I'm glad this thread was resurrected. I forgot to post back with my results. As it turns out, mine DOES start in second gear - IF you don't touch the accelerator. I tested it several times.

In a flat parking lot, shift lever in D, from a dead stop, lift my foot off the brake pedal. Let the car get up to a little over 5 mph, shift the lever down to 1st, and it downshifts. Every time, without fail.

If I even press my foot on the accelerator and move it even enough to take the tiny bit of slack out of the linkages, THEN shift the lever to 1st gear, nothing happens - it has already down shifted to first gear.

So, I would have to agree with your conclusions, Brian. As long as the accelerator/bowden cable doesn't move, the tranny stays in second gear unless shifted down via the shift lever. ANY movement of the accelerator/bowden cable and it instantly down shifts to first. I also want to comment on the fact that when it down shifts, it does it so quickly and smoothly that it is undetectable.

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown