So, why does the key go in on the left side?

[Jeff Jagusch]

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

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by livi
BTW, tell me once again the logical reason for mounting the engine in the rear.

That Professor had a lot of peculiar ideas going:

Air / oil cooled
Key to the left
Engine in the back
Floor hinged pedals

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

[drsimonwong]

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

[Zef]

RACING HERITAGE

[lagrassa]

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.

[javadog]

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

[Jastx]

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

[}{arlequin]

Key-on-the-left lore a canard?

[ZOA NOM]

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

[sand_man]

Originally posted by madmmac
Le Mans style start. Left hand cranking the starter, right hand getting it in gear......maybe??

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..."

[Bill Verburg]

LeMans starts

[defcon65]

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.

[widgeon13]

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.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by unclebilly
Porsche musta copied the early Toyota Landcruisers... I have 2 vehicles with the ignition switch on the left side...

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 .

[JohnKo]

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.

[dfink]

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.

[Por_sha911]

Originally posted by madmmac
Le Mans style start. Left hand cranking the starter, right hand getting it in gear

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

[TerryH]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
LeMans starts

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.

[thrown_hammer]

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

[jac1976]

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