I've been called a "crank" before myself. However, as to cranks in
Alpines, in 1967 I bought my second car (my first was a 65 Alpine GT),
a 67 Alpine Series V. In the trunk, on the clips behind the spare, was
an official Rootes starter crank. It had a "fixed" handle.
That crank came in handy on a number of occassions for exactly what it
was designed for, to start the car. As my ecornomic fortunes went
downward (as they have on occassion!), so did the condition of my car.
Unburdened by any mechanical abilities at the time (now I know just
enough to get myself into trouble), when the starter wouldn't turn over
because it didn't wantto , or the battery went dead or the tuning was so
bad normal starting wouldn't work, out came the crank.
Turn the key on, make SURE it's in neutral (it's not good to stand in
front of the car when it's in first and use the crank!) and let her rip.
I almost broke an arm a couple of times but it was exciting, to say the
least.
Unfortunately, my economic situation eventually improved and I had to
get the car fixed up and working normally. Boy, do I miss all that fun!
Steve Sage
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