Got into a discussion on another site. Talking about 3spd manual transmissions and one young person had never heard of them. We have been trying to come up with a rough decade when the last ones were used. Any ideas ?
Got into a discussion on another site. Talking about 3spd manual transmissions and one young person had never heard of them. We have been trying to come up with a rough decade when the last ones were used. Any ideas ?
70's for sure. Three-on-the-tree in the early 70s, three on the floor mid-late 70s.
My '83 F-150 had an I-6 and 3 plus O/D. Ford called it a 4 speed, but for all intents it was a 3 speed, O/D was useless below 50mph.
I would say early 70s for GM. The trucks might have kept them longer though. My 70 Chevelle has a 3 on the tree.
HappyAndy wrote: My '83 F-150 had an I-6 and 3 plus O/D. Ford called it a 4 speed, but for all intents it was a 3 speed, O/D was useless below 50mph.
That was actually a top loader with 3rd gear changed to an OD ratio, so it was actually a 4 speed.
I'd bet, although I have no particular evidence, that an inline 6 powered American pickup would be the last unit that would have come with a proper 3 speed. Late 70's for sure, I wonder whether it lasted until the last of the carbureted models in 82-84...
a 70s pickup was the last 3 on the three I saw.. and the owner of that truck converted it to a 4 speed on the floor.
Just wait until the youngsters have never heard of a manual shift
Jeep was still using 3 speeds in the 70s I think. A neighbor had a CJ5 with a 3 on the floor
I know you could get the J10/J20 with the manual 3-speed up until around 82-ish?
AMC also had them in the SX/4 until the T5 came out.
had a '77 F-150 w/ I-6 and three on the tree
swapped in a T-10 4 speed, so 4 on the tree w/ reverse lever on the floor... just because I could
They were available on the floor in 81/82 in the Malibu.
I remember a friend who had a 70 Bronco and another with a 74(?) Duster, both with three-on-the-tree.
My friend's parents had a '70 or '71 Catalina wagon with a 3 on the tree. They had to special order it. They also had a '75 or so Ramcharger with a Slant Six and a column shift 3 speed.
GM pickups kept the 3-speed up until 86 or 87, ended when the new body style came out in 88. Went to school with someone who had a 85 with inline-6 and three on the tree. We had way too much fun with that truck, right rear tire didn't last long 
Duke wrote: My friend's parents had a '70 or '71 Catalina wagon with a 3 on the tree. They had to special order it.
If it was a 1971, Pontiac dropped the manual transmission option for full size cars altogether in March of that year...only 30 Catalina wagons were built with a stick. 
I haven't seen the car in almost 30 years, but I think it was a '70. We had a '69 Bonnie wagon and a '69 Catalina sedan; I'm fairly certain his was a '70.
My 72 had a three on the tree. I loved it.
Duke wrote: I haven't seen the car in almost 30 years, but I think it was a '70. We had a '69 Bonnie wagon and a '69 Catalina sedan; I'm fairly certain his was a '70.
Only 113 Catalina wagons in 1970 had a manual transmission, still pretty rare.
81cpcamaro wrote: GM pickups kept the 3-speed up until 86 or 87, ended when the new body style came out in 88. Went to school with someone who had a 85 with inline-6 and three on the tree. We had way too much fun with that truck, right rear tire didn't last long
I was wondering if that might be the break, but wasn't confident enough to suggest it.
81cpcamaro wrote: GM pickups kept the 3-speed up until 86 or 87, ended when the new body style came out in 88. Went to school with someone who had a 85 with inline-6 and three on the tree. We had way too much fun with that truck, right rear tire didn't last long
I too figured GM truck and according to www.fueleconomy.gov it looks like the '87 2wd pick up with the 4.3L V6
A good question and a neat little piece of trivia.
my 89 Chevy has a shifter marked 1-2-3, with an 'L' for the compound low. Does this count as a 3 speed for this discussion?
Zomby woof wrote: They were available on the floor in 81/82 in the Malibu.
Iraqi Taxis!
Gearheadotaku wrote: my 89 Chevy has a shifter marked 1-2-3, with an 'L' for the compound low. Does this count as a 3 speed for this discussion?
Not directly, but I bet its the last 4 speed standard shift trans available. I'm pretty sure they added overdrive 5th on those in 90.
Zomby woof wrote: They were available on the floor in 81/82 in the Malibu.
We almost bought a 1983 or 1984 GMC Caballero with one on the floor. Standard from the factory, but it had to be special ordered. Most were on the column.
i've seen a couple of mid 70's Chevelles with a 6 cylinder and a 3 on the tree.. i'd love to see anyone under the age of 30 try to drive one of them..
Streetwiseguy wrote:Gearheadotaku wrote: my 89 Chevy has a shifter marked 1-2-3, with an 'L' for the compound low. Does this count as a 3 speed for this discussion?Not directly, but I bet its the last 4 speed standard shift trans available. I'm pretty sure they added overdrive 5th on those in 90.
I had a new from the factory 91 2500HD with a 454 and 4spd. with the Granny Low (now synchro on L).
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