Classic/Antique Car Repair: 67 TBird Parking brake wont release, manual states, release mechanism

Question
Hi.  Sold my 1967 Tbird and was checking every thing out and I pused down on the parking brake and it holds well.   Problem is I can not get it to release.  Owner's manual states that it will release once the tranny is put into neutral or drive and nothing happens - can you help me understand how to get it to release....

Answer
This is a vacuum operated brake release.  You may have a vacuum hose disconnected (do you hear a hissing sound when you shift to a gear when the engine is running?) It is supposed to release in any gear, but not in Park or neutral, but if you move from Park to neutral, it should release as you move past Reverse.   If you hear a hissing, track it down, that will be the disconnected hose!

If you can't hear or find anything disconnected, the automatic release mechanism may have failed.  There is a manual over-ride lever on the device - which you can reach down and manually release. It is a plain metal lever that is sticking out where you can see it, right next to the parking brake pedal.  Just take a flashlight and crawl under there, you'll see it.  

Dick