When: The End of Crank Holes

[Citroënbender]

About when did Australian market cars stop coming equipped with a hole for crank starting, and the handle to accomplish it?

One of the last I can remember was the Renault 12, which ran until the mid-seventies. Looking at pictures of EK Holdens, I can’t discern a hole in the front - but maybe it’s below the bumper, and I don’t believe even the first XK Falcons had a crank hole.

[Franco Cozzo]

Reckon they still exist in Melbourne's mens public toilets

[Citroënbender]

That wasn’t what I meant!

[Dr Terry]

I don't believe that any Holden or Falcon had provision for a crank handle.

It was much more popular pre-WWII when electrics were less reliable.

Dr Terry

[None-ya]

For some what some reference I think a E-Series starter MAY bolt to a cross flow but a crossflow starter is NOT interchangeable with the pre-crossflow ( I may be wrong and thinking pre-crossflow to before ( I'm not sure what that motor is called/goes by( Canadian motor I think and had both a electric starter and a hand crank

[Hulsty]

60 series Landcruiser had hand crank provision, though I believe "most" OZ market ones had the larger radiator which obscured the crank nose, they ran to 1990. 40 series Landcruiser also had hand cranks (1984) aswell as a bunch of older cruisers (55 series).

[Tonz]

surely with the compression of today's engines it would be impossible to hand crank a motor. think of trying to crank start a 12cyl Lambogini

[Citroënbender]

Good points Hulsty, do you also know if Land Rover carried the crank starting option into Series 3?

Generally, too - didn’t the early Beetles have a crank hole?

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

I don't believe that any Holden or Falcon had provision for a crank handle.

It was much more popular pre-WWII when electrics were less reliable.

Dr Terry

Definitely Holdens not at all and 1960 Falcons onwards never had any.

[Citroënbender]

Have just checked the early Series 3 Landy in the shop, crank hole in the bumper.

[Sprintey]

2H 60 Series definitely had it.

Surprised to see M&D's Renault 12 had it, but the car was designed for North Africa. Beautiful car, so comfortable front seats, you could rally it on dirt tracks happily, and a really weird (and sensible: north/south fwd means no torque steer) FWD setup. Ours was Virage wagon.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Definitely Holdens not at all and 1960 Falcons onwards never had any.

Are there any pre-1960 Falcons around, are there ? Just sayin'

Dr Terry

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

Are there any pre-1960 Falcons around, are there ? Just sayin'

Dr Terry

My bad I meant to use the word Ford not Falcon, just sayin'

[aussiblue]

The last car in our family that I can recall having provision for crank handle was a "Beetle Backed" Phase I Standard Vanguard.

It had the little bit in the middle of the bottom half of the venetian blind style grill that folded down to access it.

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Definitely Holdens not at all and 1960 Falcons onwards never had any.

nor did any Valiants, local or imported.

[gregaust]

Only one I ever had was my Dads series 1 1948 land rover

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

That wasn’t what I meant!

If you see this happen, then you cut it mid stream and run

On a more on topic note, imagine trying to hand crank a modern car, 10.5:1 compression ratios, or a turbo diesel in the vicinity of 17.5:1

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

…Ours was Virage wagon.

Edit, wrong car and motor/box configuration. But I’m still pretty sure there was no crank start option for the Virage. You could troll Aussieflogs to ask them.They were a five speed, which from memory meant there was no dog on the front of the gearbox due to the overdrive type housing. Probably still a hole below the front grille, though.

[Citroënbender]

Apparently the Lada Niva hung onto a hand cranking capability. RockAuto just discussed this in the trivia corner of their monthly e-newsletter.

[Charliewool]

Lots of pommy cars had em.. Once had a 59 Hillman Minx that had a crank, mate had an early Rover that also had a crank

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Lots of pommy cars had em.. Once had a 59 Hillman Minx that had a crank, mate had an early Rover that also had a crank

Read my comments re: electricals being less reliable. Pommy cars qualify with Lucas electrics.

Dr Terry

[Charliewool]

Similar could be said about kick starts on bikes.. Harley, Triumph and many others had both kick and electric for a while, before kick completely gone mid-late 80s
Hand crank and kick starters were great for finding TDC and for doing valve clearances etc..

[Interceptor]

landrovers had them until at least 1984 with the last of the series 3's

[XR Martin]

Dad had a Rover P4 when i was a kid and I recall it had the hand crank hole in the grill.
Those ran until 1964.

[Rallye Sport]

I was lead to believe (could be wrong) that the hole in the front panel of the MK1 Escort was a carry over for a crank handle from the British poverty pack, 1100cc models.