This was a
traditional modification on many leadsleds,
dating back to the 1940s, to achieve a smoother look. Doorhandles was
removed, and opening actuated by hidden mechanically wire, or by
electric solenoids. Hidden switches, or wire feed was used.
Also pushbuttons was used for electric actuating. The late
40s Lincoln had nearly flush pushbuttons, mechanically operated the
lock.
This is how
i did it:
To get around the trouble of electric solenoids, who could fail, and
in my country, the possibility of frozen doors in winter, i mocked up
a mechanically button-opener where i also could use the key to
lock/unlock the
doors, for safety/ insurance reasons.
The lower parts of the door needed new steel, because of rust, so this
modification was done
at the same time.
Doorhandles removed, i´d cutted the doorpanel and metal back to
inner structure, straight rearwards.
Together with the window channel is also a channel stiffener who
needed a little trimming, to fit the doorlock in place.
Here you see the mocked up lock/opener actuator
triggering original lock. Cylinder is used with press-in to open, right
turn to
lock, left turn to open.
Just as in the original handle.
Outer skin/edge welded, with original doorknob's flush against panel.
Locking mechanism is unaffected by this modification.
Finished grinded welds. Knob is flush with doorskin.
Cutted front part of fins, and extended these forward
into the doors, making frontpart on doors as "handlegrip"
 Finished
with opener, and "fin-handle" on the doors.
Found this solution to make nicer floating lines in body.
The "grip" get some extra strength in doorskin, with
welded in supportplates at inside.
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