How many have actually hand crank started a car?

I've done a Model T Ford 3 times.  Model A Ford maybe 50 times ( Grandpa used to let me start his car nearly every time ). 
 

my MGTD ( and a few others ) hundreds of times.  

At least once a month, sometimes once a day.

We have a fair bit of brass era stuff come through the shop.

Once, with an early Series Land Rover I was looking at buying. It was only on three wheels - all three different brands - and the owner showed me how to crank it. But he obviously wasn't too hot on selling it if he couldn't bother to get it at least rolling for me!

The Renault 8 has a slot in the rear valence for the crank, but I will never try it as I dont have the crank and I will be swapping engines.

When I was in university and a poor student who couldn't afford a new battery form my 58 MGA, I used to park on hills so I could roll start.

I took a girlfriend to the local drive in in the MG and all the other cars were American V8 stuff. When we went to leave, the MG wouldn't start.  I had to get out the starting crank and wind it up in front of all the honking clapping large barge owners - but it started first turn!  Starting handles are great for setting valves, too.

When I was a kid my neighbor plowed snow with a homemade tracktor with a Model A engine in it.  I hand cranked that a few times.  It made me a big fan of electric start.

Hand crank started an Amilcar CGS that I did an engine rebuid on. It wouldn't until I had the magneto rebuilt. Then it would fire on one turn. That was the only one and it was over 50 years ago

The starter on the Series IIa Land Rover got dodgy on me at a gas station a few years ago. Fired right up with the crank. 

You can set up most buzz-coil igntions (model T) to start without the crank on a hot start if you know how to do it.

My customer's Ts are set up this way. Just turn the ignition to "battery" and move the spark advance lever down. Whichever cylinder is just over top dead center will have an unlit charge in it and advancing the spark will light it off.

Nothing more fun that walking back to the car and stealthily bumping the lever. The car just jerks to life without even the sound of a starter.

Drives the spectators wild.

I've also got the "laurel and hardy" three point turn down pat. Rolling forwards, you depress the reverse pedal which slows the car and reverses it seamlessly. Then, going backwards, depress the clutch pedal and it slows the car and moves it forward again smoothly. No herky-jerky stops at all, no changing gears. Just have to be smooth with the pedals and the throttle lever.

My uncle's '29 Model A Pickup.



Hand cranking since '76, when he bought it.

More than a few times, on my 2 '62 Triumph TR3s and 2 old Farmall tractors. I was taught how to hold the crank handle to keep from breaking my thumb at an early age. The Triumph Register of America had Crank Start Competions at their National Meet each year. Last time in the TR3 was around 10 years ago. Last hand crank with the Farmall C was probably 5 years ago.

old VW bugs / buses had crank starters.....

and my friend had a rope set-up off the generator pulley that was made in Sweden , 

Like a lawn mower would have ,   worked great 

1997 Lada Niva which a forestry company I worked for bought. It came with a hand crank so we all had fun with it but I don't think it was ever used again. And the car itself was gone six months later as parts were unobtanium and it had already started falling apart.