What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

[Mark E.]

On my June 1970 car, the handle at the end of the turn signal lever is gloss hard plastic while the handle at the end of the tilt lever is a soft, dull rubber material. It was this way when I acquired the car in 1990 with 90k miles.

The JG suggests the hard plastic handle is typical for 1970 while the dull rubber handle is typical for 1972.

Regarding the tilt handle, the JG also says "A non-matching style may be from a preceding year but not from a later one." The tilt handle on my car is not only from a later year but two years later.

Is this tilt handle likely a service replacement? I don't think rubber handles even existed in 1970.

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[Paul D.]

Re: What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

I would imagine a service replacement.

[Joe L.]

Re: What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

On my June 1970 car, the handle at the end of the turn signal lever is gloss hard plastic while the handle at the end of the tilt lever is a soft, dull rubber material. It was this way when I acquired the car in 1990 with 90k miles.

The JG suggests the hard plastic handle is typical for 1970 while the dull rubber handle is typical for 1972.

Regarding the tilt handle, the JG also says "A non-matching style may be from a preceding year but not from a later one." The tilt handle on my car is not only from a later year but two years later.

Is this tilt handle likely a service replacement? I don't think rubber handles even existed in 1970.

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Mark------

I would opine it's a SERVICE replacement, too. I agree that I don't think this type handle was existent in 1970.

Now the big question: why would it ever have been replaced. The only reason I can think of is that the plastic end broke which is possible because I believe the plastic used was polystyrene.

Of course, another possibility is that the column is not original to the car and was added post factory (T/T columns were always popular retrofits) and the turn signal lever replaced to mimic 1970 configuration. Or, the car was an original T/T but, for one reason or another, the column needed to be replaced.

[Mark E.]

Re: What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

Mark------

I would opine it's a SERVICE replacement, too. I agree that I don't think this type handle was existent in 1970.

Now the big question: why would it ever have been replaced. The only reason I can think of is that the plastic end broke which is possible because I believe the plastic used was polystyrene.

Of course, another possibility is that the column is not original to the car and was added post factory (T/T columns were always popular retrofits) and the turn signal lever replaced to mimic 1970 configuration. Or, the car was an original T/T but, for one reason or another, the column needed to be replaced.

Some of the mystique of this hobby is wondering and finding clues about what these cars went through in the past.

I ordered a "Trim Parts" reproduction lever. I couldn't find a 1970 lever; my choices were this one for 1969 or levers with the soft rubber handle for '71 and newer. From its photo, the '69 variant looks similar to the handle design on my turn signal lever. We'll see when it arrives.

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[Bob I.]

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[Mark E.]

Re: What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

Bob,

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Regarding your handle (hard plastic, no grooves, textured end) the JG says: "Some 1970 production sporadically appears with the 1971 style, beginning about mid-production."

For the handle on my turn signal (also a June build car; hard plastic, grooves, smooth end) the JG says it's for 1970 and 1971 through SN 1400.

So apparently either handle style is TFP for 1970 starting mid-production.

The repro part I ordered is the 1969 style in figure I 5.3. From photos, it looks similar to the first 1970 design (hard plastic, grooves, smooth end) but with a slightly larger diameter head. The JG says a non-matching tilt handle may be from a preceding year but not from a later one. So my new 1969 lever might be ok.

Life is good! I'm a grown man with time to study handles on steering wheel columns!

[Mike E.]

Re: What's Up With the Handle On This 1970 Tilt Column Lever?

FWIW, as you know, the t and t levers are far easier to change than the standard columns, because they just unscrew.