Re: IML: ignition switch

[Christopher H <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The ignition key was on the left only on the fullsize cars, not every 1969 Mopar car.

That salesman at the State Fair didn't give much of a reason, it seems. OK, the car was a new design... so why did the ignition move? 

I've heard it was to put the key out of the reach of children riding in the center and right front seats, which makes some sense. But one would think they had to know the steering-column lock regulation was coming for 1970, so why do something so radical for just one year? (Porsche has always had it on the left...has something to do with an old racing rule or tradition.)

Then again, maybe Chrysler just did it because they thought it was a good idea. I never figured out why 1968 models have illuminated side marker lamps, then 1969s have only non-powered reflectors, then 1970s have both. Or why NYBs without cornering lamps have different, all-amber front side marker lenses when the part of the lens that's different doesn't even light up.

Ah, the mysteries of cars... Hope we never run out of them. They're kinda fun.

Chris in LA
78 NYB Salon
67 Crown

-----Original Message-----
>From: aeyn <mr85000@xxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Sep 12, 2006 11:02 AM
>To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: IML: Changing the Left to Right and ignition switch
>
>All,
>   When I spoke to the Chrysler salesman back in the fall of 1968
>at the Arizona State Fair's Auto show, he said the the ignition
>switch was placed on the left side in ALL of the 1969 Mopar's (at
>least the cars, that I know about, trucks?) because of the new
>designs coming out 1969-1970 and that the 1970's would have the
>GM-locking-steering-wheel type of column.  So, when I bought my
>1969 in 1971, I ripped out column and dash super structure and
>bought a brand new super structure from Chrysler and a 1971
>rim-blow steering column from a wrecking yard.  I did not like
>the key on the left side.
>
>Æyn
>
>--- Tom H <tom_in_a2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Oh, good point:  my '69 Fury II had a left-hand
>> ignition switch, too.
>> 
>> --- Frederick Joslin <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> > The ignition switch comment is very interesting.
>> > 
>> > My 69 LeBaron has the ignition switch on the left
>> > hand side of the
>> > steering column. The article in Automobile Collector
>> > magazine which
>> > covered the fuselage Imperials said that this was to
>> > protect the knees
>> > of  "unrestrained" center seat passengers. There is
>> > also a sealt belt to
>> > do that.
>> > 
>> > The ignition on the left makes it very easy to start
>> > the car from the
>> > outside, but difficult from the inside!   
>> > 
>> > How many people ride in the center seat of an
>> > Imperial anyway and why was
>> > this suddenly important in 1969 and not before?
>> > 
>> >   ----- Original Message -----
>> >   From: "Tom H"
>> >   To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >   Subject: Re: IML: Changing the Left to Right
>> >   Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:54:55 -0700 (PDT)
>> > 
>> > 
>> >   This has been quite an interesting discussion.
>> >   Actually I always thought the right-hand threads
>> > were
>> >   just one of those little eccentricities of Mopars
>> >   (apart from the engineering rationale), kind of
>> > like
>> >   how Ford used to have the ignition switch on the
>> > left
>> >   of the steering column.
>> > 
>> >   --- Frederick Joslin wrote:
>> > 
>> >   > Hi Nigel:
>> >   >
>> >   > Disagreeing is fine.
>> >   >
>> >   > I know why Chrysler used left hand threads on
>> > the
>> >   > driver's side. I was
>> >   > not aware of other makes that did, but most of
>> > my
>> >   > knowledge is 60's and
>> >   > 70's American vehicles. I grew up in England in
>> > the
>> >   > 60's but do not know
>> >   > much about the cars.
>> >   >
>> >   > I just think that history has shown that it was
>> > not
>> >   > necessary to use left
>> >   > handed thread lug nuts. I would guess that the
>> > left
>> >   > hand threads have
>> >   > caused more problems than they "might" have
>> > solved.
>> >   >
>> >   > If I was an automotive engineer in the position
>> > of
>> >   > choosing whether to
>> >   > use left hand threaded lug nuts you would have
>> > to
>> >   > really prove to me that
>> >   > the right handed ones did not work. I lived in
>> > St
>> >   > Louis for ten years in
>> >   > the "Show Me State" and you would have to show
>> > me. :)
>> >   >
>> >   > Thanks.
>> >   >
>> > 
>> > 
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>> > 
>> > 
>> > Fred Joslin
>> > 
>> 
>> 
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>
>
>
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