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

[Wil Ferch]

Yep...Ickx....GT40.... walking start ( last off) and won.....

- Wil

[FastCarFan]

To add to what others have said, somewhere I read a quote from Dan Gurney where he talked about steering with his knees on the 1st lap at LeMans while he fastened his belts.

[targa80]

Someone asked about the key on a 356.
This is the key location on a 1965 356C.

[cak]

The part I dont understand is how long would it take to put on the safety harness?

Back then, it was just a lap belt, if anything. There was a long period where it was believed safer to be thrown clear.

Masten Gregory, in fact, was known for his penchant for bailing out of race cars that were about to crash - he did it at least three times, when it was clear that the car was "lost". That would have been late 50s/early 60s.

[SC-targa]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
Yep...Ickx....GT40.... walking start ( last off) and won.....

- Wil

Yes Javckie won, but he was barely ahead of the Hans Herman's 908 att he end of the race. His winning margin was something like 120 yards.

Jackie gave up considerably more than that at the start of the race as he sauntered over to his GT40 after everyone else was already headed to turn one. John Wolfe was probably already dead in the first lasp crash before even Ickx had his car started.

If Jackkie would have lost the race, John Wyer would have been pretty upset with him.

Regards,

Jerry Kroeger

[David E. Clark]

According to the Porsche 993 FAQ

"The ignition switch on the left side of the steering wheel ( right side for RHD cars ) is left over from Porsche racing heritage. These old races started with the drivers sprinting to their cars, starting the car, and then driving away. Porsche put the ignition on the left side to make it faster for the driver, allowing the driver to start the car and shift into gear at the same time."

I think now that it is more a matter of tradition, a trademark that sets Porsche's apart. Kinda' like SAAB having their ignition key in the floor between the front seats and claiming it's there for safety reasons. Trollhattan Saab

[rfng]

I always heard that it was put on the left side because they ran out of wiring .

[Ken911]

it's probably a german thing the bolts on their machine guns are on the left side also so that you can keep your finger on the trigger while jacking a round into the chamber.

[redcoupe86]

AERODYNAMICS!!!!!

[84porsche]

When I had my SAAB it was really convenient because when I got in the car my right hand was about where the center console was and the ignition. But then all the window/lock controls where centralized as well. BMW used to have the window controls in the center as well. Both of these manufacturers have moved their controls to their doors now however SAAB still keeps the ignition in the center and still keeps the night panel display.

[hytem]

Well, there must be a sensible reason, but I'll tell you this:
one of the first few times I drove my SC, taking a left turn at a stop light, that U-shaped leather Porsche key ring attached to the keys got stuck in the turn signal and turned the ignition off. I got rid of that key ring right fast.

[berettafan]

Originally posted by Ken911
it's probably a german thing the bolts on their machine guns are on the left side also so that you can keep your finger on the trigger while jacking a round into the chamber.

so righties get an eyeful of powder burns and grease?

[berettafan]

Originally posted by 84porsche
When I had my SAAB it was really convenient because when I got in the car my right hand was about where the center console was and the ignition. But then all the window/lock controls where centralized as well. BMW used to have the window controls in the center as well. Both of these manufacturers have moved their controls to their doors now however SAABGM still keeps the ignition in the center and still keeps the night panel display.

[Gunter]

Ignition key on the left helps with torque-issues:
Most people are right-handed and when the key is on the right, too many people are trying to force the key past the normal limit.
You know, if the engine doesn't start right away and keeps cranking, they turn the key harder cw to make it start believing it helps.
Look at some ignition keys and you'll see that they have a twist in them from too much force.
But I think David provided the real answer.
The most perverse key position was on some American gas-guzzlers in the 40's, 50's and 60's: low on the right side of the steering wheel so you would definately crack your right knee cap during a collision. LOL.
Then came Ralph Nader...........

[Nitrometano]

maybe Ferdinan Porsche was left handed.

[trak ratt]

Back in the day (pre - '68) cars had ignitions on the dash. Early ergonomics dictated catering to the right hand crowd. Chev even let you take the key out making it possible to start and drive without it. (It was a kindler and gentler time ) Porsche and apparently Land Bruisers saw the wisdom in isolating the key from passengers. Or so my story goes… but I really like the race one

[porsche930dude]

Originally posted by david riley
Back in the day (pre - '68) cars had ignitions on the dash. Early ergonomics dictated catering to the right hand crowd. Chev even let you take the key out making it possible to start and drive without it. (It was a kindler and gentler time ) Porsche and apparently Land Bruisers saw the wisdom in isolating the key from passengers. Or so my story goes… but I really like the race one

thats how my dads 58 impala is
I beleive the lemans reasoning. If your building a one off race car you build everything from scratch anyway so you put things where they are best suited or wherever you can stick them. It made sence for the race cars to have them there and maby back in the day alot of people thought this was cool, original and worked better so they did it with their production cars too. Its definatly different theres no arguing with that

[fly4val]

Many years ago, about 30, as an airline pilot, my airport car was a '67
Olds plain jane, no chrome two door post....igntion switch left of the steering wheel.

Washers position....'we dont need no washers' in Colorado no less!

[BruceC]

Originally posted by david riley
Back in the day (pre - '68) cars had ignitions on the dash. Early ergonomics dictated catering to the right hand crowd. Chev even let you take the key out making it possible to start and drive without it. (It was a kindler and gentler time ) Porsche and apparently Land Bruisers saw the wisdom in isolating the key from passengers. Or so my story goes… but I really like the race one

Interesting... When I was a kid, I found that the key would come out in any position on my Dad's '68 Chevy station wagon. I thought it was just defective.