VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 MD 4 door rear door handle position

Hi;

What is the correct position for the rear door handle? Should it be installed level or at a 45 degree down angle like the front door handle?

The body manual does not clearly show it. There is a picture of the front door though and it is positioned at a 45 degree down angle.

Thanks!

Brad

I've never seen one other than horizontal. Interesting.

I am sorry, I did not indicate INSIDE door handle. My apologies!

Brad

The pictures I have show it in the 2:00 position.
Thats looking at the left door from inside.

Below is a pre restoration image of my '38, the way she was born.

Oops, you are referring to the back door which my coupe doesn't have. I don't know how they came from the factory but my experience when I was a young fellow working as a body man, was that we repositioned a lot of inside door and window handles to accommodate individual needs and tastes. I would say put them where they work best for you.

It's the same. You can barely see it in the Engineering Features sketch



and in an old photo of my original passenger side rear door



Brian

Generally the window handles are installed so that the weight of the handle tends to close NOT open the window. The second criteria is to make it easier for someone to access and operate the handle. The absolute answer is: how the guy (or gal) installed the handle on the assembly line.