Thread: Disgusted

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!

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....

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.

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!

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.

Originally Posted by flagg

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

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
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

I liken my Series to a windows computer...

Use any key to continue.

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