I had a winter beater back in the day with the key broken off in the ignition switch. That was handy, the ignition just turned. It was one less thing to keep track of, and theft was no concern.
Check with John Gentner as I bought the car from him. Luke H. for Florida did alot of the work on this car and raced it. I'm thinking the inside lock where the little pins are has been worked on. I don't think the key is wore out.
That's got to be a winner. You would think a knife or Screw driver would work in that ignition switch.
That's one of the first things I do when I buy a car, I replace all the keys with new GM blanks. Makes me feel like I'm driving a new car!
I thought the keys Ray gave me for the Wildcat was worn. When I got some new keys cut, the tech said "Do not use these keys in the locks or ignition anymore, they will break off." I put them in the pocket in my wallet for emergencies. (I did that after leaving the lights on and locking the keys in, at the same time. Not exactly my most shining moment.)
I've got a different key situation. I've owned my 72 convertible for 42 years and the key has always come out of the ignition lock cylinder with the position in run. So if the engine is running, and I need something out of the trunk, out it comes. Another key will not start the engine. I don't think the key is worn like some in the pictures above, and I can't recall if I've replaced the "main key" or not. The ignition lock cylinder hasn't been changed, at least in the past 42 years! 200k+ miles.
My ‘97 Silverado… I had new keys cut from this key, they didn’t work. Then I had new keys cut at the Chevy dealer from the key code, they didn’t work. But this old key works fine. The ignition must be worn the same as the key.
I no longer have the car or it's keys, but the most-used key for our '72 Cutlass was close to as bad as the one in the OP. Cliff wins, but not by much.
I understand that some years allowed the keys to be removed so the driver could open the trunk. My 68 does that. Or is that not by design?
Some of the older GM cars - at least Buick - had a setup where you could leave the ignition switch in the "off" position , then remove the key and the switch could be moved without the key from "off" to "on". The idea was that you could leave the car with a parking garage attendant who could move the car without giving him access to the trunk or the glove compartment. You could also move the switch to "lock" and when you removed the key the car weren't goin' no place.
