# Classic car lockout **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 18, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034 "2009-06-18T13:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mcmccollough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbce88/32.png) [@mcmccollough](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmccollough)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/1 "2009-06-18T13:54:44Z")
Is there a way (without damage) to get into the trunk of a 1953 Chevrolet convertible with broken linkage in the latch? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/2 "2009-06-18T13:57:46Z")
Can you remove the back seat and get in that way? ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/3 "2009-06-18T15:14:49Z")
It depends on where the linkage is broken. A locksmith might be able to help. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/4 "2009-06-18T23:42:36Z")
I doubt that a '53 Chevy has that option. My 65 Chevy didn’t, the trunk was enclosed the whole way. Try prying off the lock and sticking a finger in the hole(I know that sounds dirtier than I intend :P) looking for a release mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/5 "2009-06-19T00:09:56Z")
It appears there’s a solid panel between where the top stores and the trunk. [http://search.aol.com/aol/imageDetails?s\_it=imageDetails&q=1953+chev+convertible&img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicsareus.com%2Fimg%2Fblastad%2F53chevconv03.jpg&site=&host=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicsareus.com%2Fblastad.html&width=150&height=113&thumbUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fimages-partners-tbn.google.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AMzV3K-mOfqHSMM%3Awww.classicsareus.com%2Fimg%2Fblastad%2F53chevconv03.jpg&b=image%3Fq%3D1953%2Bchev%2Bconvertible%26page%3D2%26oreq%3D94ba231c9c03dfff&imgHeight=1200&imgWidth=1600&imgTitle=\1953\<%2Fb\>+Chevrolet+\Convertible\<%2Fb\>+-+AFTER&imgSize=428624&hostName=www.classicsareus.com](http://search.aol.com/aol/imageDetails?s_it=imageDetails&q=1953+chev+convertible&img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicsareus.com%2Fimg%2Fblastad%2F53chevconv03.jpg&site=&host=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classicsareus.com%2Fblastad.html&width=150&height=113&thumbUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fimages-partners-tbn.google.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AMzV3K-mOfqHSMM%3Awww.classicsareus.com%2Fimg%2Fblastad%2F53chevconv03.jpg&b=image%3Fq%3D1953%2Bchev%2Bconvertible%26page%3D2%26oreq%3D94ba231c9c03dfff&imgHeight=1200&imgWidth=1600&imgTitle=%3Cb%3E1953%3C%2Fb%3E+Chevrolet+%3Cb%3EConvertible%3C%2Fb%3E+-+AFTER&imgSize=428624&hostName=www.classicsareus.com) Tester ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/6 "2009-06-19T00:40:10Z")
Remove the rear seat back. If there are holes in the support panel a socket, rachet and a few long extensions might get the latch off. If not Curly Howard would say “I’d blast”. ---
**Author:** ![mcmccollough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbce88/32.png) [@mcmccollough](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmccollough)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/7 "2009-06-19T01:05:34Z")
Thanks, folks. The locksmiths won’t touch it, and there is a solid steel panel behind the rear seat/top stowage. Still hoping someone has one of these and can see a way in, with the benefit of being able to look inside the trunk, before the blasting starts. ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/8 "2009-06-19T01:10:00Z")
Remove the seat back cushion and drill a hole with a hole saw. These can cut metal. It might be pricey but there are rachet extensions that lock together so they do not come apart. You do not need a special permit for these but you will need a blasting permit. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/9 "2009-06-19T02:17:27Z")
If you can’t find an easy way in here, have a look here: [http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb](http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb) Register and ask away. I scrolled through 20 pages on the 49-54’s but no trunk lock questions. Somebody will know how to open it without doing damage. Tons of GM vehicle info here. ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/10 "2009-06-19T08:55:38Z")
Sounds to me like you will probably end up replacing the latch mechanism no matter what. Why not get the replacement and study it? Maybe a way to force the latch with minimal collateral damage will suggest itself. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/classic-car-lockout/32034/11 "2009-06-19T23:01:50Z")
If they don’t know what’s in the trunk to begin with, cutting into it might not be a good idea