The 'E' Type Forum

My 1969 Series2 2+2 does not have any arm rest / door handles on the interior panels for the doors. I've looked at a friends car and his does have them.

So at first I was assuming the car has been re-trimmed and they have not fitted them for some reason. However I was at a classic car meet yesterday and a chap there mentioned that some Series 2 cars did not have them fitted for a short time due to 'industrial action'.

Anybody able to shed any light or confirm if they have a car missing the arm rests?

Even if they were not fitted originally, I'm tempted to retrofit them if the job isn't too involved.

Not sure quite what the story is behind why some do and some don't, but my May 1969 built FHC didn't have them.

When I got the car restored we added them back in, largely because they give something a bit more substantial with which to pull the door closed than that little lip surrounding the latch (perhaps not too much of an issue for the gentle, loving owner, but a potential snag point for any ham-fisted passenger).

Just be aware that the originals were moulded out of something fairly offensive to the eye. If you're going to fit them you might want to consider having them trimmed to match the door cards (there's a bit in Chris Rooke's book about this).

Clausager P117 shows earlier S2s without door handles only to be later re-introduced.

Geoff

Hi Brian....as you say some have them and some dont have a look here from the SNG site http://www.sngbarratt.com/CatalogueProd ... 47&a=17223
On my 69 i have this type....the fixing holes are 5 1/2in apart...a screw goes through the handel at a slight upward angle... remove your doorcard and look to see if you have the captive nut locations..on mine there was one at one end then one at 5 1/2 & one at 6 1/2in they are available from suppliers, colours vary but i retrimmed mine to match the interiour colour....not easy but details on forum if needed.. Steve

Thanks for the info guys, I think that adding the armrests looks to be a good idea so I guess an SNG Barratt order will be made soon. Just need to work out where to get them trimmed next.

Hi Brian.....you can get them in different colours from various places, however the match to you trim colour will not be great unless its black....some trimmers spray paint them to match....and some can retrim with vinyl or leather....i was looking for a diy option and came up with this viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9964

I have an early S2 - no armrests ever fitted. I think Haddocks book gives a point where they were introduced. I will check...
Incidentally, I learnt to drive in a Morris Marina and you will be glad to learn that at least visually, it had the same armrests fitted. Perhaps the BL parts bin was raided for the E type...

Looking at the parts catalogue for S2 in the knowledge base section it gives this info for armrests
Fitted to 1R1326 onwards..ots
1R10335 onwards...ots
1R20391 " " fhc
1R26756 " " fhc
1R35547 " " 2+2
1R42583 " " 2+2
Haveing said that my car is 1R35500 2+2 so from the above should not have them but it does....were they from the factory...who knows.....the doors have the fixings ? .... Steve

That's interesting - fitted after a certain Chassis number. Mine is 1R35419 which is earlier.

Morris Marina armrests eh! Amazing how much Marina bits you find in more 'exotic' cars. My Lotus Esprit has Marina door handles and indicator stalk!

zigzagsky wrote:My Lotus Esprit has Marina door handles and indicator stalk!

If it's any consolation, Ferrari raided the FIAT parts bin when they put together the F40.

My early S2 roadster which is almost totally original has no arm rests. Apparently the early ones weren't fitted with them by design, but a change of mind as a result of there being nothing to hang on to when pulling the door shut meant they were reintroduced fairly quickly.

Just to add my pennys worth, my early S2 1R25275 did not come with door handles fitted. And the original door cards show no sign of ever having had them. However behind the door cards the doors have mounting screw holes for handles. So in my case would be easy enough to reto fit. Kris

Thanks Kris, I'll remove one of my door cards and check for the fittings. The cards themselves so no signs of any fitting positions or marks.

Hi my Jan 69 came without them, Chassis IR 8396 and no traces of holes in the cards.

There is no sign that anybody over the last 50 years could have been bothered to mess about with them (from compelling evidence of general not-so-benevolent complete neglect) or would have been likely to replace colour matched door cards. So I would say 99% sure they were never fitted.

I did buy some in matching magnolia from Barratts, but the paint falls off from even gentle handling, so they were never fitted. I bought them assuming that they had been fitted from new, without checking.

I suppose they could be handy if the SWB cockpit gives you agoraphobia.