Side panel latch for engine hood

An engine hood having a side panel and latch comprising, a vehicle chassis, a vertically oriented side panel adjustably suspended by its upper edge on said vehicle chassis to pivot to and from a latched position, a side panel latching device adjustably mounted on said vehicle chassis for latching said side panel, said latching device including a latch bar mounted on the inside of said side panel, latch support bracket means mounted on said vehicle chassis, a latch lever including an integral bifurcated member having an intermediate portion defining a handle pivotally mounted by coaxially aligned journalled ends on said latch support bracket means, said handle extending downwardly through a slot in said panel for releasing said latch device, resilient means normally biasing said latch lever to a latching position, a latch element on said latch lever defining a cam surface for engaging said latch bar and biasing said latch lever against the force of said resilient means to allow latching of said latching device when said side panel is pivoted to its normally latched position.