Jim- yes it is the original lever now put onto a repro latch. It didn't work on the original either. Kind of works but pulling hard on the outer door handle is enough to overcome its usefulness.
My steering wheel is on the right side so to unlock the car is a circus of pull on the door handle and then remember it is locked, walk around to passenger side and open the door with the key, climb across and fumble inside the drivers door for the lever, extract self from car, walk back around to drivers side.
I'm ok with it not working.
Andy.