39 Cabriolet Rear Handle

[Gary-UK]

On my newly acquired 39 Deluxe Cabriolet, it has in the past had a 32 spare wheel carrier fitted to the rear bumper irons, the "handle" which is normally found on the rear has been removed. Is this handle assembly the same as a coupe or unique to a cabriolet? I'd like to put my spare wheel back inside the car and fit the correct item to the rear of the body.

I can only find reference to a trunk handle with a key, seems strange for them to have fitted a locking handle that did nothing to a rumble seat car. Or am I missing something?

[DavidG]

It was a locking handle and it did something, namely securing the rumble in a locked position. At a minimum it prevented theft of rumble seat cushions and anything else stowed in the rumble seat foot well.


Perhaps in the U.K. the term 'cabriolet' was still used by Ford, but in North America the '37 version was the last to be so named.

[Gary-UK]

So is it the same assembly as a coupe? My rumble lid is opened by way of lever behind the seat.

[TJ]

The '39 deck lid/rumble handle sits below the rumble lid. It sits about where your spare tire is currently mounted. It opens the rumble lid via a cable type system. The handle locks to prevent anyone from opening the rumble lid. The cable system is a little difficult to explain and you need to see a photo to see how it works.

[Gary-UK]

Thanks, Starting to make sense now. When mine has been removed its been converted to a small lever behind the seat which operates a cable. So should be easily put back subject to me finding the handle parts.

[ford38v8]

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Gary, the '39 rumble handle mounting structure will be visible inside with the rumble lid partially open. The operating mechanism was a cable from the handle, across to a pulley on the right side of the lid, to another pulley just above and to the right of the lid, then over to the latch itself. Your lever behind the seat may have rerouted that original cable. In restoring the original mechanism, check the condition of those pulleys, and use good flexible stranded steel cable. My cable broke during use, necessitating the employ of a small person to climb inside from the passenger compartment to release the latch.

[Kube]

Here's some photos that may help...they depict the cable routing as well as the latch.

[Gary-UK]

That’s wonderful, thank you!

It looks like I just need to locate a handle assembly and a longer cable.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Gary-UK

That’s wonderful, thank you!

It looks like I just need to locate a handle assembly and a longer cable.

Cables, at least here in the US, are readily available at any tractor supply store.
They are used for a wide a variety of applications and sold in various lengths. Just cut to the length you require.

The photos I'd posted previously were of a car I have since restored.