Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22840 Location: UK

Hi all - this question landed the other day, I'm sure that by the 30s most if not all cars would have locking doors, but were there any still being made that didn't ???

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Here's your strange question of the week! I've been reading a novel set in Kent, where one of the characters drives an MG (sounds like a hard-top but that's all I can tell)... the author makes several mentions of the driver locking the car before walking away, but something in the back of my head keeps niggling that cars of that vintage probably didn't have door locks. Did they?
thanks very much indeed if you can help,
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Brian M · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

Rick

I think you are correct - I had a look at some pre-war MG pics and the drivers door at least seems to have a keyhole in them.

But I know of one British built car made in the late 50's that did not have door locks on any of its doors. Anyone care to guess?
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roverdriver · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject:

Model A Ford, 1928 Tudor. Small slide lever on passenger door to lock it from the inside, key lock built into drivers outer door handle.

1950's Morris Minor two door. Teardrop lever on pass. door. Key for drivers side.

1954 Rover 90 . Reverse movement of all passenger door handles locks them, key in drivers door handle..

1930 Morris Minor. Open top, no outside door handles, no locks.
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Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

My 1938 Rover 16 ceratinly had 4 locking doors - drivers door with key as did all Rovers of the 1930's apart from perhaps some overun from the 1920's
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MartinC · Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 97

don't think Land Rovers had locks untill the 60's did they?

poodge · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 687

[quote:don't think Land Rovers had locks untill the 60's did they?]
I think door locks started with series II Landie's.But if you were a getaway driver ,would you ever consider a Land Rover?Much as I like them,I would think not Laughing

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

LR were wfiited with simple key latches as standard on S2 vehicles that came out in 1958 and a similiar but no ket internal latch for the passenger door(s)

The first S1 LR's of 1948 were open topped and did not need locking doors - the base standard S2 was actually fully open topped - hard tops or canvas tilts were extra cost so locking doors were not much use
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

MG TCs didn't have any key locks in the doors.

Peter
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Nic Jarman · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject:

My Morris 8 series 1 does not have a key lock on the passenger side.
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Rich5ltr · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK