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RE: Door handles/locks

To: Scions of the Spitfire <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: Door handles/locks
From: Andrew Mace <amace@unix2.nysed.gov>
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 12:53:49 -0500 (EST)
On Thu, 25 Mar 1999, Dean Dashwood wrote:

> This is true - in fact, there's no need to slash the soft top to get in,
> because you can undo the poppers at the back and reach the handle
> (except with my locks, which can't be unlocked from inside if they were
> locked from outside!!) although I suspect this is known to Spitfire
> owners who lock their keys in their car, rather than by the average car
> stereo thief....

Guess it depends on several factors. What you describe can be done by 
some. However, try this in the severe cold of winter (outer door handles 
have frozen up). When one is 5'6", with not terribly long arms, and one 
is trying to work that arm past very cold, inflexible vinyl (that had 
been unsnapped, but don't forget that little tab that is supposed to be 
shut in the door on the B post end), etc., etc. Bottom line: I couldn't 
do it, not on the '74 1500 I had at the time. Only reason I got into the 
car at all was that I remembered the passenger door glass was, well, 
loose in its channel. I managed to lift it up and out completely, and 
from there I got into the car.
 
> I would have thought that locking doors would be a good initial
> deterent, though - especially against the kind of thief who wanders down
> the street nonchalantly checking car doors, and when he finds one
> unlocked, "borrows" the stereo....

That's a good point. OTOH, there's a good chance your top could be 
damaged even by someone smart enough to know how to unsnap it. (You don't 
really think they'll take a lot of time and care doing this, do you?)

> Plus, locking the doors will help if you happen
> to have a hard top fitted ....

Guess that's true as well. Strangely, though, I never did get the outside 
key locks on my GT6+ to work properly. Never had a problem on any other 
Spitfire, Herald, Mayflower -- even on my one TR3A, the key would lock 
the door handles. (Talk about your exercise in futility!)

--Andy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace, President and                *
*   10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
* Vintage Triumph Register <www.vtr.org>    *
* amace@unix2.nysed.gov                     *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


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