Is this possible?

From my driving experience in sand, I suspect the major advantage of cranking over driving is that you have better control over the torque application. One of the major issues with sand driving is excessive torque resulting in wheelspin - which is the absolute last thing you want for sand driving.

Although it is about sixty years since I saw that film, my recollection is that reduced torque was what one of the characters said as an explanation of why it would work.

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Originally Posted by Fatso

I know that in 1968 when i drove from NSW to Dampier WA in my FWD 1964 Mini it got through **** loads of sand on the 1100 miles of dirt on the Nullarbor where rear wheel drive vehicles had big problems , so the theory sounds reasonable IMO .

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Sure, but you could carry a Mini on your shoulders....

Seriously though, have you read Journeys with Gelignite Jack? The Mini in that story was amazing, and the 60s cars, as you know, were a far cry from the behemoths people take away these days, and as for the roads..

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

Flat head Ford was low compression compared to any Rover V8,

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Used to be a bloke peddling some fancy thing, maybe a spark plug, around the shows. He had a Chrysler Royal. He'd amaze people by removing one lead at a time on the old 6, until he had only one cylinder firing... people in those days were used to the old "Formula Horsepower' that we got from rationed England. That big old flat head with its flywheel would probably run on for a minute or two with no leads at all.

Low compression, oversquare, low stressed. you could turn 'em over with a bootlace. Lazy things though. Had a few 1.4 FIAT twin cams that would make that Ford flathead look stupid. Try cranking them with a bootlace.