Manual vs Automatic (Split from Driving a BTR)

[JimmyRay73]

The "three on the tree" column mount manuals were pretty common back in the day, and I kinda want to track down an old beater with one just for the heck of it. In high school I had a friend with a three speed manual on the floor in a 1969 or '70 Mustang. Reverse was way left and forward I think. 1st was not as left and not as forward, 2nd was straight back from 1st, and 3rd was right and forward. If you weren't careful when racing the shift to 3rd would sometimes result in cracking you're knuckles against the radio knobs or dashboard trim... Also the clutch effort was brutal. After a couple of runs up and down the street in that car my (already battered) left knee was an absolute wreck. That really made me appreciate the hydraulic clutch in my 280ZX.

On a side note I once met a hill-billy type guy that claimed to have a 5 speed in an old Plymouth Duster. When I questioned him on the matter since I knew damn well that the only Dusters to come with a 5 speed were the front engine newer ones he replied: "I've got 4 on the floor and a fifth under the seat!" as he reached for the whiskey bottle.