Time for reading: 5 min.

What are Lambo Doors and How Do They Work?

Lamborghini originally used upward-rotating doors so drivers could see when reversing. By replacing OEM hinges, Lambo kits allow factory doors to swing upward the same way.
What are Lambo Doors and How Do They Work?

What Are Lambo Doors (Aka "Scissor Doors")?

Although Lambo doors (also described as "scissor doors" or “vertical doors”) have come to be known the world over for exotic styling, they were actually created by Lamborghini strictly as a functional measure. During development of the original LP 400 Countach introduced for 1974, engineers realized traditional swing-open doors made climbing out of the vehicle over high door sills difficult, and backing up impossible due to limited rearward visibility.

1974 Lamborghini Countach With Scissor Doors
Engineers of the original 1974 Lamborghini Countach quickly realized the only way to see when backing up was to position oneself to look over the roof. To allow drivers to do this, scissor hinges were created to get doors out of the way without creating a risk of damage to adjacent vehicles in parking lots.

To see behind the vehicle, doors had to be opened wide – something that proved impractical in real-world use. Lamborghini developed the trademark scissor doors as a practical solution to this dilemma, and they were so well-received that newer Diablo, Murcielago, Aventador, and other models featured them as a matter of course. Ferrari borrowed them to use on their Enzo model, and they make appearances on other low-production specialty supercars regularly.

Scissor Type Hinge
Shown here is the heart of a Lambo door kit – a scissor-type hinge that replaces your vehicle’s OEM ones.

Use of the word scissor to describe these doors caught on because instead of opening out like a traditional car door, they open upward - pivoting at the front of the door just behind the fender the way scissor blades would. Because the engineering behind doors that scissor upward is relatively simple, it’s not hard to take the traditional swing-open doors on most vehicles and adapt them so they open Lamborghini style. In this article, we’ll look at the kits we offer that will transform your vehicle in this fashion.

BMW In Extremely Narrow Garage
Lambo doors aren’t just for looks. They are also an effective, functional solution to extremely narrow garage bays that require cautious and back-wrenching exits from your vehicle to avoid door damage.

Installation Is Not As Difficult As You Might Think

Temporary front fender removal will be necessary in order to install Lambo door hinges, which replace factory original ones. In most cases, modifications to fender and door panels are not required. However, in instances where door edges and fenders do need to be trimmed or fender-mounted turn signals need to be repositioned, you’ll be notified via Fitment Notes that display once a particular make and model is selected in our Product Options field. If this type of custom bodywork is required, we recommend using experienced professionals.

Body-to-door wiring harnesses will require lengthening because doors will travel a greater distance away from the body when fully opened.

Fender / Door Panels Fitment Notes
Modifications to fender and door panels usually are not required. However, in specific instances where door edges and fenders do need to be trimmed or fender-mounted turn signals need to be repositioned, you’ll be notified via Fitment Notes.

Components are all hidden, so no painting to match vehicle colors will be necessary. Some make and models may require modification of any aerodynamic skirts underneath the door sills as well as cutting of front fender or door panel edges. Typically, Lambo door kits provide gas shocks to assist and ease the door opening effort. When fully open, the rear portion of the door is usually higher than the roof of the vehicle. Some kits allow the doors to open as far as 130 degrees.

Each kit comes complete with the necessary hardware and detailed instructions, including a list of the tools that are required. Carefully following these instructions and taking the time to fine tune the adjustments will ensure that the doors shut and latch just like factory. And since the kit is a bolt-on installation with no permanent modifications required, things can always be removed should you wish to return the vehicle to stock condition.

Once installed, doors will swing out normally for 12-18 inches to clear rear fender panels, then rotate upward as they open. To ensure smooth operation that feels like OEM equipment instead of flimsy kit car components, we’ve handpicked only Lambo door kits from manufacturers with proven records of customer satisfaction and build quality.

Lambo Door Kits We Offer

Vertical Doors Lambo Door Conversion Kit For Front/Rear Doors
The Vertical Doors Lambo Door Conversion Kit offers conversion for both front and rear doors on some sedan models.

The Vertical Doors Lambo Door Conversion Kit is available for a wide selection of makes and models, and offers the distinction of optional rear door kits for some sedan models. If you’ve got a 1999-2004 Ford Mustang or Chevy Corvette C5, C6, or C7, Vertical Doors also offers the specialized ZLR Door Conversion Kit.

LSD Doors Lambo Vertical Door Kit For Classic Cars / Trucks
The LSD Doors Lambo Vertical Door Kit offers configurations for a wide range of classic cars and trucks.

LSD Doors’ Lambo Vertical Doors Kit offers kits for a wide selection of vehicles including SUVs, 1980s General Motors A-body coupes (Chevy Monte Carlo/Olds Cutlass Supreme/Buick Regal), 1980s-90s Volkswagen Golf/GTIs, 1988-on Honda Civic/CRX/S2000 models, 1990s sports cars, and many more.

Mazda Miata With Lambo Doors

Browsing through what’s available, you’ll notice each Lambo door kit features one main lead picture and several other pictures that become visible once you enter the product page. Because these pictures don’t show the full range of vehicles a particular kit is produced for, we encourage you to enter your make, model, and year in the Product Options field regardless. If you see your specific car or truck come up in the selection, then the kit you’re looking at has been designed with your vehicle in mind. Any additional variations that may be available (such as rear door kits) will appear in the Product Options field as well.

Lambo Door Kits Gallery

Lambo door kits provide a huge visual bang for your buck, and offer the rare combination of a custom stance when you want it and a stock appearance when you don’t. Not only do they electrify the look of your car when it’s parked, they offer a high degree of functionality when rear visibility is limited or when space to exit the vehicle is scarce. We feel strongly you’ll be satisfied once you install any of our Lambo door kits, and we encourage you to contact us with any inquiries you have by phone seven days a week.

Lambo Doors Guide
Vertical Doors Installation
Shop Now
CARiD FacebookCARiD TwitterCARiD YouTube ChannelCARiD PinterestCARiD Instagram
Inspiration Gallery
All manufacturer names, symbols, and descriptions, used in our images and text are used solely for identification purposes only. It is neither inferred nor implied that any item sold by CARiD.com is a product authorized by or in any way connected with any vehicle manufacturers displayed on this page.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
INFORMATION
CONTACTS