Mystery lock

Since I get to guess first, Im going with its the electrical for the tow hitch.  So you can tow a 5th wheel. Italians love 5th wheel vacations driving through all those mountain passes.

...Sounds like a 'Key Switch' for a Theft Alarm.

MJ

Totally impossible to give an informed answer without a photo. Please do post when available.

Larry

@daxters75 posted:

Since I get to guess first, Im going with its the electrical for the tow hitch.  So you can tow a 5th wheel. Italians love 5th wheel vacations driving through all those mountain passes.

😂😂😂  tow hitch❓❓

Was just cheering up the day before a picture is posted. I had many guesses, cig lighter, jump start portal, usb connection and a key holder.

Here is a short video of the lock

Bizarre! Surely not from DeTomaso. Looks like some type of immobilizer or alarm.

That's what I am leaning toward, that somehow it disables the electronics of the car so it would not start.  Unfortunately I do not have the key that goes to that lock; or I have it somewhere and didn't know what it was for, so I just stored it and forgot about it.  So I can't turn it to see its effect.  I am thinking since the wires from the electrical box on the back side of this key lock go to a fuse box, maybe it disables all the fuses and the car doesn't start?  It might be a 1970s version of an anti theft device.   Curious indeed.  Boy, is it well hidden though.  Again, 8 years of ownership and I have been under the back of the car a dozen times, and just saw it for the first time the other night.  If it is an anti theft disabling function, then it is ingenious for its time.

Thanks for the video, although it doesn’t give us much to go with. You mentioned wires and fuses. How about some photos, not just videos, of the wires and fuses, and anything else associated with this device.

thanks,

Larry

I will post photos Larry.  I actually made a much better video, that showed the entire back, where wires lead to, etc.  But it would not allow me to upload it because it was too long.  I guess we are limited to about 20 seconds of video here.  I will post photos.  Thank you.

So here is a short video shot facing the back of the car, the engine bay. So what I am pointing out is the electrical box that is behind the lock, and then the wire loom that leads to a fuse box. Hope this helps ID this thing.

Personally, I wouldn't want to keep something that's non-OEM, that I didn't install and don't know what it does. If you want to find out what it does, just jumper the two wires that are connected to the key.

Can you take a photo of the box that the wire loom goes to at the end of your video? That might give us a clue since it is not stock.

That's awfully big for a fuse block. What does the writing on it say?

How about some close-up photos, not videos, so we can enlarge and study the devices? Please

Larry

I have a "sort of " same thing on my TVR. A key lock that stuck up from a hole in the driver side floor board. But, I have the key and it bypasses the ignition. And, it has a part that blocks the rear brake line. So anti theft device that first  worried me about acting up but forgot about it a long time ago.