate is still visible when the lower tailgate is down (e.g for a long load), and thus the car can still be legally driven! No point having bumper mounted number plates on an estate, as that's where a towbar would be... I know exactly why you said it, but it’s gatso proof if you can’t see it
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norm75
Part of things
Posts: 658
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Jan 21, 2023 13:20:30 GMT
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The thread title made me think of the older gen Skoda Superb Hinged tailgate. It had two release buttons, one for boot lid only and one for full tailgate opening. Ive never seen it on any other model. think Skoda has patent on the design, but it begs the question why bother? Got to be more expensive to produce and where is there any advantage over it just being hatchback
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Last Edit: Jan 21, 2023 13:58:30 GMT by Rich
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