Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1467 Location: Netherlands

Reading an old dutch car magazine, there were just 10 cars new available with a manual cranking facility (1971): Renault 4, 6, 8, 10, Citroën 2 CV-4, Dyane 6, Ami 8, GS, Peugeot 404 en Sunbeam Imp.
Of these the GS was the newest.
I remember using the start handle on my Imp twice every day for a week or so in 1992 because my supplier did not have a new correct size battery in store.
Must find the old handle again just for the fun of it!

What would have been the newest british car with a starting hole? The Imp must have been one of the latest (new in 1963)? My TR4 (new in 1961) has it and the A110 Westminster (A99 in 1959).
And was the Citroen GS the last new design with a starting hole?

peppiB · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject:

The humble Moggy had a starting handle and they were made til 1971

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
There is a thread about this on
http://htdig.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?t=56701 it goes on for 55 replies.
The latest I spotted was the Lada Niva.

Of course there was also the after market conversion for the classic mini, so what date was the last one of those made?

Brian M · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

My 1957 Rover P4 had one and in Sainsbury's car park the battery wasn't up to starting the car. So I got the starting handle out and used it, remembering to keep my thumb behind the handle. After just two swings the motor burst into life and I was surprised to get a round of applause from 4 or 5 gentlemen of advancing years who had stopped to watch a scene from a previous era!
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1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22778 Location: UK

They're also handy if you need to push a heavy car into a garage, over a step or similar - just pop it in gear and wind away on the handle Smile

R
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Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

Landrovers always had them, good for setting the points.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

I always carry one of those jump start batteries, cheap enough now.