Ted:

Didn't they have a vacuum actuated switch to disable the starter when the engine was running?  Been too long, I don't remember.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Worked on a bunch of early Fifties Studebackers back in the day where the starter button was under the clutch pedal.  Always wondered how many people accidentally ran the starter into the ring gear when working the clutch after the engine was running.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I have a guess.  Other cars of that era, notably cars with hydramatic and dynaflow transmissions, had no park position.  N was at the top, the forward gears between, and R at the bottom.  For park you put the lever in R with the engine off, and it locked the output shaft.  There had to have been some kind of hydraulic override of park that was actuated with the engine running.  So these cars all had to have neutral switches.  So to align with the competition, Ford made their cars start in N only.  Just a guess.  Another questionable engineering feat of buick was putting the starter on the accelerator.  Beginning in the '30s (maybe) until '61, you started a buick by pushing the accelerator to the floor.  Why would you want to start a car at WOT?  Imagine what would happen without a neutral switch and the trans lever in R.  The first safety switch I can remember was '40s Studebakers with the starter button under the clutch pedal.

Another buick story.  I worked in a buick dealership in '64.  An elderly customer traded in his old dynaflow car for a new one.  The new car was parked in the service area, backed up to the service manager's office.  When the customer got in, the salesman got in the passenger side, and away they go.  The customer was used to his old shifter with Dr the first detent below N.  He pulled it down one notch, gave it some gas, and backed into the office wall.  The salesman helped him select Dr, and he hit the gas, being used to his old slow moving dynaflow, and the car jumped out and before he could react he hit a car on the other side of the aisle.  I told the owner of the dealership that I felt the salesman  was to blame, he should have taken the car outside before starting the driving lesson.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Hello Paul! I understand why there is a neutral start switch on an automatic just cant figure out why they were designed to start ONLY in neutral from 51-57 on Fords.Anyone have an answer?

  

I am ashamed to admit it but unknowing to me my 'neutral safety switch' was off just enough to allow it to start in Drive and I reached through the window and turned the key to show off how good the Y-Block sounded. Thank God it didn't start but gave everyone standing in front of the car a scare. It was parked in the street but still could have BAD thing.



I have never start a car without sitting in it with the brakes on since.

BOB

I'm surprised why they didn't put it on the standard shift cars before they actually did. Regarding the switch on the auto cars, its obvious why they did - start it in gear and it takes off if the foot is not on the brake. Makes for garage doors in both ends, crumpled fenders and grilles and very hurt people. In a standard shift car, unless there is a very high idle, it tends to stall.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Actually,until sometime in the 60s,very few  cars with standard transmissions had any kind of safety start feature.Back in those days most people had enough common sense to step on the clutch before hitting the starter button.I've never understood why the manufacturers thought they needed a safety switch on the automatics and later on the standards.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Mark; Because it's a true Neutral switch ?!

Paul

Actually up until 58 all Fords with automatics would only start in neutral.I have never understood why other than maybe people were used to the standard transmission which you could only start in neutral(either depress the clutch or shift it into neutral before you turn the key)..Anyone else know why Ford engineered the automatics to only start in neutral?

  

I had a neutral problem with my 56. Kept adjusting until it "sort of worked" in park AND neutral. Destroyed the switch! Then all these years later I find out it should never have worked at all! Darn, why didn't I just ask! Great info on the 58 switch John, Thanks. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire