First non-hatch car to have interior handle to close trunk.

Factual Questions
1

I tried to do a web search for the answer, but came up empty. I drive a 2016 Nissan Maxima, and it has an interior handle that you grab to pull the trunk closed. That way, you don’t get your hand dirty or wet on the exterior, and it also seems to guide you to use the proper amount of force. My previous car, a 2011 Subaru Legacy, also had an inside trunk handle. This was the first car I had ever seen with such a feature, and I found it to be very useful.

Does anyone know which car was first with the inside trunk handle? Is this feature pretty much ubiquitous now for sedans and coupes?

I would prefer to eliminate vehicles with full hatches, like hatchbacks, SUVs, vans, etc. I know a lot of them have had some sort of handles for a long, long time, and most now have motors for closing.

And, for the record, I’m not speaking of the inside emergency release handle (for all of those frequent occassions you get locked inside a trunk), which all new cars now have.

I know, not the most important question in the world, but it is a nice feature.

2

I’ve seen them at least 10 years ago. I remember thinking it was a great idea. As much as I hate getting my hands dirty (and seeing all those finger marks on trunk lids), I live in the Midwest so half the year it’s covered in snow/slush/mud.

My current car doesn’t have one, but luckily there’s specific spot with a little bit of a lip that I can grab and pull the trunk down (and sometimes bend my fingernails back in the process). For such a cheap little piece of plastic, you’d think they’d be on all cars.

The next thing they need to work on is a way to keep all the snow and ice from falling onto the rear window and into the trunk every time you open it in winter.

3

Don’t you have to push the trunk closed after it’s been pulled down?

4

You just pull it down with enough force (which isn’t much) that it falls the rest of the way with enough speed to latch.

5

My '67 BMW 2000CS had an interior handle you pulled and the butler came out and closed the trunk. Seriously now, the owner’s manual for the car was a hoot as every photo showed a white-gloved hand demonstrating the described operation. Search as I might I cannot find any illustrations from one of the manuals.

Dennis

6

No. You wrap your fingers around the handle and pull down with a moderate amount of force, and pull your hand out all in the same motion, and the trunk closes and latches.

7

Sounds like a recipe for broken fingers, at least for clumsy ol’ me.

8

Nah, you’re just overthinking it. Here’s a video.

9

Way back when, a lot of cars did not even have trunk linings especially on the top part.

10

But that just meant you actually had places to grab.