The original Ford Model T’s magneto ignition system generated electricity through engine rotation, meaning the car literally could not start from a dead stop without hand-cranking—so Ford owners had to physically crank the engine until it fired, at which point the magneto would begin generating spark, creating a cruel catch-22 where the ignition system required engine motion to produce ignition in the first place.
Car Fact #152 — November 14, 2026
