Power Door Lock Trivia

[epriv]

What year was the first to offer power door locks as an option? Just curious.

Mitch

[NC1968Riviera]

According to Wikipedia:

Power door locks were introduced on the luxury Scripps-Booth in 1914, but were not common on luxury cars until Packard reintroduced them in 1956. Nearly every car model today offers this feature as at least optional equipment.

[Pat Curran]

Some were vacuum operated while others are electric.  I recall a friend with an old T'Bird that had issues with the vacuum locks.  

3 hours ago, DShip said:

 

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Pat Curran
update content (see edit history)

[epriv]

Sorry, I should have said what year for the Riviera

[Seafoam65]

That would be the vacuum power door lock option on the 1966 Riviera.

[68RIVGS]

All the 2nd gen Riviera had vacuum locks, '66 - '70 with miles of !/8" color coded hoses !

When did they go electric ?

[Seafoam65]

1971 on the Riviera.  

[epriv]

Thanks, I see some cars advertised with power locks when I know darn well they don't have them.

[NC1968Riviera]

1 hour ago, epriv said:

Thanks, I see some cars advertised with power locks when I know darn well they don't have them.

I assume PDL's can be added to almost any car that didn't come with them originally, (with enough $$$ and know-how).

[KongaMan]

I put a cheap power door lock system in the 64.  It's triggered by the lock pulls: one goes up, both doors unlock; one goes down, both doors lock.  There was no remote feature, but using the key in either door would lock or unlock both.  Sounds like a neat concept, but the hardware was not up to the job and it eventually quit working completely.  

 

My other idea was to install the switch plates for power vents, then use the vent switches for the door locks.  After pricing out the hardware (plates, switches, actuators, etc.), the cost exceeded the benefit and I never followed through.

 

At the end of the day, it's a 2-door car.  Doing the occasional reach-over just isn't that big of an inconvenience.