1938 Willys Sedan Trunk Handle Replacement-VW 1952-64 Reproduction Locking Deck Lid Handle

My repop 52-64 VW Locking Deck Handle arrived yesterday.  I did some mocking up and thinking about it over night and installed it this morning.  The hole in the Willys Deck lid remains what it was, original but missing holes for the original deck handle collar attachments. Knowing that original factory deck handles have a collar with two bolt holes, it is obvious my trunk lid has had those holes filled.

The car had a brushed alum trunk handle collar with a tab which allowed this collar to fit into the hole and the original installer used glue to hold it in place. Since the handle fits completely through the outside skin, through the latch and has threads on the end of the trunk handle, a washer a nylock tighten down on the inside of the trunk to  kept everything in place.

So the VW locking trunk handle shaft on the end of it was round and threaded 3/8-24 and came with a nut.  The problem was the round shaft would not fit into the inside latch mechanism unless it was square and roughly 5/16 inches each side so I used a file and then the grinder to sort out the end of the VW handle until it fit through completely and properly.

I next had to modify my existing brushed alum collar so that when you turned the key the tit which protrudes from the VW handle shaft would have a place to go into.  The tit in the handle was a ¼ inch round.

So I measured things and marked the collar shaft where and used the drill press to drill a small pilot hole followed by a ¼ inch hole.

Once that was done, I trial fit it and test locked it finding I needed to work the hole with a small file and drill motor till I got it to lock easily etc…..

Once done, removed the original glue on the trunk lid and collar and used the clear Gorilla Glu reinstalling the brushed alum collar and the new locking VW handle.

Works very nicely and to me looks close to the reproduction handle sold by “Willys Replacement Parts” as well as the one for later late 40s Willys station wagon back tail gates, but no collar requiring two bolts.

I have no idea what my existing brushed alum collar came from, nor the non-locking handle.   That will remain a mystery that only the original Illinois car builder took to the grave with him.  I do not think it was a VW now.

 I could have used the stock VW collar which came with the VW handle but I would have been required to cut and modify the trunk handle metal skin opening substantially and took a pass on that option. I left it alone.

Looks and works well…mgb

PS  The Willys Flat Fender Jeep Station Wagon Rear Locking Trunk Handle of the late 40s early 50s is pretty much the same as the original 37-42 Willys Trunk handle but cleaner like the VW and readily available as well. It would have to be modified, most probably the shaft length and how it is retained in the sedan trunk.