Oddity Question

[NCSUDucker]

So I've had the tonner for a year and oddly I never noticed this. I usually don't lock it when I go places but happened to see a thread talking about the ignition key fitting the lock. So I pulled the key and checked the passenger side, works like a champ. Walked around to the driver's side and there is no key hole? Not even a spot where one would be, as the passenger side has a little flat round spot in the ridges. Was this common or maybe the door was replaced at some point in its history? The door will lock from the inside so I guess I could lock it and slide out the passenger side and lock the truck up

[leon bee]

That's how they did it sometimes. In old movies they slide over and get out on the sidewalk side.

[Newc]

RHD vehicles will have the lock on their curb side- the left. newc

[NCSUDucker]

Wow, learn something new everyday!

[leon bee]

Surely it was a safety issue, not just trying to save a buck.

[ford38v8]

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The early days resembling a demolition derby, when parking parallel, it was a life saver to lock your driver door, slide over and exit from the passenger side.

[PeteVS]

My uncle worked for NJ Bell. They had orange decals with black lettering made up that read "CURB SIDE SAFE SIDE." They were installed on the window molding on the driver's side door of all the company vehicles. Henry Ford promoted that for safety. In fact, many Model T's didn't even have doors on the driver's side. Center consoles took all of that away! Can't slide from side to side any more.
A neighboring town has parallel parking on their Main St. I'd like to shoot some of the drivers who just throw their doors open and blithely step out into the traffic.

[Kube]

In Wisconsin to this day, it is illegal to exit the vehicle from the left.
Rarely enforced but "on the books".
A friend of mine, Tony, tore the door off of a woman's car when she had abruptly opened it while he was passing her. This was just a few years ago right here in Kenosha. She got the ticket and was held responsible.

[51504bat]

In 1955 our family moved from Phila to NY state. I still remember my parents having to slide over the front seat to exit by the passenger side door of our '51 Ford woodie when taking the NY driver test. Why I remember that 70 years after the fact I wish I knew since I can barely remember what I did yesterday.

[Cecil/WV]

My '52 F 7 has no lock on the drivers side, my 2009 F 150 has no lock on the passenger side!

[pistonbroke]

Intresting. I was told it was because you always opened the door for the Lady first getting in and last getting out and as cars, and trucks were narrower then so she could just reach across and lock or unlock the drvers door. Some of the modle Ts don't even have a drivers door so the sliding over thing makes way more sence. Still learning. Tim

[51woodie]

One door lock is not a new thing. The first time I washed my 2000 Mustang, I noticed there was no lock on the passengers side door. When I asked the Dealer, who was an "Old Car" guy, he said, "Henry never put nothin on a car that it didn't need." I checked a few out on the lot and it looks like Ford was saving a dollar or two on every Mustang built that year.

[JayChicago]

Once remote entry key fobs came into common use, no one ever uses the key to open a door. One key cylinder installed just in case your remote control fails, but no need for a second one.