The Small Engine Shop
Holding Cell 0.0 => Off Topic Posts => Topic started by: smallengineshop on April 21, 2025, 07:04:47 PM
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I got to drive a couple of older GM vehicles equipped with a 3 speed manual transmission with column shifter. All the vehicles were manufactured in the 1960's. The shifter was located in the steering column, and the pattern was a complete mystery at first. Unlike a shifter located on the floor of the vehicle with the shifting pattern shown on the shifting knob, the shifting pattern on a column shifter is not displayed. You either have to figure it out on your own, or be told what the pattern is.
Many people today might think a 3 speed manual transmission doesn't have enough gears for modern driving, but they would be wrong. I drove these vehicles on city streets, highway, and even off road, and I never felt the transmission was inadequate.
A 3 speed manual transmission with a column shifter is something that will probably never be used again on cars and trucks. Even more traditional manual transmissions with floor shifters are disappearing on new vehicles. I guess people don't want to be bothered with the added task of manually shifting gears and operating a clutch to make the vehicle move forward or in reverse. Anyway, I'm glad I got to see and experience this part of automotive history and technology before it is completely wiped out of existence.
Click image to enlarge:
(http://www.thesmallengineshop.net/pics/forumContent/column shifter_small.jpg) (http://www.thesmallengineshop.net/pics/forumContent/column shifter.jpg)