My Duchess has the hand brake in the stock position. It’s a long reach under the dash, but it works. I’ve seen some that cut the brackets, bent the mounting plates up and welded in supports so that the handle was easier to reach. Not sure what manufacturer recommended that, but it seems to funciton well.
You wrote that it has not been functional since you bought your car. that does not sound like it’s because of the mounting. Is the cable broken? Frozen into the cable housing?
PMOSSBERG39384.4976967593
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster
If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)