Is the door handle the most-operated mechanism of a car? The steering wheel and accelerator pedal are the most used from a total-time-in-use standpoint, but in individual and complete use-cycles, the door handle has gotta be up there, right? You’re grabbing it every time you get inside the car, after all. (The least-used mechanism, hopefully, is the trunk release – as in, the one that’s inside the trunk.)
With all that handle-grabbing going on, chances are you’ve developed some preferences over the years. I’m old, so I’m still quite partial to the classic thumb-button variety as seen in the top graphic. This design just makes sense. You wrap your fingers over the handle from the top, which is instinctive, and your thumb naturally falls over the thumb button (as long as you’re grabbing the driver-side door handle with your left hand, and the passenger-side with your right, that is). You can press the button and open the door, or not press it and yank on the handle to confirm the door is well shut.
I’m also fond of another, far more modern thumbable design, the Tesla Model 3’s flush-fit, pop-out solution:
Now, it is slightly suboptimal that the thumby bit isn’t under the main pull-y part, which would allow for more natural operation, but having the handle turn down instead of up wouldn’t be nearly as pleasing to look at. I get it.
I’m much less fond of Tesla’s other pop-out handles, these mofos right here:
Trick, yes, but needlessly complex, and they are inoperable if the car is 100% dead (including the 12v battery), and they can freeze over etc. So, no thank you. Moving on …
At this point, you’re probably imagining three or four door-handle types, which feels like all of them. Hardly! Feast your eyes on the cornucopia of handle styles capably curated by one Jason Torchinsky, whom you may know:
And here’s more hot Torch action, as JT presents some choice spottings from the The Amelia Concours d`Elegance in 2023:
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See? The world of door handles is vast and full of bangers, so naming the Greatest Of All Time will be no easy task. But we believe in you! So tell us:
What Is The GOAT Door Handle Design?
Top graphic image: depositphotos.com
I like the push button GM designs from the late sixties. Basically they had a built in last ditch locked your keys inside feature. The Button had to be pushed in for the lock to stay down. if you realized at the last minute, you could release the button as the door swung shut and it would unlock for you.
Probably the tesla model 3 handles, they’re so advanced and oh my god I’m joking. Chevy express/GMC savana handles because I’m not ever afraid of them breaking.
Do we need to add Class 14: Haptic button?
That one definitely does not rank as my favorite.
Surprisingly related question. What’s the best kind of cabinet handle
https://i.etsystatic.com/5711308/r/il/310bfe/5484056810/il_794xN.5484056810_idog.jpg
CLass 11, they just work. You can pull hard when the doors are frozen. Easy to grip for anyone, even captain hook.
As much as I love AMCs and weird French and microcars, the greatest exterior door handles belong to the Miura.
https://www.secret-classics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LamborghiniMiuraSV_11.jpg
I’ll tell you what it isn’t……vertical style from the Pontiac Grand Prix late 80’s to mid 90’s (and their badge engineered cousins). I loved them but wow did they have a significant engineered flaw. The entire weight of a quite-long coupe door loaded up to 1 cast piece that is about 1″ x 0.125″ in total. The things bore so much load they they eventually sheer off, sending you backwards into a snowbank on New Years Eve. Ask me how I know….
Which makes me wonder….are those technically Class 2 swing out? I feel they almost should be their own class. If class 2, would that have been the latest example of that?
would not have been such a big deal if they had adequate Springs to push the door open for you once the latch disengaged. But they did not, and they had to be adjusted more often than most since the connection tot he actual latch would sometimes slide a bit.