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The "three on the tree" manual shifter seemed to die off when vehicle fuel economy became a stronger consideration when building a car. Manual transmission missions went to four speeds and eventually five speeds.
Several different makes of cars had four speed manual shifters on the column. The commonality of an overdrive gear really had nothing to do with the demise of manual column shifters, however.
The popularization of bucket seats and consoles is the real culprit.
The manual column shifter was unnatural in design. It was created in order to give more front seating space. When that was no longer a selling point, there was no need to continue the convoluted design.
It did, however, hang around as an option on trucks well into the eighties, until the extended cab became more popular.
Several different makes of cars had four speed manual shifters on the column. The commonality of an overdrive gear really had nothing to do with the demise of manual column shifters, however.
The popularization of bucket seats and consoles is the real culprit.
The manual column shifter was unnatural in design. It was created in order to give more front seating space. When that was no longer a selling point, there was no need to continue the convoluted design.
It did, however, hang around as an option on trucks well into the eighties, until the extended cab became more popular.
a manual column transmission on trucks ........" well into the 80's"
which ones ?
Even bench seat trucks had floor mounted manual transmissions.
Money prize for anyone that can find a "column shifter" (may not literally be "Three on the tree.." Don't forget the "Four on the floor") past a 2011 Lincoln Town Car...
The "three on the tree" manual shifter seemed to die off when vehicle fuel economy became a stronger consideration when building a car. Manual transmission missions went to four speeds and eventually five speeds.
Money prize for anyone that can find a "column shifter" (may not literally be "Three on the tree.." Don't forget the "Four on the floor") past a 2011 Lincoln Town Car...
2012-present Ford Taurus Police Interceptor
2012-2013 Impala/2014-2016 Impala Limited
2012 Crown Victoria
Aforementioned Tesla Model S and Mercedes Benz, although they're a bit different from traditional column shifters.
You can call an automatic a stick all you want but that is not the same thing as driving a stick. You just place it in gear on an automatic. Why would anyone consider it a stick just because the gear changer is on the column? Manuel transmission is what this is about and not Automatics.
I don't remember seeing any 3 speeds past the early 80's. I think a lot had to do with people wanting more gears to shift and that is more easily done when you can go direct and get away from the linkage set up that a column shift offers. When I was a kid hardly any 5 speeds out there. My 1980 Chevy LUV was a 4 on the floor. Now people want 6 speed transmissions, or those that like to be part of the driving experience do anyway.
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