# Did you ever learn to drive a column-shifted manual transmission (3-on-the-tree)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011 "2013-08-12T06:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/61 "2013-08-13T01:39:48Z")
Yes, when I lived in TX in the mid-eighties I had a beat up 1976 Ford pick-up with 3-on-the-tree. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/62 "2013-08-13T01:44:27Z")
When I got my first driver’s license we were not allowed to drive cars with automatic transmissions (Colorado), and, even if the car had them, were not allowed to use turn signal lights (hand signals only). Bob ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/63 "2013-08-13T01:56:03Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Jaguar is a British marque, do you mean Javelin? Yes, I do - not sure how I made that mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/64 "2013-08-13T02:06:06Z")
Of course. Drove one for a while that had no working clutch, the engine always engaged. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/65 "2013-08-13T02:17:41Z")
> [@Beelzebubba](#): > > Let me preface my comment by saying that it is in NO WAY intended to be sexist, just an observation based on my personal experiences- > > I’ve taugtht quite a few people (or attempted to, at least) how to drive a manual over the years. My experience has been that if women are going to ‘get it’, they are amazingly quick learners and pick it up very quickly! > > Guys will just keep on and on until they burn out a clutch, strip out a few gears or eventually make the the damn thing keep moving…and even after a few years, some still can’t shift smoothly or even do a smooth launch… > > But I haven’t taught anyone in a long time because, to be blunt, I hated it! :dubious: > > If anyone asks me to teach the now, I usually say YES…but NOT in my car!!! I guess I should say thank you, because I think I picked it up pretty quickly, but I’m sure it was my teaching that worked against my daughter, not her ability. I don’t have anything to teach her on now, but if I did I’m sure she would pick it up pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/66 "2013-08-13T03:19:30Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Of course. Drove one for a while that had no working clutch, the engine always engaged. Same here. I had a Ford Cortina with a hydraulic clutch, the hose of which led under the exhaust manifold that fell apart and melted through. Twice. After the second time, I clamped together the part that broke, and that kept it together forever after. I became an expert at shifting without the clutch. Stopping was a pain because I had to shut the engine off, then start the car in first. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/67 "2013-08-13T03:47:53Z")
I learned to RIDE in a pickup with floor shift - still know the position to get my feet out of the way. I once moved across country with a 57 Plymouth 6, with all our stuff in a trailer. I learned to double-clutch into (non-synchronized) first gear so I didn’t have to stop completely - the car was rather high-geared. A car I occasionally drive has shifter on the console - what a lousy idea! If its not manual it shouldn’t pretend to be. Glad they didn’t have them when I was dating! ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/68 "2013-08-13T07:08:51Z")
I mentioned earlier that my first car was a '60 Ford, but sifting through old brain cells I found the memory of my REAL first car–a 1936 Plymouth that my uncle gave me. The shifter was THREE on the floor, with a shift column about a yard long. Hell of a good car. I took it to Tijuana in 1961 for a tuck-and-roll upholstery job which cost me $125, if I recall correctly. I sold it for $25 to a Marine from Camp Pendleton who immediately wrecked it. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/69 "2013-08-13T09:28:10Z")
Wow This thread brings back some memories! I first learned how to drive on my uncles farm. At age 10, the first rig I ever drove was a 1947 Studebaker 5 ton truck, 4 speed main transmission, 3 speed splitter (brownie) transmission, and two speed rear ends. The two speed rear ends could only be used in high if the transfer-case was in two wheel drive (this drove the eight rear tires). The front axle only had the lower gearing. That same day I drove two other trucks all with multiple transmissions, and the '48 Willys CJ-2A with a three on the floor. My left leg was sore for a week! My first rig was a 1941 Nash series 600 businessman’s coupe. Three on the tree and overdrive. I had six gears forward and two in reverse. I also had the largest trunk I have ever seen. As many have mentioned I also once owned a 1954 Plymouth with the fluid drive. It was a good car and I do miss it. I drove it like a normal three on the tree. It also had overdrive. My sisters loved the drive off in third gear feature. I did not like lugging the engine that much. I once drove one of my cousins foreign jobs, a Citroen perhaps? It had a four on the tree with a knob you pulled out to engage reverse. I have owned more VWs then most folks have ever seen. In my Teen age years I was quite the car collector. My wife says that I still am! I owned a VW with an automatic stick-shift. The clutch was operated automatically by vacuum drawn off of the engine manifold. As the engine wore out it lost its ability to create this vacuum, causing the clutch to not disengage properly. I converted it into a normal bug and sold the entire automatic stick-shift workings to a fellow who was restoring another bug. Win-win. I have taught many folks how to drive. They all learned on a manual transmission. Mostly my 1959 Ford F-250. Four speed granny-tranny. 1st is very low its top speed is 3mph. It is great for the new driver to learn how to engage and disengage the clutch without stalling the rig. It is almost impossible to stall this thing in 1st. Let the clutch out at idle and it just chugs away form a stop, not fast, but it does not stall. After they get the hang of 1st I have them start out in 2nd. Slow easy progress. I know some folks who do not know how to drive a rig with a manual transmission, but only a few. It must be an urban thing? Most of us farm kids can drive anything. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/70 "2013-08-13T18:36:16Z")
The day after I got my learner’s permit (no driving test required), dad picked me up at work in his 1972 Ford F-150, 3-on-the-tree, power nothing pickup truck. He got out, tossed me the keys and said “Drive us home.” I replied “I can’t drive a manual transmission!” He said “Then I guess we won’t get home.” And thus I learned. I have owned manual transmission cars on and off ever since. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/71 "2013-08-14T04:00:47Z")
I got my first car and a drivers license when I was 14. It was a 1950 Plymouth with three on the tree. I learned how to drive with an old truck; it had four on the floor and I don’t remember the make or the model. I have a memory of being in my grandfather’s car when he made some sort of comment about “freewheeling.” He died when I was four years old so I must have been a tot when I heard that comment. If anyone has any idea of what car that was, I would appreciate the input. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/72 "2013-08-14T05:42:46Z")
[**Chrysler**](http://www.flickr.com/photos/shookphotos/6082639560/lightbox/) was flogging free wheeling in the early '30s. [**Also this**](http://www.autos.ca/motoring-memories/motoring-memories-the-roots-of-americas-big-three-automobile-manufacturers/). > [@](#): > > For 1931 the new PA model got “Floating Power” engine mounts and free-wheeling. [**This page**](http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/1934.html) on the '33 and '34 Plymouth has this paragraph: > [@](#): > > The free wheeling transmission allowed the driver to release his foot from the accelerator and allow the car to coast while still in gear. In effect the free wheeling prevented “engine braking” and the engine was allowed to run at idle speed while the car coasted along on its own momentum with the transmission still in gear. When the driver wished to speed up all he had to do was step on the throttle. [**Wikipedia says:**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel) > [@](#): > > In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. An overdrive is sometimes mistakenly called a freewheel, but is otherwise unrelated. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/73 "2013-08-14T05:43:58Z")
[**Chrysler**](http://www.flickr.com/photos/shookphotos/6082639560/lightbox/) was flogging free wheeling in the early '30s. [**Also this**](http://www.autos.ca/motoring-memories/motoring-memories-the-roots-of-americas-big-three-automobile-manufacturers/). > [@](#): > > For 1931 the new PA model got “Floating Power” engine mounts and free-wheeling. [**This page**](http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/1934.html) on the '33 and '34 Plymouth has this paragraph: > [@](#): > > The free wheeling transmission allowed the driver to release his foot from the accelerator and allow the car to coast while still in gear. In effect the free wheeling prevented “engine braking” and the engine was allowed to run at idle speed while the car coasted along on its own momentum with the transmission still in gear. When the driver wished to speed up all he had to do was step on the throttle. [**Wikipedia says:**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel) > [@](#): > > In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. An overdrive is sometimes mistakenly called a freewheel, but is otherwise unrelated. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/74 "2013-08-14T06:21:04Z")
62 year old boomer here. Learned to drive in 1965, VW Bug 4/floor. Loved it. My Dad also had a '54 Chevy sedan with 3/tree; there was no “learning to drive it” needed beyond the one second it took to memorize the shift pattern. Every car or truck I owned from then until 1995 was 4/F, by choice. I’ve always loved 4/f, and hated automatics. Finally had to lower my standards in '95 when I got an F150 with auto transmission for pulling a large trailer. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/75 "2013-08-14T13:06:15Z")
> [@Beelzebubba](#): > > Anyway…even among the rather small minority of us drivers who can drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, I have never driven a column-mounted manual shift (most commonly a 3-speed manual… How many of my fellow Dopers can drive 3-on-da-tree? And how many under 40 can do so? Haven’t driven one in a while but my grandparents’ Ford Galaxie 500 was a 3 speed column-mounted manual and I drove it some around Athens GA as a teenager. Was also the biggest car I ever drove that didn’t have power steering or power brakes. ---
**Author:** ![straightup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@straightup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straightup)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/76 "2013-08-14T13:27:21Z")
Ive never seen mor than three onthetree ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/77 "2013-08-14T14:33:14Z")
I had two Citroen DS. They both had column shifters. The first one had 4 forward gears, reverse and and a hand crank gear. The other one was a later model and the hand crank gear in the tranny was replaced by a 5th forward gear. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/78 "2013-08-14T17:55:08Z")
When learning to drive in the '80s, my dad still owned his ‘65 Chevy pickup, the first vehicle he purchased (used!). It was a 3 on the tree, no power nuthin’, bench seat beater. I, too, have fond memories of pulling up to a stop sign on an incline, with a car pulling up behind me, and having to get from brake to engaged in first without rolling backwards. That truck also broke a tie rod in the steering column and got repaired by an amateur welder (possibly my dad), which left it with a substantial amount of float in the steering wheel. To drive straight, you didn’t so much steer as point it in the right direction and then correct when it started to veer to one side or the other. 😉 I nearly put that in a ditch a couple times when very inexperienced, hitting turns a little too fast. Both times dad saved the bacon by a right seat steering wheel grab. My senior year of high school, that was my daily commute vehicle for about 6 months until my brother bought his own car and I got to drive the car he had been using. Dad got his pickup back. > [@BubbaDog](#): > > The truck of course let out a loud grinding gear meshing ruckus. I mentioned to son, “you’ve tripped the reverse gear indicator alarm”. Doofus looked right at me and said, “Really?” :smack: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/79 "2013-08-14T18:33:19Z")
**Kenm** , thanks for the information. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011/80 "2013-08-14T20:15:38Z")
I’ve driven one, once. I don’t remember the occasion or the type of car; I just remember thinking how stupid a setup it was! … at least, until I read this: > [@sisu](#): > > My first car had three on the tree, was great as I could enjoy my girl sliding across on the bench seat without a console in the way! Aha! So THAT’s the reason for 3-on-a-tree. I can’t think of any other reason; it’s just uncomfortably wrong. I first learned to use a clutch on my best friend’s Suzuki 50 motorcycle (or, sewing machine, as he called it). I’m a bit of a clutz, so it was a slow and painful (to him) process, but I got it. A couple years later when I was 16 and he was 15 he finished restoring a 1929 Model A. Since I had a license and he didn’t, I got to drive it. I still remember him being all tensed up the first time I sat in the driver’s seat, just waiting for me to grind gears. But I drove right off with no problem at all – evidently the motorcycle lesson translated. Been a lover of manuals ever since. I miss 'em. Only, not so much when I’m driving while reading a map and eating a burger. (Thank goodness for GPS: the reading a map while driving is pretty much a thing of the past!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-learn-to-drive-a-column-shifted-manual-transmission-3-on-the-tree/666011.md?page=5)