I have a 48 Chevy Fleetmaster that I shaved the door handles (big mistake) and fit bearclaw lathes yrs ago. I was thinking about installing some type of more modern handles on it. I don't want something that looks really out of place. Any suggestions?
'46-'48 Lincoln push button https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lincoln-door-button-install-how-to.931928/
I kind of like "out of place". The one on the right is original Chevy. The one on the left is the one I used.... from the janitor's closet at work.
The world is full of outside door handles. If your thinking " something modern" its time to walk the parking lot at a supermarket or Walmart and see if anything trips your trigger. For modern, I tend to prefer these. Dodge Dakota, can be painted body color, with or without a lock. View attachment 6231715
Don’t use anything plastic. Converting the push button operation of most handles post-48 will require as much work or more than just reinstalling the original handles and making a bellcrank to get around any window tracks or mechanism that may be in the way.
Nothing looks more out of place (especially as viewed on a traditional hot rod forum) as modern parts on old cars. I have a bunch of cars without door handles and really don't see it as a problem at all.....
reinstall the original style handle and figure out some linkage. installing anything else is the same amount of work.
Same guy who puts modern handles on his car probably also uses mirrors from the latest Mustang, and sits on high back buckets.
Oh my gawd Gizmo! Are you ever on the wrong website! Not only are those atrocious, but they are sold by the worst place on earth.
You can hide switches for the door solenoids all over the car, just get creative. Under the rocker panel, open door with a kick of your toe, behind a chrome strip, push on strip door opens, with a magnetic reed switch, just have to carry a magnet, lots of options if you just give it some thought. For safety you can have all the outside switches loose power when the car is not in park or neutral, so a door doesn't accidentally open if the switch gets hit by something when driving.
Even though they are too new for most here, I really like the door handles on the first generation Miata. One finger pull operation and chrome. Think that if they were available back when, Barris would have bought a ton of them. By the way, I have a pair along with the door skin around them and haven't been able to give them away.
Another option is to install door locks that when turned open the door. Keeps the low key look of shaved while adding a secure external mechanical access
If the car already has the bearclaw latches, making the old handles function is going to be a lot more work then just drilling a hole and shoving the handle shaft through the door skin.
If you have a solenoid operating the door latch, a switch can be added to a push button handle to operate it.
The bigger problem is why the solenoids don't work. Just fix the problem and the issue is resolved. Plenty of cars, my own included, use a solenoid to open the latch. There's no reason yours can't work either. If you really want to put a mechanical device on to open the door, 41-48 Lincoln pushbuttons are about the best choice.
The Jalopy Journal
