locks on 41 plymouth

MRR41 COUPE · November 18, 2010, 04:52:00 PM

Thanks John, So the trunk and door is keyed the same, thanks again.
Mike

John Hendricks · November 18, 2010, 10:38:05 AM

I recall from my youth in the 40s and 50s, all the Dodges and Plymouths at my dad's dealership were keyed with one key - the hex shape - for the ignition and the round key for the door, trunk and glovebox. Same applies to my 40 PU -"commercial car" in those days.

41PlySD · November 18, 2010, 09:56:23 AM

Quote from: Lindsay McConnell on November 18, 2010, 08:58:54 AM
Don't know about you guys, but, the 41's I own are the only cars that make it impossible to lock your keys in the car!
Have not done this in a while, but I don't want to jinx myself either!

Amen Lindsay...I always liked my late 60's/early 70's Mopars for this as well...By then, they did away with the pass. side only lock and "reaching in and flipping the driver side handle up" but you still had to use your key to lock the doors. When you pushed that button down it would pop right back up if you closed the door...it was basically saying to you..."no, I won't let you lock yourself out". My 69 Fury is that way and I love it! Later on, the next iteration was...push the button down and hold the outside handle up...then the door would lock. That was the beginning of being able to lock yourself out :-[

Lindsay McConnell · November 18, 2010, 08:58:54 AM

Don't know about you guys, but, the 41's I own are the only cars that make it impossible to lock your keys in the car!
Have not done this in a while, but I don't want to jinx myself either!

plym_46 · November 18, 2010, 12:29:58 AM

I believe the idea originated at Ford as a safety enhancment. Kowing how Henry worked, if he could save 50 cents on nearly a million vehicles, that was money in his pocket and the others followed in the "safety" mode. My 56 Studebaker truck is the same way.

Now my three dailly use vehicles do not have key access on any door but the driver's. As far as I know you can still be ticketed for opening the street side door if it causes and accident or obsructs traffic flow. and 2 out of three no longer respond to their remotes for ulocking all doors from outside.

RobertKB · November 17, 2010, 11:22:08 PM

It was illegal to get out on the driver's side, hence the lock only on the passenger side. Even today, if you open the driver's door and someone hits it, it your total responsibilty for the accident.

TodFitch · November 17, 2010, 02:42:40 PM

Quote from: 41PlySD on November 17, 2010, 01:59:09 PM
I have a key for the ignition....another key for the passenger side door only...and another key for the trunk. Yes that's three different keys. Don't know if that's original or not...but that's the way mine is. What really makes me scratch my head is that there is no lock on driver door. One has to walk around the car to the passenger side...lean in and push the driver door inside handle upwards...then close the passenger side door and lock it with the key. Does anyone have a reason behind the thinking of the Chrysler engineering crew here on how a car should be locked up? Was it because people had wonderful manners back then?...and you'd always walk around to let your lady out of the car and then lock it up this way?

Pretty standard for the era to only have a key lock on the passenger side. Not just for Chrysler products, at least I know a fellow with a 1948 or so Chevy truck that was equipped the same way. If you look at those old Bogart films you will see the driver sliding across the seat to get in and out of the car on the passenger side. Saving a few pennies on the manufacture of the car may have been the real reason but the excuse was for safety: Get in and out of the car on the curb side

41PlySD · November 17, 2010, 01:59:09 PM

I have a key for the ignition....another key for the passenger side door only...and another key for the trunk. Yes that's three different keys. Don't know if that's original or not...but that's the way mine is. What really makes me scratch my head is that there is no lock on driver door. One has to walk around the car to the passenger side...lean in and push the driver door inside handle upwards...then close the passenger side door and lock it with the key. Does anyone have a reason behind the thinking of the Chrysler engineering crew here on how a car should be locked up? Was it because people had wonderful manners back then?...and you'd always walk around to let your lady out of the car and then lock it up this way?

MRR41 COUPE · November 15, 2010, 09:41:13 AM

What is the proper locking on a 41 plymouth. Are the door and trunk keyed the same. On mine neither the ignition key or trunk key opens the door. I want to get the door lock rekeyed, I'm leaning towards the trunck key, but i'm not sure.