..for reference, the original gearshift is quite a tall thing, a delight for passing children.
Anyway, the next satisfying fix came courtesy of eBay once again. The car had key and lock issues, which included:
- Ignition key dubious.. seemed shortened and filed, and was removeable whilst leaving the engine running. Lolz.
- The key operated the drivers door only
- Locking gas cap not applicable (locking section had been sawn off
)
- Key doesn't work in the glove box (rendering my G19, Charlie, and Cutler and Grosses unacceptably vulnerable)
- Key doesn't lock rear hatch, because entire rear hatch mechanism absent and replaced by cursory insertion of what appears to be a French chrome-plated kitchen fitting of some sort. Not so much an interference fit, more of a loosey-loosey drop it in fit.
This was why from purchase, the hatch was only closed because of its own weight. At slow speeds it bounced open and shut, and at autoroute speeds the wrong-for-year spoilerrr forced it closed, thankfully.
So this was only find of the bloody year: A Key with matching ignition, glovebox, both door barrels, and full hatch latch mechanism with lock. The fuel cap would have to wait (they can be re-keyed anyway)
The set is obviously from a later car, as the key has one of those always-hopeless pushy-light doofers which I don't think were a thing in 78. And also the door barrels needed a little tickle with the grinder to get them to fit. But fit they did
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The glovebox was easy, two bolts.
And at the stern, from this
via this
to this
Unfortunately, even with a new catch, the hatch rattled like a crazy thing when driven, prompting me to realise that there was still a bit missing. And when the missing bit was replaced, it made everything lovely.
Sorted. All that was needed now, was an appropriate keyfob. A souvenir from that hot, stressful day in the South of France.