Hello everyone,
I am researching a work of fiction set in 1949 and need to call upon your expertise!
In the story, a character (with some mechanical experience) is trapped in the back of a light van without a key and under fire. I have read that vehicles can be put into neutral by accessing the transmission from below and wondered if this might apply to the sort of vans that may have been used at the time.
My hope is that the character can move the vehicle by cutting through the bed of the van (or removing the gear stick?), accessing the transmission, put it into neutral (by disconnecting a cable and pushing a lever?) then take the hand brake off and roll away down a hill.
Forgive my ignorance! I have read everything I could find on the matter - I just need someone experienced now!
Is this all plausible in a vehicle of the time period? Are there any additional difficulties that I have overlooked? What sort of vehicle would be appropriate? (It should have capacity for approximately 1 pallet's worth of stacked boxes and 3 men at a push. It should also be relatively cheap at the time, so perhaps from the ‘30s, possibly Bedford/Morris?).
Here are my sources:
https://itstillruns.com/put-car-neutral-key-ignition-7583966.html
http://www.autocarrepair.net/Car-Quarterly-Check-UP.html
Thanks very much for your help!
I am researching a work of fiction set in 1949 and need to call upon your expertise!
In the story, a character (with some mechanical experience) is trapped in the back of a light van without a key and under fire. I have read that vehicles can be put into neutral by accessing the transmission from below and wondered if this might apply to the sort of vans that may have been used at the time.
My hope is that the character can move the vehicle by cutting through the bed of the van (or removing the gear stick?), accessing the transmission, put it into neutral (by disconnecting a cable and pushing a lever?) then take the hand brake off and roll away down a hill.
Forgive my ignorance! I have read everything I could find on the matter - I just need someone experienced now!
Is this all plausible in a vehicle of the time period? Are there any additional difficulties that I have overlooked? What sort of vehicle would be appropriate? (It should have capacity for approximately 1 pallet's worth of stacked boxes and 3 men at a push. It should also be relatively cheap at the time, so perhaps from the ‘30s, possibly Bedford/Morris?).
Here are my sources:
https://itstillruns.com/put-car-neutral-key-ignition-7583966.html
http://www.autocarrepair.net/Car-Quarterly-Check-UP.html
Thanks very much for your help!