Happy New Years All,
Here is a FYI post for a quick fix I hope can help a fellow C 3 owner when the dreaded hand brake release button detaches.

Even though most of the U.S is getting hammered by winter storms, So. Cal. has been a beautiful, clear 80 deg. So last weekend I fired up my 74 for a cruise. I got my perfect idle that I spent hours working on and my tunes are blaring. When I released the hand brake to back out of the garage and start my adventure, the friggin release button and spring come flying out of the hand lever ricocheting all around the interior of the car.

As usual, my first thoughts were, this only happens to me. Then I curse the GM engineers for a s@#$y design. Fortunately maturity sets in and I realize my car is 52 years old. 46 of those years I owned it and racked up 330 miles, that's a lot of hand brake releases without an issue. As I researched how to repair this minor naissance, I found that I was in fact not alone; many C 3 owners have and or will be dealing with this repair. So, here is the quick, down and dirty.

First, if the button comes off don't lose it. THEY ARE NOT SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. You will have to replace the entire hand lever assembly. 1977 and newer seem to be available for around $250. 1976 and older appear to be harder to find. I do not know if the newer models can be adapted to fit in the older C 3's. There is a used market for the hand levers but the ones I found were beat up cosmetically and is that button and spring just waiting to fly off once it is pressed back into service?

I included photos to explain the repair which is simple and straight forward. The spring slides over a rod inside the hand lever and the button compresses the spring. Originally the button is attached to the rod by pressure, mine did last 52 years. For the repair, scuff up the inside of the button and the rod with a small file and then slide the spring over the rod. Use a small amount of adhesive, I used JB Plastic Weld, inside the button hole, careful not to get the adhesive on the sides of the button or you may permanently affix it to the inside of the lever. Also ensure you have the button positioned the correct way - it will not function if it is inserted upside down. The angle of the face of the button is consistent with the angel of the hand lever. Compress the spring with the button and slide the button onto the rod and maintain in it the compressed / release position and secure it there with that blue painters tape overnight. according to the posts I read this is a reliable long term repair. Mine is only only two days old; I will advise if it fails.

This fix did come from various posts from several different forums including this one. I did want to contribute the photos.
Hope This Helps Somebody!

 

My handle on my 73 was not looking very good, the metal chrome area was past its prime. You can purchase just the handle and REUSE all the other components. I will admit to being price conscious and used a vendor with the lowest cost (that did not include the metal punch). The handle is held on by two metal pins, make sure you buy a handle that includes the round punches. My normal punches were not the correct diameter. Hopefully the J B Weld will hold.

 

I would be interested in scoring a handle just to have it. Three days and holding for the JB Weld.