Lionel Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I am putting together a piece on column-shift manual transmission vehicles. Does anybody know which US vehicles would be the last to have this? I'm guessing it would be a Chevrolet, Ram or Ford commercial vehicle, but do not know for sure. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Full sized trucks and SUVs. F150 for sure the others you'd have to check. Some only have them on base trims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 F-series XL and XLT trims all appear to have column shift. I wish it was different since those are the trims that one can actually afford without a second mortgage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 The GM SUVs still have column shifter....but not manual column shifting if that's what you're asking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 66-77 Bronco for sure. I remember when I bought my 68 in like 94. All my kids pals come over to check it out and of course the big question was.."what's that on the steering column"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92merc Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Aren't the Ford Police Utility/Interceptor both column shifter to make room for a laptop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Aren't the Ford Police Utility/Interceptor both column shifter to make room for a laptop? That's correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Guys (some of you), you are missing the "manual transmission" part of his question. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Try this: http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/new-detroit-trucks-3-tree-column-shift-manuals-1986-yes Everything else I could find says the 1987 GM half-ton pickups were the last vehicles built in the US with manual trans and "three-on-the-tree". However, there were also some foreign taxis, etc. built after that that had column shift manual trans and some were even 4 and 5 speeds. There were also supposedly some Canadian built 1981 Chevy Malibus built for the Iraqi government with 3-speeds but the order got cancelled and they were sold in Canada to the general public. The only one I ever owned was a '68 289 Bronco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Oops. Completely missed the manual part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-Mo Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Oops - me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I fixed the title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I know the F-Series carried three-onna-tree into the '70s; my dad's '70 F-100 has it. I don't know if any of the cars did; my guess is that column-shifting went out with 3-speed manual transmissions. FWIW, my '66 Galaxie 500 has three-onna-tree, so I'd guess that the Galaxie/LTD was Ford's last car with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 FWIW, my '66 Galaxie 500 has three-onna-tree, so I'd guess that the Galaxie/LTD was Ford's last car with it. My first car, a 1968 Falcon, had a three-on-a-tree tranny. I suspect all third-generation Falcons (1966 - 1970) offered this transmission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 FWIW, it looks like Ford ended production of the 3-speed Toploader in '73, so my guess is that you won't find and three-onna-tree Fords after '73. (Wikipedia indicates that the 3-speed Toploader was available in the LTD, but I didn't see a mention of which years in a quick scan. Also, it's Wikipedia, so take that for what it's worth.) The Wikipedia article also says that the Toploaders were used in Chebbie trucks, vans, and Suburbans from '76-'82, so you might see if any of them had column-shift manuals (I'd guess the vans would be the best bet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I know you could get a column shift manual in the '72 full size Fords (Galaxie/LTD), as I remember being fascinated by the description of the thing in the owner's manual of my parent's Galaxie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel Posted February 7, 2017 Author Share Posted February 7, 2017 Yeah in Australia it was available throughout the 1980s in the Ford Falcon, all the way up to the 1991 XF ute and panel van. I also discovered this by flicking through my mum's XE owner's manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) Yeah in Australia it was available throughout the 1980s in the Ford Falcon, all the way up to the 1991 XF ute and panel van. I also discovered this by flicking through my mum's XE owner's manual. Later than that I had a Falcon Pick up (FG series 2 ute) with column auto. they were made all the way up to when the commercial version was cancelled at the end of 2015. This was my baby brand new in late 2013 Edited February 7, 2017 by jpd80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Last column shift manual I ever drove was a 1975 Chevy G20 3/4 ton van....was the shop van for Dads TV and Appliance store and it is what I learned to drive on...Mom said, "You might have to drive to the hospital someday and the only vehicle available is a standard shift." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I've never driven a column shift manual, but dang, if I had to shift one with my left hand like that Aussie trucklet (I know that's an auto), I'd probably rip the tranny out of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 I've never driven a column shift manual, but dang, if I had to shift one with my left hand like that Aussie trucklet (I know that's an auto), I'd probably rip the tranny out of it! Wouldn't be any different from a left hand floor shifter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Wouldn't be any different from a left hand floor shifter Probably not, just seems more complicated since I've never driven a column mount manual, but I have a floor mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel Posted February 7, 2017 Author Share Posted February 7, 2017 so far for my list I've found 1980's Fiat Ducato, a Mercedes W124 taxi special they made, Japanese Nissan Cedric and Toyota Comfort taxis made up until 1999, Toyota HiAce, 1987 Chev/GMC truck, XF Falcon. Do any ultra car nerd out there know of any other semi-contemporary manuals that were built anywhere in the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 Wouldn't be any different from a left hand floor shifter My '96 Kubota L2900 tractor is left hand shift. Forward and reverse on the column with two separate levers, one for the four-speed trans and another for "Rabbit" and "Turtle" ranges on the "floor", all of which are available in forward or reverse and left hand operated. Oh, and there's also a floor shift lever for 4-wheel/two-wheel drive and a foot operated lever for the locking rear differential. Separate levers also control the throttle, the frontend loader bucket, the rear 3-point hitch and the center and rear PTOs. Also separate pedals for throttle, brakes and clutch. All hands (and feet) on deck and turn off the damn cell phone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 My '96 Kubota L2900 tractor is left hand shift. Forward and reverse on the column with two separate levers, one for the four-speed trans and another for "Rabbit" and "Turtle" ranges on the "floor", all of which are available in forward or reverse and left hand operated. Oh, and there's also a floor shift lever for 4-wheel/two-wheel drive and a foot operated lever for the locking rear differential. Separate levers also control the throttle, the frontend loader bucket, the rear 3-point hitch and the center and rear PTOs. Also separate pedals for throttle, brakes and clutch. All hands (and feet) on deck and turn off the damn cell phone! My John Deere is a hydrostat. That way I can cut grass, run the loader, use the 3 point tiller, talk on the cell phone, AND eat a donut, all at the same time! Good thing it has cruise control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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