'50 Chrysler please help, broken the trunk latch, doh!

I just broke the trunk latch which had been working flawlessly for years. DUMB dumb move, I just pulled too hard when attempting to open the trunk that had some ice holding it shut. I'm at a loss right now, not sure if I have to go in from the inside or pry the trunk open and replace whatever gets broken in the process.
Here are pics to illustrate:

Handle at 6 o'clock is closed, handle at 3 o'clock open. My mistake lead to the handle moving past 3 o'clock and all the way around counter clockwise. It no longer "grabs" or "pushes" whatever it needs to, to open the truck. The handle and square shaft appear to work just like a door knob in a house.

How do I open this trunk? I left some good tools in there!

 

first thing I'd do is get a flashlight and look in the hole to see if I could see what was going on in there. then I would pack up and move to a place where my trunk doesn't get frozen shut.

 

Do you know a good gynecologist?

 

I don't know what bothers me more... that statement or the fact that it came from someone called unkledaddy

 

Bone simple. I took my handle off for painting, and just a flat bladed screwdrive in the slot in there and just turn to the right (clockwise) and she will open.

 

I may not be a gynecologist, but I'll have a look.

 

"What a hole, what a hole!"

 

On my '50 Plymouth, that square shaft goes through the lock mechanism and the 1/4 turn raises and lowers two "dogs" or "ears" or whatever you want to call'em...in the locked position, they move down and out, opposite each other to form an upside-down Y with the two pieces inside an oval shaped striker plate. The 1/4 turn to open, raises them and they come back together to form more of an I, lifting the pieces out of the striker plate. I'd make sure it's thawed out good first and try some heavy wire through the hole where the square shaft goes and do some "fishing". You should be able to judge the working depth by wear marks on the square shaft. Best of luck.

 

If you can't get it open you might have to go in thru the back seat. Remove back seat and you should be able to see the latch. Collect up all the 3/8 drive extensions you can find and tape them together so you can reach the latch and unscrew the bolts.

 

You got it! Very easy to do. Thanks. I was able to put handle back in and all works ok again.