It's a dog, Nick.
A kit to add the starter dog and a bush to support the handle in the n/s inner wing was available for minis until comparatively recently, just turn to full left lock, insert the handle through the inner arch under the radiator and away you could go in your generator-equipped mini in winter.
Maybe the increasing use of alternators saw the demise of the good old starting handle?
I too had a Morris Oxford, a February, 1964 example, 4388DG and that started easily on the handle so I always used it in preference to the starter switch. Quite unnecessary ordinarily, but that, and my A60s, only had one decent battery between them and it was DG's engine that was easiest to start with the handle, so it never received the good battery.
Hillman Imps had handles, and they were present until the end of production in 1975 afaik.
I think that Citroen had done away with starting handles by the time this 1977/78 GSX2 was built:
but it did leave me wondering what the last Triumph (Standard?) or indeed UK produced car was that did actually have a starting handle. Later than I would think, I expect.
Thanks Photobucket 
