what cars are these?
08-07-23, 11:21 AM
#1066
Lexus Fanatic
08-07-23, 11:35 AM
#1067
Lexus Test Driver
08-07-23, 11:36 AM
#1068
Super Moderator
mmarshall is probably incorrectly assuming the actual requirements from FMVSS 114, issued in 1968 and coming into effect in 1970. It requires the key to not be removable unless the shifter is in park, and for the steering wheel to lock when the key is not present.
Most manufacturers CHOSE to implement the second rule by putting both the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock in the column. But it was by no means required.
08-07-23, 11:50 AM
#1069
Lexus Champion
mmarshall is probably incorrectly assuming the actual requirements from FMVSS 114, issued in 1968 and coming into effect in 1970. It requires the key to not be removable unless the shifter is in park, and for the steering wheel to lock when the key is not present.
Most manufacturers CHOSE to implement the second rule by putting both the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock in the column. But it was by no means required.
Most manufacturers CHOSE to implement the second rule by putting both the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock in the column. But it was by no means required.
08-07-23, 01:19 PM
#1070
Lexus Fanatic
It was a theft-prevention device.
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/11/a...-of-autos.html
Originally Posted by article
Preliminary figures indicate that 904,000 motor vehicles were stolen last year, 4 per cent fewer than in 1971.
Law enforcement officers attribute the decline largely to the increasing effectiveness of federally mandated antitheft devices, required on autos built since Jan. 1, 1970, that lock a car's steering wheel and transmission when the ignition key is removed. While the new locks thwart many thieves, officials say organized professional auto thieves know how to beat them relatively easily.
Law enforcement officers attribute the decline largely to the increasing effectiveness of federally mandated antitheft devices, required on autos built since Jan. 1, 1970, that lock a car's steering wheel and transmission when the ignition key is removed. While the new locks thwart many thieves, officials say organized professional auto thieves know how to beat them relatively easily.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-07-23 at 01:24 PM.
08-07-23, 01:26 PM
#1071
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by geko29
mmarshall is probably incorrectly assuming the actual requirements from FMVSS 114, issued in 1968 and coming into effect in 1970. It requires the key to not be removable unless the shifter is in park, and for the steering wheel to lock when the key is not present.
Most manufacturers CHOSE to implement the second rule by putting both the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock in the column. But it was by no means required.
Most manufacturers CHOSE to implement the second rule by putting both the ignition switch and the steering wheel lock in the column. But it was by no means required.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
I've never heard of this before and I don't think its accurate. Like you said, many cars have the ignition not on the steering column and always have
See my reply to tex2670, above....that explains it a little more clearly.
08-07-23, 01:28 PM
#1072
Lexus Fanatic
Then Feds did not (directly) mandate the ignition on the steering column, but mandated that, as of the 1970 model year, the steering column and transmission had to be locked when the ignition was off, and, with the technology of the period, the easiest way to do it was to put the switch on the steering column. GM had already put the switch in the column for 1969, and the rest of the American car industry simply followed suit in 1970. I remember that change well.....I went to high school with those cars.
It was a theft-prevention device.
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/11/a...-of-autos.html
It was a theft-prevention device.
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/11/a...-of-autos.html
08-07-23, 01:41 PM
#1073
Lexus Fanatic
Not directly, no....the mandate was to LOCK the steering column. And the easiest way to do it, with the technology of the time was to simply put the switch on the column.
Actually, the way I understand it, it was GM's actions first, not the Government's. GM put it on all their American-market 1969 models as an anti-theft feature, and DOT liked the idea so much they made its mandatory the next year...1970. GM had already come up with the basic design, so Ford, Chrysler and AMC simply used GM's basic design, with their styling/hardware touches....they didn't have to spend much time of money getting it ready for the next model year.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-07-23 at 05:59 PM.
08-07-23, 01:52 PM
#1074
Lexus Fanatic
A lot of car companies never used that ignition design, so that makes more sense to me.
08-07-23, 06:01 PM
#1075
Lexus Fanatic
08-07-23, 06:40 PM
#1077
Lexus Champion
08-07-23, 07:21 PM
#1079
Lexus Fanatic
