Disgusted

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Originally Posted by rangietragic

No matter what security system you have,if someone has the right skills and tools,its gone.All a security system does is make it easier to steal someone elses car instead of yours:p

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Some early vehicles had very little in the way of security.

When I was at UNE in the late 60s, a friend of mine had an FJ Holden which he believed was the best car ever built. In fact I'm pretty sure he believed that it was the best car that was ever likely to be built.

One day he claimed that no-one could start the engine without the key. Since I knew better and knew that his car wasn't locked, I bet him that I could.

As I ran outside to the car park, I took out the scrap of foil from my pocket from the chocolate I had recently eaten.

Within seconds of getting in the car, I held the piece of foil in what I knew was the right spot behind the ignition lock and started the engine.

I have never seem anyone so astonished.

If I remember correctly, the procedure for starting a Mini was to pull out one fuse and place it alongside the adjacent fuse.

So in neither case did you need much in the way of knowledge or specialised tools.

Funniest thing I saw was as a kid sitting in the back of my Uncle Peter's Holden Broughman. His rearview mirror was loose and wouldn't stay in place. While we were on a country road doing about 90 kph, he took the keys out of the ignition, opened up the screwdriver on his keyring and tightened up the mirror - all the while steering in a fairly straight line. He then put the keys back and merrily kept on driving. From memory his steering lock was non-existent and he could start the car with a coin or screwdriver - whatever was handy!

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Originally Posted by R Miller

ive got a 75 mini clubman, I had a mate walk up to it in a carpark, open the bonnet, and start the car all in under 10 seconds, no tools, nothing special, just a little bit of knowledge I started parking it in gear that day....

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Had a 1974 mini panel van in the early nineties. Was a great car last seen in the car park of the eventide Nursing Home. Not sure if the new owner worked there or if it gone there itself.

It was protected from unauthorised use as it would not start on the key. Would turn over but not start. Had to lift bonnet and press button once ignition was turned on. All factory fit if you knew where to look. Was the result of no cash to fix the ignition and once figured out why spend the cash.

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Originally Posted by cripesamighty

Funniest thing I saw was as a kid sitting in the back of my Uncle Peter's Holden Broughman. His rearview mirror was loose and wouldn't stay in place. While we were on a country road doing about 90 kph, he took the keys out of the ignition, opened up the screwdriver on his keyring and tightened up the mirror - all the while steering in a fairly straight line. He then put the keys back and merrily kept on driving. From memory his steering lock was non-existent and he could start the car with a coin or screwdriver - whatever was handy!

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Holdens before 1972 didn't have steering locks of any kind and the key was designed to come out with the ignition on and the car would start and drive without it. The lock was shaped so you turned it without the key. Very convenient in the days when no-one locked anything unless you went to the big smoke.

While steering locks go back a long way (a friend once had a 1934 Ford with one), they were virtually unheard of until the 1970s. One of the cars I learnt to drive in, a 1931 Swift, had a keyed door lock (which did not work) but the ignition switch (factory) was a simple push/pull switch. There was little point in an ignition lock, as any magneto ignition car could be started by disconnecting the only low tension wire from the magneto.

Similarly, in the days when most cars were open tourers, door locks did little to stop anyone entering them.

Perhaps drivers of all early model cars should be aware just how vulnerable they are, rather than worrying about someone else finding this out. And do something to reduce the vulnerability such as fitting a hidden kill switch or perhaps better a steering or brake lock.

John

I broke into a 110 once with a blade of grass. Seriously. And im confused about hotwiring a series.. My 2a had a button - the key was entirely optional! I always thought that was normal?

EJ Premier had steering lock as standard.

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Originally Posted by flagg

I broke into a 110 once with a blade of grass. Seriously.

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Technically it was several blades of grass, and the rest of the hill you pushed it down in order to break the windows to climb in, start it, and drive it home for 20mins of panel beating with a rubber mallet :p
In all seriousness......how the monkey did you do that?
A friend taught me how to break into 75 series landcruisers, that's pretty easy. For the price they go for maybe I should pinch a few and sell them :wasntme:

I liken my Series to a windows computer...

Use any key to continue.

Or a bread tag, cable tie, twig, thumb...

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Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

Technically it was several blades of grass, and the rest of the hill you pushed it down in order to break the windows to climb in, start it, and drive it home for 20mins of panel beating with a rubber mallet :p
In all seriousness......how the monkey did you do that?
A friend taught me how to break into 75 series landcruisers, that's pretty easy. For the price they go for maybe I should pinch a few and sell them :wasntme:

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Depends on the 'blade of grass' definition, if it was a blade of sword grass or bamboo grass that would be the same as folding a piece of plastic banding strap inhalf & pushing past the door seal, looping around lock knob & pulling up, SOP Telecom van entry !!

as an asides a mate showed me his 'electronic lock pick' pocket sized device that made a bit of noise, but I could not find one lock that it could not open within seconds including doubledeadlock on my front door or any car