1935 Phaeton inside door handle position.

[4 MAINS V8]

I’m in the process of re-trimming an English built very early 1935 phaeton, with the forward mounted door handles. It appears the original front door mechanism is mounted further forward than the American versions. The door trim/card has two holes. What looks like an original hole in the trim that isn’t punched through the facing material ie a blind hole and also a very roughly cut hole further forward. This hole is approximately 4” from the front of the trim and the original looking unused hole is 5 1/2” from the edge. Can anyone please measure from the centre of the door handle to the edge of the trim.

 

[4 MAINS V8]

Pictures

 

[DavidG]

With respect, there were no English-built '35 phaeton bodies, as the bodies were imported from North America and mounted on English-built chassis. There's no way the modest market for that body type in Europe could justify the bodies being built locally.

All early '35 phaetons and roadster doors have the forward-mounted inside door handle position. (Australian '35 phaeton bodies may be an exception as those bodies were built locally and given the late startup of '35 model production there, it may be that all have the center-mounted handles.) The change to the center-of-the-door position was a running change made during '35 model year Canadian and U.S. production.

The correct measurement from the handle shank to the forward edge of the door is 4". Why the other, evidently original hole in the trim panel is 1 1/2" further back in your panel will evidently remain a mystery. It is absent from the original trim panels from my early U.S.-built '35 phaeton.

 

[4 MAINS V8]

Sorry David, I should have said English assembled. Thanks for the measurements. Like you have said the incorrect hole will possibly remain a mystery. Although it would be interesting if anyone else has come across this rogue stamping.

 

[mercman from oz]

1935 Ford Phaeton front Door Panel showing Door Handle.

 

[ab_36ford]

That dash is awesome!