Boot lid handle

[nonote]

At the club meet last week the two P6s in attendance happened to be parked side by side with the boots facing our outdoor table. All was well until yours truly noticed that our boot lid handles were different, mine was higher than the other car's although both use the original holes. This piqued my interest again and I now know the boot lid handle for the boot mount kit is different to the series 1 door handles, if the differing numbers and descriptions in my parts catalogues mean anything. I know it's common for people to use the door handles as they do the job but can anybody explain what the difference is between the door and boot handles (if there is a difference)?
Anybody have a reference photo of an unmolested boot that might help my latest conundrum?
Attached are two pics of my handle (excuse the mucky paint) and the cover of the Rover instruction leaflet. I wonder if my car is correct as we both seem to think the leaflet confirms our is right!

 

[Phil Robson]

Sorry, but I can't see a difference....

 

[chrisw]

This is a NOS bootlid, and the handle is fitted in the original holes

Not all bootlids with the kit, actually came with it fitted. Some people take a kit from a spares car, and fit it to their own bootlids, as it's easier than repainting it

As for the handle; the difference is that the bootlid handle is flat on the back, whereas the door handles are curved. A lot of people just fit door handles, as they're easier to come by

With regards to which way around is correct; as per the brochure. Again, a lot are the other way around, as the correct way actually looks upside down compared with the door handles

Yours looks fine..

 

[nonote]

Well thank you Chris for the information, question answered within minutes! It makes sense now, of course the door handles need to have curved bases.
Phil, I thought that mine matched the brochure illustration and you agree so my mate probably has a door handle on his boot which would explain why his looks lower. He'd checked loads of on line images so probably most of those were using door handles as well, as you would expect with the proper handles becoming scarce.
What a great place this is - thank you!
Steve

 

[GRTV8]

could be that they are different series cars

 

[nonote]

HI Gerald GRTV8,
Mate's car is a series 1 that has been given a series 2 bonnet and several coats of the shiniest glossiest black paint that you have ever seen! I'll badger him for some pics as it really is a credit to him (and the not so small fortune it cost him to restore it). He has spent 4 or 5 years at it and is keen to get every detail as it should be (series 2 bonnet and black paint plus a few interior tweaks excepted) and now that we have a noticed the discrepancy with the boot handles it will be nagging at him (and me) to find out why. If you knew somebody with a totally original really tidy Series 2 with boot mount perhaps you could include a pic of the handle for us to compare? Anyway it would be interesting to find out if the boot mount kits changed over the years.

Mine is getting a bit of use now and I'm making a niggles list to keep me occupied during the "garage time" when the roads get salted. There's a bit of a clatter from the back end over pot holes which may be bush related (all new polybushes) and the brake warning light switch needs a tweak after me winning the long hard battle to get the handbrake up to a decent standard, it will now hold the car in drive even if I lightly blip the throttle - great result for me! I shall also try not to break the hazard switch when I take the consol out next time.
Front pattern part shockers are rusting quite badly and, although they work very well, they will be swapped out for some NOS Armstrong units which will have a coating of lanoguard to protect them.
Steve

 

[GRTV8]

I can post a pic of my Series 2 boot lid handle if it helps
My car is original in every respect as I bought her new in 72 and have never altered her.

 

[nonote]

Hi Gerald GRTV8
A pic of your car's set up would definitely help. I think mine is also as it should be but a pic of yours, being as it is in as built condition, should settle the issue!

Chris, just magnified your pic again and that looks exactly as mine (as you said) but that looks like some expensive paintwork!

Steve

 

[quattro]

Any help?

 

[chrisw]

Hi Gerald GRTV8
A pic of your car's set up would definitely help. I think mine is also as it should be but a pic of yours, being as it is in as built condition, should settle the issue!

Chris, just magnified your pic again and that looks exactly as mine (as you said) but that looks like some expensive paintwork!

Steve

It wasn't cheap, but was supposed to be Copperleaf which it certainly isn't after parking next to a proper Copperleaf car, so it'll get repainted at some point.

 

[GRTV8]

Hi Gerald GRTV8
A pic of your car's set up would definitely help. I think mine is also as it should be but a pic of yours, being as it is in as built condition, should settle the issue!

Chris, just magnified your pic again and that looks exactly as mine (as you said) but that looks like some expensive paintwork!

Steve

Ive seen a few of these handles replaced upside down after a repaint or replacement

 

[nonote]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my latest issue. My handle seems to match all the images folks have been kind enough to post and I've come up with my own explanation of the correct way the handle should be:

1. Ends of the handle should be flat against the boot lid, if not they are probably door handles.
2. The "triangle" shaped ends should be fitted with the longest face underneath when viewed from the sides.
3. The most comfortable side of the handle is at the top when it should be at the bottom so it's no wonder they are sometimes seen upside down!

The other option is IT DOESN'T MATTER A HOOT SO LONG AS THE OWNER IS HAPPY WITH IT!

Happy if anybody else can offer a simpler way of checking. As an aside it seems a good way of clearing obsolete factory stock if you can repurpose an obsolete door handle just by machining the ends flat before it gets chromed. Wonder if that's how they did it on the later cars.

To Chris, regarding your paint, I had my Zircon Blue car computer scanned at the local paint factors a few days ago and the best named colour match was Valencia Blue , a Triumph colour. The chips away chap is being as helpful as he can and after 30 years my paint will be anything but pristine!
Not really seen many copperleaf cars but I bet being a red based colour it was subject to a lot of fading. I'd be absolutely gutted to have to do anything to that paintwork on your car.

Steve