Last car produced with a starting handle

[DSdriver]

Oh the embarrassment I suffered as a child at Junior school when my Dad came to pick me up outside the schoolgates in his Ford Y type and had to restart the car with the starting handle. I still have the mental scars.

The Citroen DS has a hole for a starting handle behind the front number plate which is of no use if you have one with a five speed box because when they added the fifth gear it got in the way of the shaft attachment (you have to remember that the gearbox in the DS is in front of the engine).

Of course being Citroen, the starting handle is multi-purpose and is also used for removing the single nut that holds the rear wing on so you can remove the wing to change the wheel. It is also used for undoing the wheel nuts and the extension shaft is used for centering the wheel over the studs when you are putting it back on.

MrsDS has always refused any help from Joe Public when she has a flat tyre because they haven't any idea how the self jacking or wheel brace work.

[martc]

We've had this discussion before - can't find it (haven't looked).

 

The Beijing BJ212 and BJ2020 (aka BAW City Cruiser, BAW Kuangchao, BAW Lieying, BAW Ludi, BAW Towdoorjeep, BAW Zhanqi, Pyeonghwa Ppeokkuggi 2008 (North Korea)) which is still in production, has a starting handle hole in the front valance (usually hidden behind a number plate), can't find a picture of it with a starting handle in place, but what else can it be for?

 

 

The UAZ Hunter, also still in production, has a definite starting handle hole (you can see the cutaways for the 'lugs')...

 

As does the UAZ 'Breadloaf' now known as the 'Classic', again still in production, and a definite 'lugged' hole...

 

[Vantman]

As an owner driver with my first lorry,a Ford K series Trader similar to this picture,it very often had to be started by the handle,good job I had previously learnt how to do it correctly,i have witnessed a few painful attempts.

 

[Zelandeth]

Ladas definitely still had the hardware up to the mid 90s, my Riva still had the hole in the front valance, radiator and the engagement pawl on the crank pulley - however the hole in the bumper is absent.

 

The fuel injected versions of the Niva lost the facility as the redesigned crank pulley doesn't have the attachment point for the handle. So Niva would have had it up to around 95 I reckon.

[Stinkwheel]

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I should have known, mr wobbler has a real penchant for demonstrating starting handles

[Bianconeri]

Oh the embarrassment I suffered as a child at Junior school when my Dad came to pick me up outside the schoolgates in his Ford Y type and had to restart the car with the starting handle. I still have the mental scars.

The Citroen DS has a hole for a starting handle behind the front number plate which is of no use if you have one with a five speed box because when they added the fifth gear it got in the way of the shaft attachment (you have to remember that the gearbox in the DS is in front of the engine).

Of course being Citroen, the starting handle is multi-purpose and is also used for removing the single nut that holds the rear wing on so you can remove the wing to change the wheel. It is also used for undoing the wheel nuts and the extension shaft is used for centering the wheel over the studs when you are putting it back on.

MrsDS has always refused any help from Joe Public when she has a flat tyre because they haven't any idea how the self jacking or wheel brace work.

 

 

Quite right. The GS was the same, back in the 1980s I stopped to help a family whose GS had a flat tyre and they were incredulous at the way you jacked the car up. I had to show them on mine first as they didn't believe me! My father took great delight in demonstrating how to start the GS with the starting handle.

 

My DS lacked the facility for starting on the handle and indeed for jacking itself up for a while  .

 

The GS / GSA would be on the list if I ever get over this ACL issue properly. I think the brakes would also be very interesting* to drivers of modern cars.

[anonymous user]

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My 403 has a starting handle hole which goes through the number plate......

When did you get this? It looks stunning, is there a thread on it?

[bolognasal spray]

IIRC my 1979 Viva had a pair pair of weights hanging off the back of the rear axle. I wonder if that was their cure for the vibration.

 

Yes - exactly. I'm almost certain that was Vauxhall's attempt to address the issue. So in light of this, it's quite possible my dad's complaints with the car weren't entirely groundless. Regardless, whatever attempts were made by the dealer to rectify the perceived problems (and mention of weights is ringing bells here), the Viva was flogged.

[cros]

 

 

 

"It's not a car, but it's still in production and looks to me like it has a starting handle (or at least the hole for one...). The strangely named Zoomlion RX160, from China of course."

 

There's a dealer in Spalding selling those things. He wound one up for me, a whole lot of shakin' going on there was.

[sierraman]

Lads Riva.

[SierraMikeHotel]

I was in very low-paid work when I had my Citroën GS and I was really grateful for the starting handle when the battery went and I couldn't afford to replace it. Good gadgets, but a bit difficult to achieve on moderns with the engine in sideways.

[tooSavvy]

ToMM has no handle....

 

I think Toyota were telling us all something

[martc]

ToMM has no handle....

 

I think Toyota were telling us all something

 

When Moto Guzzi developed their V twin in the 60's they omitted a kick starter which was seen as a brave move (but it paid off for them...).

[DSdriver]

If you have a bvh DS and need to hand start it there is a little lever under the steering wheel that disconnects something between the engine and the gearbox. It is many years since I had a DS with a hydraulic gearchange so I can't remember the details but that is what you do

[Vince70]

Sorry if I’m a bit off topic as I know it’s not the last car in production with a starting handle but did the Mk1 escort ever get one.

 

It’s just I remember having them back in the day and some had the hole for one and others didn’t.

 

I know it wouldn’t fit as the rad was in the way but I just wondered if some of the early base cars or vans used them and the pressing was just carried over on some cars.

[GoGently]

1990s Ladas had Starting handles