Originally Posted by
Brian Hjelm
Likewise when the first Holden, the 48-215, was released. Opposition salesmen would use this as a selling point against a Holden. Either Wheels or Modern Motor published a serialised article over several months giving instructions and illustrations of how to fit a crank dog to a Holden engine and a tube through the bottom radiator tank and an access port in the front bumper.
Bigger engines, higher compression ratios, and better starter motors in 12 volt systems, and, of course, accountants looking for a few cents to cut out of production cost eventually finished off the hand crank fittings.