5 minutes ago, ramsesosirus said:

Wow this is interesting, I'll have to try it!  i've never been able to lock my doors without using the key from the outside.  Which is actually kind of nice, not being able to lock your key in the car.  I can push the lock pegs down, from the inside, IF the door is closed.  If the door is open, the lock pegs won't go down.  Cool piece of info for sure!

Holding the handle only works on the 77 & 78. Earlier Z cars only lock when the door is closed.

6 minutes ago, SteveJ said:

Holding the handle only works on the 77 & 78. Earlier Z cars only lock when the door is closed.

Darn.  So, my 1976 doors ARE NOT supposed to lock from the outside without the key?  

Correct. Sometimes the springs break in the door mechanism, causing the door to lock automatically when it closes.

Just now, SteveJ said:

Correct. Sometimes the springs break in the door mechanism, causing the door to lock automatically when it closes.

Thanks!  That was one thing on my "TO DO" list, to take apart the door and get it to work.. DONE!  That was easy.