The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk I`m a dummy, How to shift a (3 in the tree)????

Don't feel bad, man. It made me really stop and realize that the old three-on-the-tree hasn't been made in quite a few years so anyone younger than I am (I'm 48) may never have had the chance to drive one. It reminds me of when I was trying to figure out how to drive a Model T Ford. It's all relative, I guess.

Anybody know when the last 3-speed column shift was made?

Fred, You mentioned the 49-50 Cadillac and the 50's Buicks. That was the first thing I thought of too!! I had a '49 Cadillac and used to have fun pulling into a full serve station and saying "fill-er-up" and then walking away from the car. I've seen quite a few attendants crawling around on their hands and knees trying to figure out where the damned gas filler was (BTW, it's under the taillight. You had to push a small reflector and then the whole taillight would flip up).

The same with the Buick. I had a '55 and the starter was actuated by turning on the key and mashing the accelerator to the floor. I had fun with that one at a car wash one time. These days it would sure deter theft. If the car was stolen you would have a pretty good idea that the thief was at least 60 years old.