Today I brought home my late brother's 81 T-top to check it our for a few day, with plans to probably buy it from his widow. While checking it out, I inadvertently locked the doors, then shut the doors with the key in it. That is the only key we know of. The driver's door is fully latched. The passenger door is latched and cannot be re-opened, but it did not shut fully, so it is not totally flush with the body. Before I call a locksmith, any tips on how I can get back into my car?
Thanks!

Our prayers to your family.

You can get a towing company to open it with a slim jim. Have them go in from the passenger side as the drivers side has the wiring for the alarm right in the area of the rod that they will pull on.

Good luck!!!



Alex

alexnelsen said: You can get a towing company to open it with a slim jim. Have them go in from the passenger side as the drivers side has the wiring for the alarm right in the area of the rod that they will pull on.

Agreed. Let us know what happens!

Try to bend a rod or piece of flat metal and pop the t-top lever down and remove the top and then you can take the key and unlock the door. Slim jims do not work on a vette as there is a water gurard inside the door over the lock. These cars are very hard to get into with out the key. I have used a rag aroung a screwdriver to pop the top front of the window out and used a stiff yardstick to reach in and activate the lock. you may have to attach a wire hook to it to pull the lever out. on 72's I just push down on the inside lock and force it to rotate and it will open.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks Pantera. I got in with your suggestion! If it helps anyone in the future, the access point was at the bottom rear of window. I guess age had shrunk the weatherstripping at the rear of the window enough that there is a little gap there. I bent a 1/4" steel rod into this shape:
____
|____

From the side, it looked like a flattened out "V". That allowed me to push the T-Top lever down and remove it.
Thanks again for the idea!


from the side
___ I fashions a that comes down the on the Age had left of the