They used little hidden buttons. Even most of the ones with remotes have a hidden button, just in case a remote fails.

 

Solman is correct in this...

Way back, when I was in the muscle car era, I did the handles on a 64 Chev.

Had a button just behind the front wheel well, that could be pushed with the toe of your foot (it was partially hidden by "lakes" dump pipes) My doors were operated with a "little" electric release servo (kind of like what is now used on power door locks)

 

Sounds way cool!
Too cool for my family car though Katy needs to be able to get in easily

 

Does anyone know if there are extra channels on the stock key fob to work shaved doors? Or, would you need to buy a whole new system and then program everything to the aftermarket receiver? Will it still work the lock / unlock and remote start?

Nick

 

They usually come as a kit. For the most part, once you shaved the handles and installed the poppers, the stock fob would be usless for the doors. I'm sure you can get ones that you could program for the panic and remote start. But not the stock ones.