Ii have owned in my time probably 100 vehicles. Businness use and a dedicated gear head. Without a doubt the best I have ever owned is a 1992 Lexus SC400.

But I did love dearly my '46 Ford coupe with a flathead V8.

randjack,
Those old coupes are fun! I've got a '32 Model B 5-Window with a 327 (High compression, twin 4bbl carbs, around 400hp) and a Turbo 350 trans. Before that it had the same motor with a three speed rockcrusher with the original rear gearing (6.13s I think) What a fun car, nothing could touch it from stop light to stop light, but it could only do about 55 on the highway tops. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I think the '46 had a 4.11 diff, but it was a 3 speed with a manual OD. It was good for 65 mph on the road, but no mas for cruzin. Remember how good those cars smell inside? Wool & mohair headliners & carpet, leather .. oh well.

Real Leather too, the kind made from cows. Not that plastic stuff they call leather now that you can fry an egg on in the summer. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I spose we're getting a little stupid here with a semi-private conversation that may or may not be of any interest to anybody else, but what about that feel in your hand as you slip from one marginally synchronized gear to another? Who knows how to double clutch anymore, much less shift just by matching gear speeds.

I just bought a 2003 Mustang Cobra a year ago. The car comes with a built in shift light on the dash to tell you when to shift during everyday driving. I couldn't believe it. What a joke. (By the way, it says to shift way to early, I guess for gas mileage)

Anyway, the big thing I love about those old cars is how easy they are to work on. You could fix anything in that car with a set of craftsman tools and parts from your local NAPA. I have a '73 Chevy blazer I use for plowing that I could sit in the engine compartment to work on it. I open the hood on the mustang to do something and I just close it. I don't even think I could change the belt. O well, guess we better get back on topic. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Hi randjack

I liked your post.

When I was first learning to drive, I asked anyone and everyone who had a car, to let me have a go. Two of the most interesting ones were a mini copper s and a series 1 ex MOD land rover. The mini had been "tweaked" just a lot and was basicaly a rocket power roller skate, with a leather button steering wheel. For sheer feel of power I've driven nothing since that even comes close to that flying by the seat of your pants sensation, beside that you only had to look wrong at the steering wheel and you'd be off back to where you came. But for challenge the series 1 for me a meer 16yrs old, the series 1 was a hell of a vehicle to learn in. Low reving diesel, no synchro-mesh what-so-ever. You learned real fast just when to change gear and how, double clutching all the way. The time spent in that vehicle helped to drive many an arkward HGV. Ah those were the days.

Many years ago I worked for General Motors at their proving ground in Milford, Michigan so I can give you a little history behind those shift indicator lights ...

They were put in cars to make it easier for manufacturers of cars with manual transmissions to meet/pass EPA fuel economy regulations. The deal was that the manufacturer would install the shift indicator light, which was designed to maximize fuel mileage, BUT the manufacturer had to then prove that customers actually used the shift indicator light.

Every some number of years GM would have to do a fairly large customer survey to find out how many of them actually used the shift indicator light. If the usage was above a specified percentage - and it was, then GM could use the shift indicator light recommended mileage.

I suspect Ford was doing the same thing as GM.

As they say ... your actual mileage may vary. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That makes sense. The EPA really ruins everything. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

By the way, if you really want to learn how to drive stick then drive this thing around for a while:


That is my 1968 Brockway with what is known as a "five-and-a-four", if anyone can figure out what that means then you know that if you can drive that you can drive anything.

Five forward gears & 4 reverse or after going through the gears 1-5 back to 4th is actually 6th, etc.?