'70-'72 emergency brake handle

[Warren F.]

The TM&JG states the handle is plastic, diamond pattern. Does this handle have a portion on the top that is plastic chrome plated, or is there an exposed portion of the chrome brake lever I'm looking at in the drawing?

The reason for asking, is the handle in my car is a pliable black rubber with the finger depression grip on underside. When was this used? Is it a later replacement? Are correct originals available or proper reproduction? I'm referencing this to a April built '71 car.

[Joe L.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

Warren-----

Original parking brake lever handles for 1971 used a black, polystyrene plastic with a "diamond" grip pattern. There was a chrome plated plastic bezel at the top. This style handle was used from 1967 through 1976. There are some variations in the "diamond" grip pattern and the upper plastic bezel finish for early cars in the 67-70 year models.

The handle that you describe as being in your car is part of a later replacement assembly of GM #14033719. This handle assembly was originally used for 1982 Corvettes and became the SERVICE replacement for 67-81 models.

I'd be interested to hear from owners of 1977 to 1981 Corvettes with known-original handles as to the configuration of the handles on their cars. These cars originally used handle assembly GM #378207 which, for a short while in the late 70s-early 80s, also became the SERVICE replacement for 67-76 models. I'd like to know what the configuration of the 378207 was.

[Warren F.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

Joe:

Thank you, very much for your indepth reply!

My car was flight judged 10 years apart, one a National event, the other a Regional event. Both sets of interior judges took NO deduction for this part, have original score sheets.

I didn't even realize this was incorrect until I was browsing thru the TIM&JG today, and read the description of this part.

I'll start the search for the correct original part.

Warren

[Wayne W.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

67 through sometime in 70 had the first style handle. It had a real diamond cut pattern on the grip. It could have had chrome or all black depending on what time frame. The later style had a pressed pattern, which I wouldnt call a diamond. It is more like little dashes and is considerably more smooth in texture. These had chrome on all as far as I know. The late style had the slick sides with no pattern.

[Tom R.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

My bowtie 78 has the smooth handle with the grip pattern on the bottom side but it is a smooth plastic rather than pliable described for GM #14033719. Its finished with the chrome plated bezel and plack push button.

[Reba Whittington]

[Warren F.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

Reba:

Thanks for the response and information.

If I am understanding you, I should be looking for a good used one from a '70 to '72 car to be correct, and not from a '68 or '69?

[Wayne W.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

Reba,

I consider all of the early style with the diamond cut pattern as one except that some had chrome and others didn`t. The all black pattern is prominent in early 67 changing to chrome later in the year when most are chrome. Near the end of 67 black starts showing up again and early 68s were mostly black for a while.

[John H.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

Judging isn't always consistent on this issue, in spite of the wording in the '67 JG; my late (June) '67 has the diamond-pattern no-chrome handle which the JG says was on all cars prior to #6000 and "both designs appear throughout the model year" after that, but I got a deduction for mine. Better luck next time...

[Wayne W.]

Re: '70-'72 emergency brake handle

The judging manual is technically wrong if it says that. If a judge deducts for either handle in any serial number range, he really doesnt know, and is folowing to the letter the wording in the manual. Heck at least one of first few cars had a stainless steel handle.