Interior Help
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Some year Nashes also had this feature, but on some, you had to push the column shift lever forward to start these cars.
1940's, some 1950's Buick and Packard had the starter switch located below the gas pedal.
Charles Kettering, the founder of DELCO, invented the first self-starter. First vehicle in the world to have it: 1912 Cadillac.
Had a huge spring loaded button on the floor that you had to 'mash on' with your foot. Within a few years, Kettering became GM's chief engineer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
My Dad talked about Kettering visiting the diesel boat he served on. Seems right after the II world war we tried fitting the (German) snorkel system on American subs, though had lots of issues. He was there to help with some of the engineering problems. The conversion to nukes eventually made all that pointless but in 1946 it wasn't.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
It wouldn't freak out Studebaker owners, cuz that was the only way to start these cars from the mid 1930's thru the early 1950's.
Some year Nashes also had this feature, but on some, you had to push the column shift lever forward to start these cars.
1940's, some 1950's Buick and Packard had the starter switch located below the gas pedal.
Charles Kettering, the founder of DELCO, invented the first self-starter. First vehicle in the world to have it: 1912 Cadillac.
Had a huge spring loaded button on the floor that you had to 'mash on' with your foot. Within a few years, Kettering became GM's chief engineer.
Some year Nashes also had this feature, but on some, you had to push the column shift lever forward to start these cars.
1940's, some 1950's Buick and Packard had the starter switch located below the gas pedal.
Charles Kettering, the founder of DELCO, invented the first self-starter. First vehicle in the world to have it: 1912 Cadillac.
Had a huge spring loaded button on the floor that you had to 'mash on' with your foot. Within a few years, Kettering became GM's chief engineer.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Lyman, SC
My '49 Chieftain is the first year Pontiac without the foot start. I think for several GM cars 1949 was the first year that their models weren't really just '41s and '42s after WWII. Oh yeah, and it's got some weird button on the floorboard......along with a hole in the carpet where you check the tranny fluid.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Nobody has complained about removing the hand crank below the radiator... or the flip-up steering wheel ("fat man" steering wheel)... or moving the gas tank from below the front seat, or the battery from below the rear seat floorboards (made of wood - actual boards).
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
My '49 Chieftain is the first year Pontiac without the foot start. I think for several GM cars 1949 was the first year that their models weren't really just '41s and '42s after WWII. Oh yeah, and it's got some weird button on the floorboard......along with a hole in the carpet where you check the tranny fluid.
After the US became involved in WWII, production of 1942 models ended in either the first or second week of February.
Most automakers didn't resume production after the war ended until late 1945 or early 1946.
1948 Olds 98 and Cadillac (except 75) have the new GM bodies that were introduced in 1949. Cadillac 75 (limo/7 passenger sedan) got the new body in 1950.
Your "Tin Indian" Club Coupe has Hydra-Matic, 1949/50 Oldsmopiles with Hydra-Matic also have the hole in the hump to check the fluid. I owned a 1950 Olds Deluxe 88 Club Coupe for 17 years (1962/79).
One button on the floor: dimmer switch. 2 buttons on the floor, one adjacent to the other. Optional foot operated button to tune the radio.
Heater core under the seat. Packard thru 1956, Studebaker thru 1962 (Hawks thru 1964), probably others as well.
First Pontiac I owned was a 1929 Cabriolet (no heater available). 2nd Pontiac I owned was a 1953 Chieftain Deluxe 4 door, don't recall where the heater core was. Don't recall where it was on the '50 Olds either.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Canada
My 1988 Renault R8 had crank start capability (at the rear engine). Used it to great advantage during several cold winters.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Early VW Beetles also powered either the wipers themselves or the washer pump (I forget which) with air pressure contained in the spare tire (located beneath the bonnet).
They also had kerosene-powered heaters.
They also had kerosene-powered heaters.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Rocky Mountain High
As long as we're wandering down the path of misty yesteryears ...
I learned to drive in a '63 Dodge Dart. Push button gears on the dash. It seemed so 'normal' for a time. My mom had that car for 20 years, and there are still quite a few of them around. Plymouth Valiants also had this setup, I believe.
I have one exterior photo when we were kids - but here's one I just snagged showing that dash. Top to bottom is R-N-D-2-1. There was no "P", per se; you put the car in neutral and slid that parking lever down on the left:
I learned to drive in a '63 Dodge Dart. Push button gears on the dash. It seemed so 'normal' for a time. My mom had that car for 20 years, and there are still quite a few of them around. Plymouth Valiants also had this setup, I believe.
I have one exterior photo when we were kids - but here's one I just snagged showing that dash. Top to bottom is R-N-D-2-1. There was no "P", per se; you put the car in neutral and slid that parking lever down on the left:
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Rocky Mountain High
My sister had a 71 Gremlin. Hideous turquoise color, as shown. She couldn't make the payments, so my mom swapped the Dart with her. Six months later the Gremlin was dead and my dad towed it off to the JY. 
