911 racecars have keys
 

In response to 1972_911T,

I seem to remember being told that ALL factory 911 racecars have always had keys?
Not sure if it's correct, but when I built mine, I left the key switch in out of tradition?

Can someone confirm?

Jeff

Because that is where PORSCHE GOD intended it to be located.

To shift the weight off the centre line of the car so that it counteracts the rear weight bias of the engine......

RACING HERITAGE

Some of the Fords of the 50's had the key on the left. I seem to remember that my uncle's '59 Galaxie did. Le Mans? Harldy the case for the Fords. I have also heard the explanation about the Le Mans start as the reason for Porsche to put the key on the left.

Now, how about the dog leg 1st gear on the 901 transmission? I have heard that for racing reasons, the 2-3 shift and 3-2 shift being more used, to have these in a striaght line.

I'm not sure there is an answer to this question that's right. Porsche almost always used a key, as opposed to a button, but it wasn't always on the left. They raced at Le Mans for years with cars having the key on the right side. Ironically, when the driver's seat was moved to the right side, beginning with the 907, the key moved to the left. That's where it remained, through the 956/962 years. This was long after the Le Mans organizers abandoned the traditional start, and the cars started from a pace lap. The first car I recall that used a button was the CanAm 917.

JR

I think it was because they noticed a space there so that's where they stuck it, like most of their controls. :)

Close to the window so someone outside can turn it off quickly in an emergency.

That's always been my undertsanding. It's fun trying to explain to people not in the know..."you mean at one time drivers actually ran to their cars...what kind of racing was that...":rolleyes:

LeMans starts

I'd like to think that after Dr. Porsche had survived the scourge of National Socialism, he located the switch to the left, perhaps as a nod to the direction of European politics in general.

most aircraft that I have been in have mag key on the left for what it's worth so you can have right hand on the throttle quadrant.

I have heard old Land Rovers are the same way. For LR's it was so you could start the motor from the outside while you're operating the farming implement on the back .

With all due respect to those here who seem to know a LOT about 911s, I'm not buying the LeMans-start thing -- urban legend, or some equivalent.

Oooh Oooh I have one.. So you can save time turning on the headlights. :) I must say that my 05 magnum has the key on the dash and they put it on the right hand side. I don't like it. I like getting in the car clutch down, key turn, grab the shifter lever left hand to steering and go. The right hand side seems awkward for some reason. I might also be that there happened to be room there. On the right hand side the chain is alway dangling on my leg which must stay put for accelerator. Left leg can move out of the way when done shifting.

I was taught the above by PCNA when I became Porsche certified sales rep in 1988. Sorry JohnKo, this one is not Urban Legend.

Wonder if there was a connection here.... the 1964 Pontiac LeMans/GTO also had the key at the left. In fact it was at the top left dash, up near the vent/wing window.

Do the new "911s" have the key on the left side? Oh wait...we don't care.;)

I thought the Land Rover had the key next to the window so the mechanic could attempt to start it while outside the vehicle.