Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

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PaulNunn
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Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#1 Post by PaulNunn »

I have a 1956 T1 Coupe VIn: 57413 (Born 12th Sept.)
It currently has the later round corner door handles and I'm looking to go back to original.
Did my car have the early square handles or the crossover rarer square with the newer locks?
What's the VIN change in the handles? I've seen other posts but no exact answer.

Ned Gorski
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#2 Post by Ned Gorski »

56Early square mid to late 57 was the crossover

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Mike Smith
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#3 Post by Mike Smith »

mid to late 57 was the crossover
The crossover started with the 100 series cars

I do not know when it went to the Late handles/Locks - anybody want to offer the answer to that one ?
Mike Smith (Essex - UK)

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PaulNunn
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#4 Post by PaulNunn »

Thanks Mike and Ned. Time to track down square handles. I guess I'll need the whole push button innards and cylinder and keys as well or are those interchangeable? I see Stoddards does the square handle but where would I find the rest?

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Steve Harrison
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#5 Post by Steve Harrison »

No, they are not interchangeable.
I will PM you with a possible option.

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Eric Gratz
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#6 Post by Eric Gratz »

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the club. I own the next coupe down the production line, number 57414 that was completed a week later than yours on 19 September, 1956. Let me know if you have any other configuration questions. I'd be happy to help.

Regards,
Eric

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PaulNunn
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#7 Post by PaulNunn »

hey Eric.....I think I saw you on a VIN register somewhere. I just got my car from Los Angeles and shipped it over to the UK. I did find this guy who has the car built immediately after yours. Small world! My car was restored about 15 years ago and there are a few things to take back to original spec. I need the square door handles etc.

http://www.abcgt.com/forum/4-356-Forum/ ... rt=6#17219

Brad Ripley
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#8 Post by Brad Ripley »

Derived from Kardexes in my personal files, here is a list by production date of ignition and door lock key numbers. This was an effort to determine when the "square" door handles changed over to "round door handles". Chassis numbers are not listed on purpose. Anyone care to add to list to get a closer data point?

12-Dec-55 D066 5438.00
11-Oct-56 F115 7533.00
14-Nov-56 F094 7595.00
11-Jan-57 F066 7557.00
15-Jan-57 F112 7554.00
17-Jan-57 F073 7531.00
28-Jan-57 F073 7562.00
25-Feb-57 F077 7555.00
3-Apr-57 F079 64118.00
26-Apr-57 F122 64125.00
6-May-57 F080 64114.00
19-Jul-57 F100 K182
13-Dec-57 F082 K198
22-Apr-58 K169 K169
10-Jan-59 K100 K100
10-Jan-59 K100 K100
13-Jan-59 K119 K119
27-Jan-59 K115 K115
25-Mar-59 K190 K190
31-Mar-59 K127 K127
8-May-59 K179 K179
1-Jan-62 K388 K388
14-Mar-62 K325 K325
16-Mar-62 K194 K194 T-6 RDSTR
26-Mar-62 K167 K167 T-6 RDSTR
27-Mar-62 K328 K328
29-Mar-62 K156 K156 T-6 RDSTR
11-May-62 K399 K399
9-Jul-62 K357 K357
2-Nov-62 K327 K327
8-Nov-62 K329 K329
11-Dec-62 K354 K354
21-Dec-62 K372 K372
28-Mar-63 K322 K322

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Rick Albro
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#9 Post by Rick Albro »

Brad this is a very interesting list. Do you have any data on when the change to the 57 only door handles occurred? I see that July of 57 has a k182 listed and I know that Aug 23 of 57 has a 57 only handle (This is a k1xx series...I will have to check the number). This would indicate that sometime after May 6 of 57 and probably before September of 57 is the time frame for the 57 only handles. I am assuming that 6-May-57 F080 64114.00 is an early style square handle with the preA style buttons and cylinders.
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Brad Ripley
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#10 Post by Brad Ripley »

Obviously, more data points are needed (good documented data points).

I've noticed in dealing with these door handles, that often the pin that pushes against the latch has been cut shorter and bent to be shorter. Why is that? So the square handle will actuate a T-2 or later latch?
SquareDoor handle 1.jpg
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Rick Albro
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#11 Post by Rick Albro »

Brad I have noticed the same thing about the ends being ground down, this seems to be especially true of the 57 only handles where the later buttons can fit into the 57 only handle. I assumed that the earlier mechanism was closer or had become bent. I think there was a change to a smaller lock mechanism in about 55 so if the mechanism was smaller did it move closer and need to have the actuator shortened?
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Mike Smith
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#12 Post by Mike Smith »

The crossover started with the 100 series cars
I have been corrected on this statement by someone who does usually have good information

I am told that the INTERIM Handles started sometime ? DURING the 100 series cars not with the start of them
No chassis number was quoted
Mike Smith (Essex - UK)

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Rick Albro
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#13 Post by Rick Albro »

Mike, I think your information is consistent with what Brad has posted. Coupe 100001 and cabriolet 61701 and speedster 83201 were made about March of 57. Brad's data suggests the handle change over is sometime after May 6 of 57. The intermediate or 57 only handle was still in use on August 23rd of 57. I think we need to hear from owners of chassis numbers in or around coupe 100300 and cabriolet 61770. Brad purposely avoided chassis numbers because the chassis number may not necessarily be in order by date. Paul's September of 56 coupe should have the earlier preA style handles. Thanks Paul for being patient with this little aside.
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PaulNunn
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#14 Post by PaulNunn »

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. Cheers Steve, got your pm and I now know what I'm looking for.
This is my first Porsche and I'm really enjoying the experience. The more I learn the more I realize that'll I'll never let this little car go....ever!!

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Trevor Gates
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Re: Door Handle for a Sept. 56. Square or Crossover?

#15 Post by Trevor Gates »

My square handles are long gone, but here's the info from my Kardex:
Date delivered from factory: Sept 13, 57
Last edited by Trevor Gates on Sat Mar 10, 2018 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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