A friend has a L-71 convertible, vin is 08947. Is this considered an early or late car for the proper plastic e-brake handle design? Thanks. Warren
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
I'm not a judge and don't have a judging guide, but the only difference I am aware of is the bit of chrome plating on part of the handle. The change to non-chrome occurred sometime after vin 10000, and I believe they were a mix of old and new for a while, so if the car has/had chrome on it, it is correct. -
Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Robert,
Unfortunately the car has the later GM replacement emergency brake lever assembly. I'm looking to find out which reproduction plastic handle assembly would be correct for this car, so I can find an original or go to Long Island Corvette supply and purchase one of their reproductions, but I don't know which one this car should have. Again vin is 08947. Thanks.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Warren:
You won't be wrong with either for your VIN. The all black handles were mostly very early (no one really knows how early) but some were seen on late cars as well. The chrome tipped/striped was introduced later, again no one can give you an exact date. The VIN you gave is really mid production so either would be acceptable, in my opinion.
JeffComment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
This is a correct e-brake handle for 1967. Early units had no chrome but the same knurl design. This is a mid April car. Note that knurl does not go to edges as in later designs.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Jeffrey & Stephen;
Thank you for the information. I am looking for a correct e-brake assembly unit. Should anyone have one for sale, please let me know. I will be in Carlisle to buy one for my friends car.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Hi Stephen:
I think you reversed the distinction. For 1967, the knurl does go to the edges. Starting in 1968 a smooth border was added. In the attached photo, the one on the right is a 67. The chrome on the 67 handle was not always present, as previously noted.
I don't think anyone properly reproduces either version of the 67 handle.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Joe,
Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate it.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Joe is correct that the diamond pattern goes to the chrome (or black) tip. The pattern is also sharper and the corners are very square where the later ones are slightly rounded. One small correction- the later style is 1970 and up not '68 as noted. Later '67, '68, and '69 were the same.
JeffComment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Joe, I stand corrected. I looked at my original handle and the slight difference is the knurl all the way to the top. Now I've got a project to correct this.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
The early handle had a sharp cut pattern on a diagonal. The later style is very obviously little dashes pressed pattern. The change was an attempt to strengthen the handle. It was prone to breakage and the new one has a much larger cross section.
In 67, generally, the early ones were black, the mid had the chrome trim, and very late ones changed back to black, like the early 68s.Last edited by Wayne W.; August 10, 2010, 08:00 AM.Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Hi Joe
Just a clarification in your picture. You have a 1968 on the left showing the knurl having a border.
Actually 68 69 had the knurl right up to the chrome edge. I think after 1970 is where the knurl ends with a border.
Your picture of 67 could actually be a late 67 but with no chrome running the length of the black handle.
From what I know early 67 brake handles were all black and the knurls all the way to the edge. Later 67 started to just have the chrome knob at the end. But no chrome down the center. 68 started to have these chrome knob ends and knurls right up to the the edge of the chrome with the chrome running down the center of the black handle.
Hope this helps.
GrantComment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Hi Grant:
Yes, Jeff Salz pointed out that the knurl went right to the edge in 68 and
69 too. I somehow thought that was a 67-only characteristic. At least this should make it easier for Warren to find a correct original for his friend's 67. As I noted earlier, I don't think this style is being reproduced.
It's particularly hard to find an original with good chrome on the handle, although Jeff Salz does a nice job replating them. I know one guy who had bad chrome on his 67 handle, and had a VIN number that qualified for either the chrome or black tip. He carefully removed the peeing chrome and turned his handle into a black one........Comment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
Wayne:
I am no expert on '68s but I know in all the years I have been restoring these I have never seen or talked to an owner with a '68 that had a black handle. I'm sure that you and others know far more about this than me but that has been my experience. Just for clarification, the black plastic part of the handle is manufactured completely differently than the chrome tipped ones. The black ones are one piece where the chromed ones are 3 pieces. The chrome part is one piece surrounded by 2 black pieces glued to it.
JeffComment
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Re: 1967 emergency brake handle style?
According to the 1968-69 and the 1970-72 JGs, there is a difference in the raised pattern on the handles--crosshatch vs. parallel dots. True or not? (We need this info for the revision of JG anyway. This is a good time to get it.)
Perhaps Joe Lucia can verify by part number(s).Comment
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