Abstract: A vehicle body door lock includes a pivoted operating lever connected to a pivoted transfer lever by a shiftable rod having a hooked end hooked through an opening in one end of the operating lever. The transfer lever rotates the operating lever against a spring bias. The position of the transfer lever relative to the frame is adjustably set by a bendable tab to eliminate lost motion between the hooked end of the rod and the operating lever and locate the levers and rod in rattle free relationship. The bight of the rod seats in an arcuate bearing area of the opening in the operating lever to reduce operating effort.

Abstract: A vehicle body door handle assembly includes a mounting member which is mounted to a flange of the rear portion of the upper portion of a vehicle body door and includes a housing fitting within a cutout in the flange and mounting a pull type handle. The handle is associated with an operating mechanism connected to a vehicle body door lock mounted inside the lower portion of the door. The handle and operating mechanism are mounted outwardly of the rear side wall of the door and access to the handle is provided through the rear open side of the housing and an adjacent recess in the body lock pillar.

Abstract: In a vehicle having a hinged closure member providing access by upward swinging movement to a storage space, there is provided a cover arrangement for the storage space having panels which are connected together by a one-way hinge with one of the panels also connected by a hinge to the closure member and another panel detachably secured by straps to the closure member. The one-way hinge and straps locate the panels in a generally co-planar relationship to permit same to rest on a support ledge and cover the storage space and then on upward swinging movement of the closure member the panels are moved to a position above the storage space while maintained in generally co-planar relationship to permit easy access to the storage space.

Abstract: A lock and control assembly for a vehicle tailgate of the type having a pivotal upper window portion and a pivotal lower gate portion which are hinge mounted respectively along a top edge and a bottom edge so that the opposite edges of both meet when in the closed operative position. The assembly includes a pivotal fork bolt supported adjacent the top edge of the gate portion to engage and capture a striker member which is attached to the lower edge of the window when in the closed position. A pivotal detent lever selectively releases the fork bolt and is operatively attached to a first control lever which pivots in one direction to operate the detent lever and release the fork bolt. A second control lever pivots in the opposite direction to release latch mechanisms holding the gate portion in its closed position. A lock cylinder supported in the exterior panel of the gate is aligned with the operating levers and has means to selectively actuate the levers.