Mark Hofmann wrote to Roy Witt:


 RW>> Last early 50s Ford I had was a 51 and it no longer had the push
 RW>> button starter switch. The ignition switch was keyed and it worked
 RW>> like GM cars, except that the Ford keys were inserted upside down
 RW>> (tumblers up locks).

 MH> I never realized that push button start was around before the key
 MH> start. Seems things are going full circle, back to the push button.

There's a big difference in yesterday's push button start and today's.
Everything was mechanical yesterday and now everything is electrical, as
in solid state RF keys. My last encounter with the solid state keys was
with a new Dodge van, c2008. Without the key being at least in the
vacinity of the key hole, the engine wouldn't start. Unlocking a locked
car is still easy, but there's no way to start it without the key.

 MH> Going between driving the 2012 Charger, 2002 Monte Carlo, and 2001
 MH> Durango sometimes throws me for a loop.

 MH> The Charger has the push button start and a shifter that is spring
 MH> loaded and doesn't really change position.  Then the Monte Carlo is
 MH> key started with a standard shifter.  The Durango is key started with
 MH> the shifter on the steering column.

 MH> Keeps me on my toes.

Try driving a manual transmission and an automatic. My Z28 has key start
on the column and a 6spd manual trans, while the Silverado has key start
on the column and shifter on the column. In the Silverado you can see
traffic ahead for 1/2 a mile, minimum, while in the Z28, all you can see
is the rear bumper of trucks like my Silverado.


         R\%/itt


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