VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 1936 Interior Door Lock

I'm way old, but am thinking back tonight to way back when, since I found a pic of my Dad's 1936 Chevy.

When I was 5 or so, my Dad bought a used 1936 Chevy, not certain if was a Standard or a Master.

Positive it was a 1936, but seem to recall the doors would be locked from the inside with a toggle lever type activation, instead of the door plunger type lock button.

Can anyone with a stock 1936 enlighten me on this ?

my 36 standard has toggle switch.i could take a guess .why did you have to lock or unlock door from passer side . to keep from opening door in traffic just my through

Thanks for the "toggle switch" verification.

My 1936 Standard, Town Sedan has a toggle type lock on both doors inside. Only the Passenger side can be locked/unlocked with a key from the outside. It was a safety feature. The thinking was you would be ran over standing out in the street unlocking the driver's door. If you look at the old movies from that day and time you will understand.

I did not understand Smitty's comment about unlocking the door ..... now I understand what he meant.
Thanks.

my 36 standard was built in May of 36 and does not have toggle style locks. I was told some time ago you were supposed to pull up on the inside handle to lock these. Mine are not working then. I cant lock my car, even with the key. And the lock is on the passenger's side.

All 1936 passenger cars had the toggle style door locking devise on each front door. Also all had a locking handle on the right front door. The left door could be locked from the inside with the toggle lever. If the door is locked it will automatically unlock when the door is opened from the inside (with the conventional door handle) Also if the door is closed the toggle will jump to the unlocked position UNLESS THE OUTSIDE HANDLE IS HELD DOWN.
The right door works in the same manner except it can be unlocked with the key.It also can be locked with the key but this is unnecessary as it is easier to flip the toggle to the locked position, hold the out side handle down and close the door.(just remember you will need a key to get back in).
Being a late 1936 with steel doors the door lock (latch) and most of the locking hardware fits onlt the late Standard with steel doors only.
I suspect some one upholsered over your locking toggles, put the locking handle on the wrong side and disposed of some of the required hardware.

I finally got around to removing the door locks and you were correct, someone removed the toggles and upholstered over it.
Everything is still there and they work fine. But I need to find the toggles now.

When upholstering the side panels leave the cotton padding off the areas around the holes for the locks to go in. These must screw into the steel door. The more padding the more difficult to place into the hole. New locks can be bought at Chevy's of the Forties or other places.

Thank you Sir!