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The above on this Car are woodgrained steel and have a pierced hole near the rear where I have seen the door latch handle on other year models of the Series 80; my Car has the interior door latch handle on the side of the door. Two possible reasons for this that I can imagine: the surrounds for both doors are salvaged from another year model Series 80 to replace missing originals; or there is a door lock mechanism which should be there and which utilizes this opening, as is typical on later model cars, and mine are missing.
Advice from more knowledgeable Members is always appreciated. I plan to have all my interior woodgraining redone and want to get this straight before I begin.
I would like to see a photo of your current inside handle.
To the best of my memory and knowledge, your car should have the inside handle protruding up through the painted-steel window trim.
I do have a couple of door latch assemblies with the correct upper shaft and handle. I might have inside window trim as well.
Greg Long
Randy,
I believe that the Series 81 cars had the interior door handles that you describe.
If I am correct, you may have a combo of Series 80 window molding and Series 81 doors / door opening mechanisms.
The problem with switching to the correct openers for a Series 80, even with the correct mechanisms, is that you will need to disassemble the doors.
That would be a major pain.
Whereas, if you go with what you have, all you will need to do is alter the two window moldings so that the holes no longer show.
You would likely find it easier to find a nice, polished, large headed, round-topped, bolt to fill the hole, and who knows what interesting types of pieces you could find to do that job.
BTW, stainless steel polishes up to be a very close match to nickel plate.
All of the exterior bright-work screws and bolts on my Series 80 are polished stainless and one cannot see a difference between their color and the color of the nickel plated pieces that they hold together (taillight assemblies, cowl light mounts, etc.).
Finally, the interior nickel pieces on the Series 80 have a BUTLER FINISH, meaning that the nickel plate is not highly polished; they are a bit dull in appearance.
Peter
Thanks Greg and Peter; when I return to Bayou Middlefork I will get some photos. I had not considered that my Car may have had wat sounds like serious surgery on the door mechanisms.
A Series 81 door will not fit a Series 80 door opening, with few exceptions, the Series 80 door has a taller window, and a slight downward slope to the top of the door as it nears the windshield.
The Series 81 ‘opera coupe’ or 4-passenger coupe apparently used the left-over Series 80 bodies, and only added Series 81 fenders and hood sides to make the 81 version.
Here is the door on a S81 Club Brougham.
Greg
Here are a pair of door latch assemblies for a Series 80 enclosed-car door.
Greg
Here is the interior door levers on a Series 81.
Greg
Here is the Series 81 interior lock pin . It’s in the same location as in a modern car.
Greg
Am interested in acquiring one series 81 lock pin. Anyone out there have one for sale? Thanks, DAVE STEPHENS
I attach pics of the interior driver’s door of my car, as well as detail of the handles (all seem to match) and the perforations where the latch is on most Series 80 Cars.
Pic2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Randy,
So, from the number of holes (3) on the window molding, it appears that your car takes the standard Series 80 locks and not the locks from the Series 81 that has a single button (2 holes).
It also seems that Greg has a set available, so you should be good to go.
Peter
Thanks, Peter. It does seem that perhaps my Car’s door latches were replaced at some time in the past. I am not certain I want to disturb what is there now as it works fine. At least I want to look underneath the upholstery if that is possible without destroying anything, before I decide.
Hi Randy,
Unless you are planning on re-upholstering your door panels. I’d not mess with your door latches. I’m such a great salesman, just talking you out of buying something from me..
The repair of your window trim will be much easier and less money $$ than reupholstering.
I suspect that a previous owner did not like having to reach around to the rear of the window, in order to unlatch the door. The door handle location on the Series 81 is much more convenient.
Greg
Randy,
Check out this website for the correct locks on a Series 80 2-door.
Peter
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/pierce-arrow/80/1947658.html
Thanks, Peter. This Car sold at the Branson auction last year, seems like about $24000, and I got to examine it presale in detail. It appeared to have an original interior which a previous owner tried to preserve with clear vinyl covers. It also had the wood vanities in place. I took several photos.
Another view of a Series 80 door handle (from a recent Ebay listing).
Randy,
I don’t expect that you want to disassemble, or want to have someone else disassemble your doors, however if you do not own set, it would be wise to purchase from Greg Long the two lock sets necessary to complete your doors.
Who knows, someday you become so motivated to compete the doors.
If I were you, I would also remove that bottom window molding and look down the hole to see if a locking mechanism, minus the post and lock, exist inside your door.
If that is the case, then there may be a way to take apart the mechanisms that you buy from Greg (if you do) and place them into the existing mechanism from above.
It is just a thought and likely a better thought than just buying the locks from Greg so that you can jury-rig the locks so that they look functional, but actually are not functional (using just the bezel, flipper and pin).
BTW, see the finish on the flipper in the photo, that is BUTLER FINISH.
It is not just worn, it is clearly nickel, but not at a high polish.
Cheers,
Peter