"I remember reading somewhere ,that they were referred to as suicide doors by some. Because, the earlier cars had a lot of "shift" from the wood in the body so the doors rarely closed correctly and the insufficient door "locking mechanisms " that where used "on some" at the time.

So if you where to turn them around they would catch the wind (I assume after you beef up the motor ) and would swing open because of this

not saying "they can not be made to close correctly" or that this is correct "I just remember reading it

Maybe some one can enlighten us?