dynamho

Stumbled on a page about rare Mazda - the RX-500. Designed in the 70s, it had innovative messaging tail lamps and doors butterfly doors (Lambo doors), a twist from Mercedes gullwing doors before Lamborghini ran with the concept and made it their 'Kleenex'.
http://www.conceptcars.it/japan/mazda/rx500.htm

Perhaps the first Lotus Esprit, the S1, was inspired by this car's profile.

RX-500 (1970):


Lotus Esprit S1 (1976?):


Oh, it turns out there's a bit of news on this car too:
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/1000

dynamho

Oh, it turns out the Alfa Romeo Carabo was the first one to showcase the "Lambo" doors in 1968.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scissor_doors

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

damn, that's pretty cool.

there's a difference in the doors though. scissor/lambo doors open and move up. butterfly doors move outward.

i love butterfly doors... soo much more than lambo doors.

alfy28

same. ever since i first watched back to the future, butterfly door >>>>>> scissor doors

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

wow that is crazy looking but cool for its time

JRichter

Nice find. Never seen that one before. The high, horizontal back reminds me the original (60's) Lotus Europa which, ironically, was eventually replaced by the Lotus Esprit you mentioned. There was seemed to be a flood of good, interesting concepts that came from that era.

Conundrum

iTrader: (1)

Wait... DeLorean do not have butterfly door, it has gullwing door.