No key hole on drivers door of early trucks - why ?

[agshelby]

Anyone know the thought behind the lack of a driver side keyhole on early trucks?

I am sure there was a reason - but its lost on me.

[DavidG]

Nor on passenger cars either. The idea was to encourage exiting the vehicle on the curb side of the car rather than the street side as a safety measure.

[Torchie]

I don't know what you consider early but my 52 F-1 doesn't have a driver side key lock.
Nor did my 50 GMC.
I was told once that it was because of people getting hit by vehicles when parking on the street. They wanted to encourage drivers to enter and exit thru the passenger side on to the sidewalk rather than the street side and getting hit by a streetcar.
Supposedly one of the reason that they got rid of suicide doors as well. People couldn't see the traffic as well.

[jimvette59]

I was told it was against the law in some states to exit an auto on the drivers side. I have noticed this in old movies. My late 31 tudor delux sedan had no outside key lock on the drivers side. You locked the vehicle from the inside the slid over, exited the vehicle and locked it with the key from the outside. The way it was !!

[Kube]

In many states the law remains on the books. While not enforced, I know from a close friend, IF you get out on the left and IF your door is ripped off, YOU will get the ticket.
too bad you have buckets seats, a console, etc. The law remains...

[PeteVS]

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My uncle used to work for Ma Bell back in the 50's. They used to put orange decals on the drivers window sill of company cars stating "CURB SIDE - SAFE SIDE."

[Shadetree]

Pete,
In West Virginia it was Su-i-side on the driver door and Safe Side on the passenger door on every telephone vehicle.

All three of my antiques have key locks on the passenger side only.

[ford38v8]

And before the lack of a lock on the drivers door, there was the lack of a driver door itself. The early Model T Ford had only the impression of a driver door stamped in the left side.

[296 V8]

This guy always gets out on the right side

[Clem Clement]

In the early days there was flop of horse in the street, so you gits out on the sidewalk.

[TJ]

There's lots of speculation on why there was only one lock, but I suspect the real reason was old Henry saved a lot of money by only putting one lock on the car. Not only did he save the cost of the lock ,he did not have to spend the time adding the parts to the door so it would accept the lock.

[36Bill]

What did Chevy and Dodge do?


Bill

[296 V8]

Originally Posted by 36Bill

What did Chevy and Dodge do?


Bill

who's that Bill

[Torchie]

Originally Posted by 36Bill

What did Chevy and Dodge do?


Bill

Chevy/GMC trucks were the same.(I know,Iknow).
Can't speak for Dodge.
When did Ford start using key locks on the drivers door and was it just cars or both cars and trucks at the same time?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Torchie

Chevy/GMC trucks were the same.(I know,Iknow).
Can't speak for Dodge.
When did Ford start using key locks on the drivers door and was it just cars or both cars and trucks at the same time?

First year for Ford was '41. I'll have to look in my book for the other two.

Edit: Looks like the others were '41 also.

LockDoc

[Brian]

There's lots of speculation on why there was only one lock, but I suspect the real reason was old Henry saved a lot of money by only putting one lock on the car. Not only did he save the cost of the lock ,he did not have to spend the time adding the parts to the door so it would accept the lock


Except RHD cars had the lock on their curb side doors, so the doors are different LHD to RHD

[Bluebell]

People were more honest then. U.S built military vehicles had no door locks, and all used the same QMC standard (H700) key and ignition switch, at least at one time during WWII.
Thats Dodge, Jeep, GMC, and I guess Ford as well, to name a few.