no driver door key hole?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 5
From: Southern California
no driver door key hole?
Anyone ever see a 59 truck with a driver door that doesn't have a key hole? It locks by pushing the inside handle down which means you gotta go out the pass side. I've seen probably 150 of these trucks and this is the first I've seen that. Odd
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
For many years, it was standard practice for drivers to lock the left door, then slide across the seat and exit from the right door.
Back then, many streets didn't have painted lines separating lanes. Traffic was chaotic, with vehicles whizzing *****-nilly all over the place.
So it wasn't a good idea to open the left door, then step out into traffic. Old movies from the 1930's/40's, especially made by Warner Bros., show this occurring on a regular basis.
In "High Sierra" (WB:1941) Bogie, playing Roy Earle, an ex convict recently released from prison, pulls up to the curb in his '38 Plymouth coupe.
He slides across the seat, exits the right side, then walks into an apartment building to meet with his boss...who has planned a robbery of a swanky resort hotel that he wants Earle to commit.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 940
Likes: 4
From: Illinois
Now thats funny.
My 60 does NOT have a key hole on the drivers door.
Wonder how hard it would be to add it? Kinda a pain is the dupa if you ask me.
My 60 does NOT have a key hole on the drivers door.
Wonder how hard it would be to add it? Kinda a pain is the dupa if you ask me.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 113
Likes: 1
From: Central Ca.
No Keyhole
My 59 did not have one. I moved it from the passengers side to the drivers side. Even though it was upside down, I didn't care and it worked well. Now that I'm in a frame off restor, I'll have them on both sides. Bill, I was impressed by your comments. I've seen people exit from the passengers side in many old movies and thought of that when I found the lock on passenger side.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 585
Likes: 11
From: Upper penninsula
My 59 standard cab has only the right side lock also. Back in the 50's, very few people even bothered to lock their vehicle doors. I live most of the year in Upper Michigan, and I rarely lock my doors even today. My truck had an Oklahoma title, so I imagine it was from a rural area. 55 years ago the population was half of what it is today, and much more rural. Car theft rates in these areas were pretty low
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 564
Likes: 2
I chose to round out the hole and weld in a patch. I'll just put remote electric locks in. Might as well just add an alarm.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
No Model T came with a radio, heater, push button starter or even a M/T, so there was no clutch pedal to push.
Starter introduced in 1912 Cadillac and for many years thereafter, if the vehicle wasn't started w/a crank (many were), there was a pedal on the floor or on the firewall you mashed your foot on to start the vehicle.
1928/31 Model A's came with a door lock cylinder on the right side only as did many newer cars into the 1940's.
The following 'deluxe' old rolling pile of misery I once owned: 1942 Merc Woodie, 1946/47 Ford Woodies, 1948 Ford Coupe all came with left & right door lock cylinders as did my 1939 Packard Super 8.
But, AFAIK, F100/1100 Standard Cabs didn't come with both as standard equipment until 1964.
btw: The Model T was the perfect family car. It had a hood for father, a cowl for mother and a rattle for baby.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Interesting, Bill - I knew you'd have the skinny on that. But you didn't answer my question - or probably didn't frame it correctly - early autos didn't have any theft protection at all, except maybe the high end stuff? Of course the really early stuff was all high end, but you see where I'm going with this.
Other than a lock and chain, nobody had a way of securing these things back in the day, maybe pull the coil wire and take it with them.
Sent from my iPhone using IB AutoGroup
Other than a lock and chain, nobody had a way of securing these things back in the day, maybe pull the coil wire and take it with them.
Sent from my iPhone using IB AutoGroup
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Doesn't the above answer the question?
