Aftermarket deadlocks for classic car
Discussion
The door locks on my current scimitar are well past their best. They can be opened with anything that will fit the keyslot.
The locks are integrated with the door handles so replacing like for like is unlikely to come across any that are a huge improvement (the door handles/locks are from the BL parts bin as fitted to scimitars/allegros/range rovers/etc).
I remember back in the day getting some chubb deadlocks fitted to a couple of cars.
They were the type where a extra lock was located on the door and when locked the door couldn't be opened no matter if the original lock was unlocked or locked.
I remember that being a pain on a xr3i I owned when you had to either get out and walk round to unlock the deadlock or pass the key to whoever was getting into the car.
Someone helping themselves to some parts from my scimitar has prompted me to do something about security.
I have already fitted a electronic immobiliser but want to try and make the car a bit more secure.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of aftermarket type locks sold anymore that are not orientated toward van doors.
I've had a search on ebay etc and not come up with a lot.
Surely someone must still make something that can be used on a classic car door without looking a million miles out of place.
The locks are integrated with the door handles so replacing like for like is unlikely to come across any that are a huge improvement (the door handles/locks are from the BL parts bin as fitted to scimitars/allegros/range rovers/etc).
I remember back in the day getting some chubb deadlocks fitted to a couple of cars.
They were the type where a extra lock was located on the door and when locked the door couldn't be opened no matter if the original lock was unlocked or locked.
I remember that being a pain on a xr3i I owned when you had to either get out and walk round to unlock the deadlock or pass the key to whoever was getting into the car.
Someone helping themselves to some parts from my scimitar has prompted me to do something about security.
I have already fitted a electronic immobiliser but want to try and make the car a bit more secure.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of aftermarket type locks sold anymore that are not orientated toward van doors.
I've had a search on ebay etc and not come up with a lot.
Surely someone must still make something that can be used on a classic car door without looking a million miles out of place.
I know what you mean. The ones on my old SE5 were hopeless (& they didn't have steering locks!) although to be fair they were very worn.
I was going to suggest you asked on the Scimitar website, but assuming you use the same user name I see you already have!
Even replacing the barrels might be problematic, I have a 1986 RRC & I think their door locks are the same & some items are getting very difficult.
If you have an as-new key might be worth speaking to a locksmith to see if they can overhaul the existing locks by replacing the wafers.
I was going to suggest you asked on the Scimitar website, but assuming you use the same user name I see you already have!
Even replacing the barrels might be problematic, I have a 1986 RRC & I think their door locks are the same & some items are getting very difficult.
If you have an as-new key might be worth speaking to a locksmith to see if they can overhaul the existing locks by replacing the wafers.
Edited by paintman on Tuesday 13th November 20:32
I am sure the door locks on my old se5 were better than the ones on the se6 I currently have.
Yes I have asked about the scimitar locks before which is why I thought about the chubb deadlock type would be the next best and possibly a easier answer.
I remember when I had them fitted to the xr3i & xr2 that the aftermarket locks were easy to find. (pretty sure I got them from a local motorsport place called Midac racing (sadly now long gone)).
I guess there is no market for them anymore so nobody stocks/makes them.
A freind of mine is a locksmith & I admit I hadn't thought of that route.
I will give him a call & see if he can help.
thanks.
Yes I have asked about the scimitar locks before which is why I thought about the chubb deadlock type would be the next best and possibly a easier answer.
I remember when I had them fitted to the xr3i & xr2 that the aftermarket locks were easy to find. (pretty sure I got them from a local motorsport place called Midac racing (sadly now long gone)).
I guess there is no market for them anymore so nobody stocks/makes them.
A freind of mine is a locksmith & I admit I hadn't thought of that route.
I will give him a call & see if he can help.
thanks.
I used to have a Mini (a proper A Series one not some lardy BMW 0.5 Series).
The door locks were a joke, one side couldn't be opened from outside and the other side didn't lock. I fitted a cheap audible alarm and kept nothing in the car that I wasn't happy losing.
The car was broken into twice to try to steal, the first time they got in but couldn't break the steering lock as they tried kicking the steering wheel to break the lock, but the lock stayed fixed but the steering column rotated in its fixing (score 1 to the Mini).
The second time they stuck a screw driver through the door skin and tried to unlock the car that way, however, they picked the side that couldn't be opened from the outside (score 2 to the Mini).
The fact that they wouldn't have been able to start the car even if they had got in (unless you knew exactly where the peg to hold the choke went you had no chance!) never got tested.
The moral of this is, keep nothing in the car you are not happy losing and older cars often have ways to stop thieves anyway.
The door locks were a joke, one side couldn't be opened from outside and the other side didn't lock. I fitted a cheap audible alarm and kept nothing in the car that I wasn't happy losing.
The car was broken into twice to try to steal, the first time they got in but couldn't break the steering lock as they tried kicking the steering wheel to break the lock, but the lock stayed fixed but the steering column rotated in its fixing (score 1 to the Mini).
The second time they stuck a screw driver through the door skin and tried to unlock the car that way, however, they picked the side that couldn't be opened from the outside (score 2 to the Mini).
The fact that they wouldn't have been able to start the car even if they had got in (unless you knew exactly where the peg to hold the choke went you had no chance!) never got tested.
The moral of this is, keep nothing in the car you are not happy losing and older cars often have ways to stop thieves anyway.
Thanks everyone.
Its looking like rebuilding a good set of door handle locks is a possibility but could be quite costly with a question mark over availability of all the parts.
My friendly locksmith is willing to give it a go if I can find the parts.
The locksmith did suggest seeing if I could find some new old stock door handles and rework the ignition lock so the car uses the same key all round.
A alarm is being fitted over the next few days too.
What ever I can do cant make things worse.
Its also been suggested to take the old locks out of the equation and use central locking solenoids on the lock operating rods inside the doors.
My only concern with that is failure of the solenoids & or the battery going flat but its been said that its unlikely that both the solenoids would fail at the same time.
All options to consider.
Its looking like rebuilding a good set of door handle locks is a possibility but could be quite costly with a question mark over availability of all the parts.
My friendly locksmith is willing to give it a go if I can find the parts.
The locksmith did suggest seeing if I could find some new old stock door handles and rework the ignition lock so the car uses the same key all round.
A alarm is being fitted over the next few days too.
What ever I can do cant make things worse.
Its also been suggested to take the old locks out of the equation and use central locking solenoids on the lock operating rods inside the doors.
My only concern with that is failure of the solenoids & or the battery going flat but its been said that its unlikely that both the solenoids would fail at the same time.
All options to consider.
Yale used to make security door locks.
They were fitted to my first 3 Litre Capri when i bought it in Jan 82.
One night i came out of a bar and noticed that the drivers door was ajar. Someone had opened the OE door lock, but very fortuneatly the Yale had stopped the scum from getting in.
I subsequently fitted another pair of these door locks to another pair of Capri doors.
I also recall an ex pals Mexico had the same Yale locks fitted as well.
They were fitted to my first 3 Litre Capri when i bought it in Jan 82.
One night i came out of a bar and noticed that the drivers door was ajar. Someone had opened the OE door lock, but very fortuneatly the Yale had stopped the scum from getting in.
I subsequently fitted another pair of these door locks to another pair of Capri doors.
I also recall an ex pals Mexico had the same Yale locks fitted as well.
Looks like the fog of time has got me again and the chubb locks were made by yale.
I was convinced the last set I had fitted to the xr3i were chubb but could be wrong as a lot of water has gone under the bridge since.
Yes the yale m69 look very much like what I remember and am looking for.
Now I know their full name getting some will be easier hopefully.
I remember similar to the above post with both the xr2 & the 3i where the factory lock had been opened but they hadn't noticed the additional lock further down the door.
Sadly on one of the occasions they had taken to breaking the window to gain access but a hidden switch under the carpet prevented them taking the car.
Saying that I got changing the fixed door glass in the xr2 down to a art as had to change a few over the years.
Thanks everyone that's now given me some hope that I might be able to get a set after all.
I was convinced the last set I had fitted to the xr3i were chubb but could be wrong as a lot of water has gone under the bridge since.
Yes the yale m69 look very much like what I remember and am looking for.
Now I know their full name getting some will be easier hopefully.
I remember similar to the above post with both the xr2 & the 3i where the factory lock had been opened but they hadn't noticed the additional lock further down the door.
Sadly on one of the occasions they had taken to breaking the window to gain access but a hidden switch under the carpet prevented them taking the car.
Saying that I got changing the fixed door glass in the xr2 down to a art as had to change a few over the years.
Thanks everyone that's now given me some hope that I might be able to get a set after all.
Edited by laters on Thursday 15th November 20:54
I remember back in the day getting some chubb deadlocks fitted to a couple of cars.
They were the type where a extra lock was located on the door and when locked the door couldn't be opened no matter if the original lock was unlocked or locked.
Maybe what you describe
I had a 2 door Allegro many years ago I bought secondary door locks for it
I had to fit a key lock near the front door , cut a slot in the door pillar and cut a slot in the door panel
When I turned the key it turned a bar into the door and you couldn't open the door if you only opened the normal lock
Can't think where I got them from sorry
They were the type where a extra lock was located on the door and when locked the door couldn't be opened no matter if the original lock was unlocked or locked.
Maybe what you describe
I had a 2 door Allegro many years ago I bought secondary door locks for it
I had to fit a key lock near the front door , cut a slot in the door pillar and cut a slot in the door panel
When I turned the key it turned a bar into the door and you couldn't open the door if you only opened the normal lock
Can't think where I got them from sorry
Back when I used to own my FIAT X1/9's, I used to use the factory fitted immobiliser that most older classic cars come with, to prevent them being stolen - I used to remove the rotor arm whenever I parked them!
It was a little trick my Grandfather told me about, and it worked a treat!
It was a little trick my Grandfather told me about, and it worked a treat!
I had some uprated locks fitted to my scimitar. I'm pretty sure I posted pictures and details on scimitarweb forum but it was about 10 years ago. They were the round keys like you see on vending machines. I forget the name but if you google ESD round or tumbler lock, that is the type. I also have the same on my tvr, a locksmith in east london did them. I forget where but I can check; it was a real dive of a place!
My scimitar is a SE5, which has different handles to the se5a
SE5 - Cortina Mk1
SE5a - Mini
TVR M Series - Cortina Mk 2 (later ones had capri door handles but not mine.)
So the Cortina handles took the uprated cylinders no problem., I don't know if the mini ones do
My scimitar is a SE5, which has different handles to the se5a
SE5 - Cortina Mk1
SE5a - Mini
TVR M Series - Cortina Mk 2 (later ones had capri door handles but not mine.)
So the Cortina handles took the uprated cylinders no problem., I don't know if the mini ones do
Stigproducts said:
I had some uprated locks fitted to my scimitar. I'm pretty sure I posted pictures and details on scimitarweb forum but it was about 10 years ago. They were the round keys like you see on vending machines. I forget the name but if you google ESD round or tumbler lock, that is the type. I also have the same on my tvr, a locksmith in east london did them. I forget where but I can check; it was a real dive of a place!
My scimitar is a SE5, which has different handles to the se5a
SE5 - Cortina Mk1
SE5a - Mini
TVR M Series - Cortina Mk 2 (later ones had capri door handles but not mine.)
So the Cortina handles took the uprated cylinders no problem., I don't know if the mini ones do
I had a moment of clarity. My scimitar is a SE5, which has different handles to the se5a
SE5 - Cortina Mk1
SE5a - Mini
TVR M Series - Cortina Mk 2 (later ones had capri door handles but not mine.)
So the Cortina handles took the uprated cylinders no problem., I don't know if the mini ones do
It was a HYKEE lock and these monkeys did it https://londoneastsecuritycentre.com/ in Manor Park.
BUT, one of mine since packed in. I asked them about a repair and they said they couldn't help, even if I paid, something about not being able to get parts (despite not even seeing what was wrong and therefore what was needed)
I don't know if these will any good for your doors but I fitted some similar to an mg I had years ago
From www.moss-europe.co.uk.
Part number bhh 973s
High security locks
Hal
From www.moss-europe.co.uk.
Part number bhh 973s
High security locks
Hal
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