VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Red Trim Paint on Door Handles

I just acquired two NOS exterior door handles for my 48 aerosedan. I opened the box and lo and behold one handle is very nice chrome and the other is very nice chrome but with a red painted stripe in the center groove of the handle. The red matches the paint on the tail of the hood ornament and the red "CHEVROLET" letters on the top grille bar. My existing door handles (I assume are the originals) have no trace of red in the groove.

Question is then, is there supposed to be a red stripe on the exterior door handles of a 48, or not? :confused: :confused:

The answer to this question will tell me if I need to steel wool the red stripe off one handle, or paint a stripe on the other handle.

Thanks guys,

Please describe the boxes these came in. The box may be the clue to solving the mystery.

I don't think the box will give a clue, it was a USPS priority mail box. I bought them from an ebay vendor. I believe they are NOS because the holes are not drilled in the shaft.

I don't think the box will give a clue, it was a USPS priority mail box. I bought them from an ebay vendor. I believe they are NOS because the holes are not drilled in the shaft. Have you ever seen handles with the red stripe?

The 1941-48 door handles are the same for regular sedan models.The 1941 had a red stripe and the 1942-48 did not.I would guess the one with a red stripe was older stock and made originally for a 1941.The stripe was not painted after 1941 - otherwise they are the same.(if they are geniune GM-there were aftermarket handles made also).The fact that the holes are not drilled leads me to believe that they are aftermarket.I don't recall needing to drill holes in the originals.These may be "universal" to fit the convertible and Fleetline 4 door styles as well.Kind of cut and drill as necessary.

Thank you for that information, Chevgene. You're always good for a little history lesson about these little details. Sooooo, now that I'm armed with this information, I guess it's time to get that red paint off that one handle so it can go on my 48 aero. Actually it's probably easier taking that paint off than trying to paint that stripe on the other one!!!

Thanks again Gene.

1941-46 car handles are the same part No. and 47-48 handles are slightly different and a different part No.

1952 parts book lists #4125220 for 1941-48 CLOSED exceot CBL

1952 parts book lists #4125220 for 1941-48 CLOSED except CBL

Gene,
1947 and 1949 parts book lists 1941-46 door handle 4125220 and 47-8 handle as 4161124.
The 47-8 handle has a flare at the base to match up with the escutcheon used in 47-8, the 41-6 handle does not have the flare.
I also looked in my 52 book and it states what you say. It also states that 4161124 is for 47-8 cabroilet but that is not what the 49 book states. I think GM has made another GOOF !!!
Bruce

So, being that we are discussing handles, how do the Cabriolet handles differ from the others?? I see that there are unique part numbers - what's the diff for 47 and 48?

I don't think its a goof.They just discontinued the earlier style as they were depleted from stock.I know the '47-'48 were slightly different at the base but they will function OK.
The CBL difference I would guess is the shaft length and locking pin hole location.The late style was probably a cut and drill to fit.Usually when the is the case they make a note in the parts book.Haven't found that and I don't remember what we did back then as door handles were seldom replaced.