Door locks

My wife and I are going to be moving from the suburbs back into Houston where the Speedster will be exposed to a lot more people. I know that a car theif will take it if he wants it, but I would like to put locking door handles on the car to deter joy riders or anyone who might just want a peek inside. I already have an alarm, but if nothing else, locked doors would sure help me sleep better.

Does anyone know where I can get some locking handles that will fit a Vintage? Furthermore, for those of you with locks, was it a difficult switch?

Thanks,
Brian

I'm not sure door locks would provide that much security in a Speedster. I'm having a remote fuel cutoff installed in my Cabriolet and will be looking into Lo-Jack. You can rig an electric cut off switch to the distributor that will prevent the engine from starting or just remove the ignition wire from the center of the coil when you leave the car alone.

Especially on a VS all you need to do to get in is unbutton the top. I though about doing the same thing but later decided not to; I recall seeing locks with keys at Mid America Motorworks (Tweeks) for close to $100 each.

I have them installed in my Cabriolet but I'm not certain what the source was, Tweeks or Stoddard. They were indeed expensive at about a hundred bucks apiece; that price must reflect the fact that the keys actually have the PORSCHE name on them.....;-)

You could add a remote fob operated electric door lock if the current latches are VW (like CMC uses). This could be connected to an alarm system (using the same arming fob). Universal kits are available at JC Whitney for around $50 and alarm another $50-75. On my CMC, VW T3 door catch latches are used but the piece for the normal door lock button is not used - so using the electric door lock plunger behind the door panel would make opening the door much more difficult - and if hooked to alarm, once door is open alarm would sound.

Stoddards and they are pricy. But if you are determend to have them remember their are 2 types 1956 and earlier with the round hilt and 1957 and up with the square hilt.

Im with Woffy its cheaper to just wire in keyless.

Check with Carey Hines. All Becks have door locks, although all they would do is make someone think twice about climbing over the door to get in.

...or reaching in to turn the lock knob on the inside. Doh!

Did you hear about the immigrant who locked his keys in his car - it took AAA two hours to get his wife out!

Brian,
Which would you rather have:
Someone riffle through the door pockets or cut the top and riffle through the door pockets?

Most neighborhood hoodlums are too stupid to unbutton the top, they would just cut it, causing you a whole lot more harm.
-=theron

This topic bobs to the top every six months or so. ANY convertible (new or old) can have the top cut to gain entry, but they've all had door locks since about 1960 or so. Locks don't really provide any security on a 'vert, but they at least send the message that you're not inviting every passerby to "open her up and take a look".

Intermeccanica has locking buttons on all their cars, and I've got power locks as well. I had power locks installed on the JPS. If I had a car that didn't come with locking buttons, I'd install the remote locking system with an alarm, just on principle. What's it cost? $300?

If it gets stolen or broken into, explaining that it was locked would make an insurance claim a lot easier.

Palm Springs Vintage races, circa 1995. I stuck my head into an open Cobra replica to see the pedals. A voice activated by proximity sensors informed me I had five seconds to move back or the car alarm would activate. I think JPS used to install these - maybe still does.

In my book, the best security is an electric kill switch for both electrical and fuel pump. Mount the switch where you will, nobody know its there but you. True for any vehicle, not just speedsters. That and don't leave nothing in the car you can't live without, then relax and enjoy.

how about removing the steering wheel. that nice nardi one - pop i toff and take it into the office/house

hence why I don't have a stereo in my POS too. Had too many of the jacked in the past.

Stan, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I know that the chances of the car being stolen are going to increase, and I want to be able to tell my insurance company that I did everything I could to stop it. I don't know why, but I'm completely paranoid when it comes to this car.

My alarm has a kill switch built into it, and it came with the whole "please step away from the car" proximity sensor, but I turned that feature off when I realized that it acually attracted more negative attention than I was willing to deal with. Innocent people who just wanted a glimpse inside got pretty pissed when the car scolded them. Sometimes funny, sometimes not so funny.

"If it gets stolen or broken into, explaining that it was locked would make an insurance claim a lot easier."

Very good point, Stan!

I had a British roadster while living in Boston and Cambridge, At first I locked it until the top got cut, after that I always left the car unlocked. It was repeatedly "broken into" but never stolen or really vandalized.

Before that with the Mustang while I was in college, it was about the same deal.

Different times, different cars, but city living maybe hasn't changed that much, really.

I always like adding a bumper sticker "THIS VEHICLE PROTECTED BY SMITH & WESSON"

...get a car cover that has a Yugo or AMC Pacer painted on it!

Jim, add the Wartburg to your list and you've got my three favorite classic cars......NOT.

We have lo-jack with early warning on our cars, the best.
Last month Grant took his truck in for service and Grant forgot to leave the peanut in the truck so when they moved it, it sent a signal to lo-jack that the truck had been moved, immediately they called every number they had until they got a hold of Grant. I think it's the way to go. ~Esther

Esther,

How much was Lojack installation, and how much does it cost per month? I'm certain that it's worth it, I'm just curious.

Brian..The basic lojack installed is $695.00 plus tax, the lojack with early warning is more, $995.00 plus tax of course. The number you would call is 1-800-4LOJACK. Good luck. ~Esther

P.S. there is no monthly monitoring fee, it is all included.

Lotsa folks just install a blinking red diode prominently on the dashboard. Nobody is sure what the heck it is. What it is, is a blinking red diode, nothin else.

As for removeable steering wheels, my buddy drove an old 3 speed column shifter using a big set of vice grips after the original shifter broke off. Through city traffic, for several months. So why couldn't someone do the same with your steering column, and just leave you with a steering wheel as a memento of your theft?

When Corvette came out with the "ultimate" factory installed alarm system (prior to Onstar) it did not stop the pro. They simply took a long electricians drill bit and drilled a hole through the side of the front fender at exactly the right spot. The drill penetrated the bottom of the battery, all the acid slowly dripped out (this was prior to paste electrolyte). Thief came back about an hour later and towed the car away. No electric, no alarm.

Hey David, something tells me you're a "glass is half empty" kind of guy. :)

Actually Brian I'm more of a "life in the big city" type, and at my age, I've soaked up a lot of car trivia. I don't lock the car when I park it. I do turn off the battery kill switch that JPS installs under the passenger seat, and I take that key with me when I park. I never put the top up, so that issue is moot for me.

In 40 years at this address, I've had two vehicles stolen right out of the driveway (got them both back) and one vehicle broken into (caught them red-handed, they tried to run me over). Neighborhoods change over the years. Peaceful for the past 15 years.

I saw somewhere a smaller jell battery covered with a fake larger case that concealed a Lojack system. Now that's sneaky. and NEAT of course it was remote activated. but very simple install.