So we have a rolling FB post wondering what the production numbers were for the (unloved) 3spd stick.
Are there available numbers?
Thanks.
here is what is shown in GG's "white books" - this accounts for ~90% of production
& there are a few unknown numbers and I question a few :thinking: like ~1/3 of '70 340 'cudas are 3-speed manual ???????
~20,000 out of ~315,000 produced in 5 years (~7%)
another source "WARD's Automotive Yearbook" shows: (discrepancy in '73 & '74 totals VS. GG ???)
25,895 3-speed manual transmission E-bodies out of 298,322 TOTAL PRODUCTION (~8.7%)
My first NEW car was a 70 Challenger 225 slant six with 3 sp manual...on floor. Had trouble with it from day one...it would hang up between 1st and 2nd... Dealer worked on it twice and got it to "mostly work" but would still hang up occassionally.
If anyone comes up with a number for how many should still be on the road, subtract 1 from the 1971's...
318/3 speed manual
Young + Stupid = Catastrophe
I believe that the 3 speed manual was the standard transmission that factory specified for all except the special package cars. Just that more people paid extra for the Torqueflite trans.
to be correct: the 3-speed manual transmission was STANDARD across the board in an E-body 1970-1974
BH - Barracuda
BP - Gran Coupe
BS - 'cuda
JH - Challenger (including SE)
JS - Challenger R/T (including SE)
ordering a 383 2bbl (727 ONLY), 440HP, 440 6bbl, HEMI or "TRANS AM" package car (A53) required the additional purchase of an OPTIONAL automatic (727) or 4-speed manual (PP833) transmission
My JS23NOB came with a 3 speed manual. It didn't last long. It kept jumping out of gear when decelerating and my friend had a 4 speed in his garage and so now it's a 4 speed. Never looked back......
3spd is still in mine works good but first gear sounds like an old Jeep
Quote from: Bpret on June 04, 2021, 06:10:32 PM
3spd is still in mine works good but first gear sounds like an old Jeep
Yea mine sounded that way too. This was in 84 when I swapped it to the 4spd.
Did you swap it out because of the noise? Did it improve the ride of the car. I have thought about swapping it but it's what makes it so unusual and it's all numbers matching.
Still have our 383 3spd. Getting restored after sitting for 30+ yrs
So far that is why it's still in there. The car is very original but very basic 3 options rally dash, am radio and vitamin c paint. Power nothing☹️
1 owner your 71 is even more rare than my 70 going by the numbers posted here you have a 1 of 1 car if I read that right. Or is it 8. :notsure: Is your 3spd noisy in first gear?
I've always looked at it from the 1 of 8. Would have to know info on all 8 to say anything else. I don't recall if 1st gear was noisy or not, have to wait until resto is done before I can drive it again.
judy
Yea, I think with the option Judy's 71 has...it's pretty darn safe to say it's one of one :worship: Can't wait to see it finished :drooling:
Quote from: Bpret on June 07, 2021, 02:57:24 AM
Did you swap it out because of the noise? Did it improve the ride of the car. I have thought about swapping it but it's what makes it so unusual and it's all numbers matching.
Noise was the driving factor for change.
4 spd was part of upgrades I did back to it in 84.
Also added some X heads to the 318.
Eventually moved up to 360 with same heads.
Now all 360 with turbo plans.
Still "storing" the 3spd and shifter.
So, having spent most of my career at Chrysler, I would bet a majority of the 3 speed cars were sales bank cars and not customer or dealer orders. Most people (especially guys) back then would prefer a 4 speed over a 3 speed. Most women would prefer an automatic and some guys especially if they were in heavy traffic cities. Most dealers want cars that will sell quickly and they can make a higher gross on. That would not necessarily have been 3 speed cars