Years ago I bought a very nice 1959 Rambler. Got the paper work completed and it was mine. My wife and I went out and climbed in. I turned the key, nothing happened. Hmmmm. So I went back inside and explained my problem. I felt like an idiot when the man said "Push the neutral button". LOL
Sort of like some models, like Buick, where you pushed the clutch pedal to the floor to activate the starting switch, like the dimmer switch (which, for you young 'uns) used to be on the floor). The theory behind the clutch pedal start was so you didn't start it in gear. To take it further I know of a couple of garage back walls that needed fixin' when the driver, who had left the gear shift in a fwd gear after driving into the garage the night before, forgot to shift into neutral BEFORE taking his foot off the clutch pedal.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN