This scuttle was stuck.
I finally (with the help of one of the list members) found the silly knob.
When AC was installed in Singapore about 30 years ago, they also installed a panel with the radio in the parcel tray.
Once I pulled the radio, there it was!

I coule lift the lid about 1/2" or less with the lever, that was it.

Sprayed penetrant from underneath, with center cluster dropped, nothing.

Pried up slightly, while pulling the handle (so the linkage would not get bent), sprayed the back corners from above.

Nothing.

Let it soak for 5 minutes while putting tools away, lifted the vent (had a small screwdriver handle under it to hold it up off the seal), and it went POP!, and fully open.

The handle is all the way back.

It does not need lubrication, it moves just as smoothly as probably new.

Hasn't opened in probably 30 years.

No sign of any rust!

Another thing off the "list"!

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 20:37

In British English, the common use of the word "scuttle" is to destroy such as in Plans, a ship etc. As any language evolves it fashions new words often combining parts of others, and even in different languages, It was often called slang -an interesting word itsself. You can probably figure out from whence T O C's word for gossip was derived.

Submitted by zurdo_1@univis… on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 17:17

well that shows you how mis-information and meanings travel fast.

In Spanish, "escotilla" is a word also used in submarines, the doors inside the sub, the ones that are locked by turning wheels?

Submitted by zurdo_1@univis… on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 09:19

So it did turn out to be a manually-operated vent scuttle.

In my S type, the vent scuttle is vacuum-operated by an AIR button. See the picture below, under the radio, there are three buttons, AIR, HEAT, OFF. When the AIR button is pushed in, the scuttle opens like magic.

Trivia:
The word "Scuttle" comes from the Spanish word "Escotilla", which were little doors added to the sides of Spanish warships, under the regular canon openings near the water line, and which opened downwards to reveal hidden canons, surprising the French and the English. Fired simultaneously, they sank the opposing ship in minutes since the canonballs hit right at their water line.