Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Circular Door Handles

2011_NEC_Classic_Car_Show_DSC_2175_-_Flickr_-_tonylanciabeta
Over the past few weeks, I’ve asked for suggested topics for Encyclopedia Hoonatica, and our own Kaptain Kamil responded by suggesting today’s topic: circular door handles. He included a photo of a Fiat Ritmo (known as the Strada in the U.S.), which was the first one to come to my mind. Okay, it was the only one to come to mind. Since I was unsure how much runway this topic had beyond that, I did some research on my own and was able to come up with exactly two other vehicles that fit this category. Can the hive-mind uncover some that I’ve missed?
The Caveats (there are always caveats):

  • The actual handle itself does not need to be round, just the overall shape of the backplate.
  • Circular means round, not rounded or oval.
  • It’s okay to think beyond the outside of the driver’s door. Inside door handles, liftgate and cargo door handles are all allowable.
  • Cars, light trucks and heavy duty trucks are all fair game. I think we can safely exclude motorcycles on this.
  • Airplanes? Let’s not go there.

Difficulty: The low hanging fruit is already gone.
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates! Bonus points for adding photos.
Image Source: Wikipedia

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36 responses to “Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Circular Door Handles”

      1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        Your S-Cargo is a better example.

        1. Guest Avatar
          Guest

          S-Cargo is always a better example.

  1. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    1940s Lincolns used circular buttons instead of conventional handles.

  2. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    everyone’s favorite punching bag the HHR
    http://www.moibbk.com/images/chevrolet-hhr-interior-2.jpg

    1. Cameron Vanderhorst Avatar
      Cameron Vanderhorst

      Came here to post this. The door handles on my father’s HHR felt exceptionally cheap.

  3. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    1968 Corvette. The following year (and for the rest of C3 production), they took away the pushbutton and moved the release mechanism to the grip on the top of the door.
    http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/1968-corvette-sting-ray–blue–door-handle–8939-gary-gingrich-galleries.jpg

    1. Jeepster Avatar
      Jeepster

      this is too awesome for words, please tell us this is a Craigslist ad somewhere for sale…..

    2. Tanshanomi Avatar

      If the guy actually managed to hook it up so that twisting it unlatches the door, this is sort of impressive.

  4. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Hmm, well, it’s not exactly “circular”, though it is a closed loop that can take the form of a circle… 911 GT3 RS? (Don’t panic!)
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/2010_Porsche_911_GT3_RS_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%2818%29.jpg/320px-2010_Porsche_911_GT3_RS_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%2818%29.jpg

    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Do you really want a car that’s sticking its tongue out at you?

      1. Batshitbox Avatar
        Batshitbox

        Do you really want to grab that tongue to close the door? That’s the real question.

  5. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Mini (of BMW MINI) Cooper interior door releases are round. The exterior handle has a round backplane.
    http://americancarcraft.com/images/F47376486.jpg

  6. The Real Number_Six Avatar
    The Real Number_Six
    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I either deeply love or detest the looks of this car, depending entirely on the angle of the photo. This one is love.

      1. The Real Number_Six Avatar
        The Real Number_Six

        Understandable – it’s not the most graceful thing on the road. But my goodness it’s a desirable car.

        1. spotarama Avatar
          spotarama

          first (and only) one i saw over here was being pushstarted out of a gas station by some highly amused but quite helpful chaps
          i settled for highly amused at a distance

  7. Drives Dead Marques Avatar
    Drives Dead Marques

    The first version of the Chevy Aveo had round almost everything inside.

  8. Citric Avatar
    Citric

    The Renault Twingo used a circle in an interesting way.
    http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Renault/Renault-Twingo-Exterior-Image-012-1024.jpg

    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      And the Mk1 as well, (see below.)

  9. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    Early Austin-Healey Sprites didn’t have exterior door handles. They did have an interior handle:

  10. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    one of my first thoughts was the Citroen 2CV. While the door handle is not a perfect circle, you rotate the handle just like a door knob
    http://c8.alamy.com/comp/A5NFPR/2cv-door-handles-detail-of-an-old-old-1960s-era-red-citroen-2cv-granada-A5NFPR.jpg

  11. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    The C2 Corvette interior handle doesn’t feel like it fits the criteria, but the handle is circular. Spheres are circular.
    http://www.corvsport.com/Corvette/C2/1964/Images/1964_Corvette_Driver_Door_Interior.jpg

  12. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Chrysler_Crossfire_convertible_interior_open.JPG
    What about glovebox handles? For some reason, the Crossfire’s sticks with me.

    1. Texlenin Avatar
      Texlenin

      Rover, think I could whittle that second one (Trapeze?) outta a rusty Fiat X1/9 and
      some skillfull fiberglas work.

  13. jim Avatar
    jim

    Is it still a door handle if it’s not on the actual door ? Can THAT be considered a door in the first place ? Who cares, have some Stratos Zero :