Re: IML: Changing the Left to Right and ignition switch

["Bill Watson" <wwatson5@xxxxxxxxx>]

The ignition switch was on the left side of the dash only on the new C body
cars (Fury, Polara, Monaco, Chrysler, Imperial) for 1969.  All the other car
lines kept their right side ignition location.  As the salesman said,  they
would be adopting GM's locking steering column system for 1970, and I
suspect it would be cheaper to tool a modified dash/cover for the small area
to the left of the column.

By the way, igntion key start (as opposed to button or pedal start) was
introduced by Chrysler twenty years earlier, in 1949.  And all 1949-50 Mopar
cars had the ignition key on the left side of the dash.

At least it was not like the 1963 Studebaker Lark that placed the ignition
key on the left side of the instrument cluster in order to balance the
location of the cigarette lighter on the right.

And for those that want to know about LH threads for the wheels, Mopar used
them from 1940 through 1970 on all car lines.   1937-39 American-built
Dodges also had LH threads, apparently studs and nuts, though,  and not
bolts as the other car lines used.

Bill
Vancouver, BC



----- Original Message ----- 

From: "aeyn" <mr85000@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: IML: Changing the Left to Right and ignition switch


> All,
>    When I spoke to the Chrysler salesman back in the fall of 1968
> at the Arizona State Fair's Auto show, he said the the ignition
> switch was placed on the left side in ALL of the 1969 Mopar's (at
> least the cars, that I know about, trucks?) because of the new
> designs coming out 1969-1970 and that the 1970's would have the
> GM-locking-steering-wheel type of column.  So, when I bought my
> 1969 in 1971, I ripped out column and dash super structure and
> bought a brand new super structure from Chrysler and a 1971
> rim-blow steering column from a wrecking yard.  I did not like
> the key on the left side.
>
> Æyn
>
> --- Tom H <tom_in_a2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Oh, good point:  my '69 Fury II had a left-hand
> > ignition switch, too.
> >
> > --- Frederick Joslin <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > The ignition switch comment is very interesting.
> > >
> > > My 69 LeBaron has the ignition switch on the left
> > > hand side of the
> > > steering column. The article in Automobile Collector
> > > magazine which
> > > covered the fuselage Imperials said that this was to
> > > protect the knees
> > > of  "unrestrained" center seat passengers. There is
> > > also a sealt belt to
> > > do that.
> > >
> > > The ignition on the left makes it very easy to start
> > > the car from the
> > > outside, but difficult from the inside!
> > >
> > > How many people ride in the center seat of an
> > > Imperial anyway and why was
> > > this suddenly important in 1969 and not before?
> > >



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