ignition switch question

[Jules Dielen]

Why is the ignition switch on the left side of the steering wheel?

[Jeffrey Leeds]

Comes from the Le Mans 24 hr. starting procedure.

Someone figured out that with left-hand drive it saved a few tenths if the driver ran across the track with the key in his left hand, and had his right hand dedicated to the shift rod. Hop in, turn key on the left with the left hand, and handle shifting with the right.

At least that's the legend.

- Jeff

[Doug McDonnell]

I have always wondered if it was because Otto Mathe had a paralyzed right arm.

[Jules Dielen]

but the starting procedure makes little sense at all since the track bound / club racer cars (550, 718RSK, speedsters, roadsters etc) all had the ignition switch on the right?

Maybe Otto Mathe had a say in it indeed, but he was an avid racer too...

[James Davies]

The Le Mans story is probably legend.

The left-side ignition switch on the pre-As didn't actually start the car. The start button (on the right) actually starts the car. As you note Jules. =)

The Gmünd cars have the ignition lock and start in the center of the dash as well.

Porsche's first Le Mans racers, the 356SL had the same layout as the then-current production cars, ignition lock on the left, start button on the right in the center of the dash I believe. As did the America Roadsters, the aluminum competition cars Porsche made for gentleman racers.

[Jon Schmid]

For years I only thought Porsche ignition switches were on the right, due to growing up with my dad's Roadster and occasionally seeing my one uncle's Speedster and my other uncle's 550 (I wish I knew then what I know now). It wasn't until a 911E came into the extended family that I saw the switch to the left. To this day when I alternate between the Roadster and my coupe I am always looking for the switch in the wrong place. I never have heard a good reason why Porsche did this.