TIL

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 07/27/2019 at 17:49 • Filed to: Wolseley 16/60, Starting handle

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This is one of two Wolseley 16/60s I saw today.

It seems to have retained its original paintwork, which is quite an accomplishment for a car fifty-odd years old. Bonus Trabant in the background.

Parked nearby was an Austin Cambridge, basically the same car shorn of a few upmarket bits. Here’s its front bumper.

Notice anything? It has a slot for a starting handle. Didn’t know they were still making provision for those in 1967.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Cé hé sin 07/27/2019 at 18:12

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The 2CV still had a slot and starting handle for emergencies all the way until 1990 from when it was first introduced after the war if memory serves! :P

Cé hé sin > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/27/2019 at 18:26

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Indeed it did now that I think of it and I believe Lada offered one for a long time too.

I found a forum whose members were discussing this very subject and some of whom remembered actually using the handle on a Wolseley/Austin/Morris etc.

AuthiCooper1300 > Cé hé sin 07/27/2019 at 19:26

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from the link you quoted:

An aftermarket kit was available to fit a s/handle to the Mini but the wheels had to be on full lock.

That’s fascinating. I love to find one for one of my beasties.

It also reminded me of a story I heard of the BMC works team changing the camshaft by cutting away the flitch panel (maybe they made it removable? ) . The difficult bit was to get the cam in (or out) without dropping the spider drive bit (actually a sort of tripod) that connected it to the oil pump.

Back to the subject I remembered that on the front panel of the Escort Twin Cam one could see a round hole which could be used to insert a starting handle... in the lesser versions of the Escort. I decided to check it on the Internet and found this interesting discussion on PistonHeads:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=140&t=1409289&i=20

AuthiCooper1300 > Cé hé sin 07/27/2019 at 19:32

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http://www.bmh-ltd.com/wheelnut/wheelnut_16.asp

not for canada - australian in disguise > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/27/2019 at 20:17

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I’m pretty sure the Niva STILL has it. At least the Canadian-market ones had them, and those were sold until 1997 or 1998 (sales stopped in the 1998 model year, so probably 1997 though they could have sold a few in early 98).

Definitely the last to have one by quite a while either way, beating out the 2CV by almost a decade with the most conservative numbers.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > not for canada - australian in disguise 07/27/2019 at 21:37

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I wonder if there are any Eastern Bloc, etc cars still being built that have provision for one...

glemon > Cé hé sin 07/27/2019 at 21:59

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The Triumph TR4A still had a half Moon hole in the front valance and a matching one in the grill for a crank.

The grill was made new for the 4A, I think they started production in '65, and they ceased in 1967, the 4A never had a hole in the radiator for a crank, though I think the TR4 did at least early production.  I know the TR3 did.

Cé hé sin > AuthiCooper1300 07/28/2019 at 18:53

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While walking a couple of years ago I happened to come across a 105E Anglia parked beside the road. I stopped to admire it and the owner came out and told me that while it didn’t itself have provision for a handle it had inherited its radiator from the previous model and as Ford were reluctant to redesign it the rad still ret ained a hole where a handle could reach through to the engine behind.

Cé hé sin > AuthiCooper1300 07/28/2019 at 18:58

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Oselli are still in business but I don’t think their product range  extends to Mini starting handles any more!

AuthiCooper1300 > Cé hé sin 07/28/2019 at 19:11

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I kn e w about Oselli, but I wonder if they s t ill are more or less the same outfit or someone a c q u i r e d the rights to the name of the company (as happened to, say, Downton).

I am pretty sure some weirdos would pay good money for one of these – preferably an original 60s one, natch, but I bet a good quality replica would also be in demand . In fact since yesterday I’ve been toying with the idea of suggesting Minispares or Moss to come up with something similar .