3 on the tree

[jdcar32]

I've often wondered but never found the answer: what year and model was the last american ( or any other ) car to offer a 3 speed column shift manual ?

[Harry P.]

From wikipedia:

A majority of North American-spec vehicles for USA and Canada had a 3-speed column-mounted shifter - the first generation Chevrolet/GMC vans of 1964-70 vintage had an ultra-rare 4-speed column shifter. The column-mounted manual shifter disappeared in North America by the mid 1980s, last appearing in the 1987 Chevrolet pickup truck. Outside North America, the column-mounted shifter remained in production. All Toyota Crown and Nissan Cedric taxis in Hong Kong had the 4-speed column shift until 1999 when automatic transmissions were first offered. Since the late 1980s or early 1990s,^[vague] a 5-speed column shifter has been offered in some vans sold in Asia and Europe, such as Toyota Hiace and Mitsubishi L400.

[moparmagiclives]

Does a 6 speed auto stick count ???

I've never like the tree style shifters much myself, My 58 ford has a three speed on the tree.

Edited June 1, 2012 by moparmagiclives

[trogdor]

Down in central America I drove a 6 speed on the column. That was an adventure

[jdcar32]

From wikipedia:

A majority of North American-spec vehicles for USA and Canada had a 3-speed column-mounted shifter - the first generation Chevrolet/GMC vans of 1964-70 vintage had an ultra-rare 4-speed column shifter. The column-mounted manual shifter disappeared in North America by the mid 1980s, last appearing in the 1987 Chevrolet pickup truck. Outside North America, the column-mounted shifter remained in production. All Toyota Crown and Nissan Cedric taxis in Hong Kong had the 4-speed column shift until 1999 when automatic transmissions were first offered. Since the late 1980s or early 1990s,^[vague] a 5-speed column shifter has been offered in some vans sold in Asia and Europe, such as Toyota Hiace and Mitsubishi L400.

Thanks Harry for your reply, now I can amaze my car buddies with another nugat of obscure trivia........

Edited June 2, 2012 by jdcar32

[Junkman]

5 on the tree:

To the best of my knowledge, the only European car ever with this feature.

[62rebel]

trying to answer the OP, probably a Maverick or Nova, maybe a Hornet or Valiant/Dart? so few American cars not thought of as compacts or economy cars even HAD manual trans for a long stretch of time..... and one way to cut costs was to eliminate the clumsy column shift in favor of floor shift, especially when top-mounted shifters became the norm. fleet operators, long considered the bellwether of "cheap" cars, grew away from manual trans for ease of maintenance and repairs on rental cars and motor pool vehicles. by the mid-'80's it was getting hard to find people capable of PROPERLY driving stick.... and a few hammer-handed drivers could ruin stick-equipped cars pretty quickly.

i know that Granadas came with floor shift three speeds, so Mavericks were probably Ford's last column shift cars.

[mikemodeler]

My sister had a brand new 75 Chevy Nova with a 250 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree and manual steering, AM radio and no A/C. My Dad had a 79 Chevy Van with the same engine and 3 on the tree and a friend had an 83 C-10 with the 250/3 on the tree combo. Not rare, but not real popular either!

[Draggon]

Yup,my girlfreind had a spanking brand new 75 Chevy shortbed with 3 on the tree.

The girlfreind was a whole heck of a lot hotter than the truck

Edited June 3, 2012 by Draggon

[Junkman]

I had a 1983 Ford Fairmont Futura with a 6 cyl and 3OTT.

[bbowser]

hard to find people capable of PROPERLY driving stick

This is the sad part to me. My 67 Chevy C10 has a 250/3ott.

[jas1957]

62rebel mentions Darts, I had a 74 Dart Sport with factory 3 speed on the floor with a slant 6 & bench seat. I bought it used in late 76, the cool looking shifter is one of the reasons I bought it. I recently saw a 66 full size Ford with 3 OTT & a 6.