During that time several people told this same story....

They were the type to get in the car, start it, and then put on their seat belt. This was their habit.

So they would get in the car and it would not start. Much time and sometimes money was wasted before they understood what was going on.

But a quirk was while the starter might not engage you could put the key in run, roll the car down a hill, and jump start it. Because the only thing locked out was the starter.

One guy said he borrowed a car from a friend and it would not start. So for the few days he had the car he was always careful to park on a hill.