Mark Hofmann wrote to Roy Witt:   
      
      
    RW>> Last early 50s Ford I had was a 51 and it no longer had the push   
    RW>> button starter switch. The ignition switch was keyed and it worked   
    RW>> like GM cars, except that the Ford keys were inserted upside down   
    RW>> (tumblers up locks).   
      
    MH> I never realized that push button start was around before the key   
    MH> start. Seems things are going full circle, back to the push button.   
      
   There's a big difference in yesterday's push button start and today's.   
   Everything was mechanical yesterday and now everything is electrical, as   
   in solid state RF keys. My last encounter with the solid state keys was   
   with a new Dodge van, c2008. Without the key being at least in the   
   vacinity of the key hole, the engine wouldn't start. Unlocking a locked   
   car is still easy, but there's no way to start it without the key.   
      
    MH> Going between driving the 2012 Charger, 2002 Monte Carlo, and 2001   
    MH> Durango sometimes throws me for a loop.   
      
    MH> The Charger has the push button start and a shifter that is spring   
    MH> loaded and doesn't really change position.  Then the Monte Carlo is   
    MH> key started with a standard shifter.  The Durango is key started with   
    MH> the shifter on the steering column.   
      
    MH> Keeps me on my toes.   
      
   Try driving a manual transmission and an automatic. My Z28 has key start   
   on the column and a 6spd manual trans, while the Silverado has key start   
   on the column and shifter on the column. In the Silverado you can see   
   traffic ahead for 1/2 a mile, minimum, while in the Z28, all you can see   
   is the rear bumper of trucks like my Silverado.   
      
      
            R\%/itt   
      
      
   --- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012   
    * Origin: Texas Lone-Star - Texan, American, USAian  (1:387/22)