recently acquired a '65 Thunderbird hardtop, that is in good condition. trunk lock worked easily, until it didn't. crawling into trunk not possible. body style is wide but, not deep. cross brace behind rear seat has small opening plus, full size mounted spare tire and trunk carpet kit blocks any access. so, likely going to drill out lock tumbler. but, can not find a picture or actual latch to see how lock activates opening of latch. following several possibilities gave no results. then ad on craigslist popped up for '65 T-Bird at a wrecking yard about an hour ride from me. so, call and they say latch still on car. drove to Bonanza Auto Dismantlers near Shingle Springs off I-50 East of Sacramento. getting there the access road in bad shape. know that you are close when wrecked cars are stacked along roadway. about 20 acres of unorganized mostly OT cars and trucks. place started in the 30's. there are a few jewels. take a look at pics. best to call before going. found T-Bird & latch was already gone.
Sucks about the latch, did you find anything to buy? Looks like some fairly complete cars there for picking at.
Plus that 60 falcon is probably in better shape than my gasser project! UGH!! I need that grille and gravel panel! -rick
deuceman32, they just had an Airstream convention here in town at the fairgrounds. Thousands of them, the whole place was shiny aluminum. It was pretty cool to see them all in one place. 2,289 of them. https://moderncampground.com/usa/ai...record-rally-in-sedalia-announces-2025-event/
with a lead from here checked out a '64 T-Bird at Pick-n-Pull in Antelope, CA. latch missing but, that is OK since a guy from a Thunderbird site not too far from me has one complete that I need.
I had a bird with similar problem. Got a piece of 1/4 X 1 flat bar and hack sawed a little groove in the end. with a flashlight and some luck I was able to slip the slot of the bar over the little gizmo that comes out of the lock and extends through the latch. Little twist and she pops open.
The Jalopy Journal
