Ignition Switch Location

[55blacktie]

Okay, this might be a bit out there. Considering that 90% of people are right-handed, why did Ford put the ignition switch to the left of the steering column? Although I'm somewhat ambidextrous, my muscle memory prefers a right-side location. I feel the same about the passenger-side door lock. I find both to be a bit awkward.

[ward 57]

If I remember correctly, in the early '50s the ignition switch was on the right of the steering column but the push button starter switch was on the left after removing it from the floor. I'm remembering back 55yrs ago when I drove a '54? farm truck with a missing driver's door.
carryover?

[55blacktie]

I had a 1957 Chevy 3100 short-bed stepside/w 235 six and three-on-the-tree. The key was to the right of the column, and the starter pedal was on the floor.

[Rusty57]

I expect that we will never know the real reason. One guess is that for wiring purposes they wanted the ignition and light switches near each other. Those are the heavy power users so it minimized the length of the heavier gauge wires behind the dash.

In the 50’s Ford engineers were still operating under the influence of Henry’s extreme focus on material costs. Why do you think they used hardware in 1/8” increments? Or a 7/16” cap screw with only a 5/8” hard but the nut has to be 11/16” to have enough material to hold the load?

I have had so many different vehicles with ignition switches and starter buttons in different locations that I never developed a “memory”reflex for where to put the key. Only about a year ago did I get my first car with “push to start”. Still getting used to that.

[ward 57]

Once what was old is new again. The old electric push button shifters are now back again but in a different form as everything goes electric with all it's flaws. I still can't imagine electric parking brakes or doors that rely on power to open even if they have manual overrides from the inside nobody knows about or hidden key locks on the outside. People have died not knowing how to open the door. I prefer simplicity.