For what year, rainman69? I don't think there was a three speed manual available in Vettes since the 50s models, certainly not since the C2 models. Mind you, I'm far from expert.
I've seen a '68 with absolutely no options and the manual transmission was a 3- speed from the factory. All factory options such as a four speed was extra. If you ordered a car with no options, you got a three speed, from 1957 to 1968, maybe longer! :yesnod:
That's just amazing. Why would the General put a three speed into a sportscar? Then again- the two speed Powerglide was around for a long, long time. Most bizarre.
Thanks for the education, guys. I can't remember seeing a Vette with a three speed standard but my experience has been mostly C3. Were the three speeds popular?
3-speeds were standard equipment on all Corvettes from '56 thru '69; Why? 'Cuz options = profits; the Chevy beanies weren't about to give something away for free that people would pay extra for. The incredible costs of developing, 50,000-mile durability-testing, and emission-certifying additional powertrains beginning in the late 60's finally killed the standard equipment 3-speed (and the price of the car went up about $400, about 7%, in 1970 to cover the "free" 4-speed) :yesnod:
The standard three speed manual transmission was coded ZW4 in 1969... Obviously not an RPO since it was standard equipment.
I actually had the opportunity to drive a Daytona yellow 350/300 three speed car that was for sale when I lived in the Cleveland, OH area (many, many years ago). The car was actually in really nice shape, but I can remember being less than enthusiastic about that three speed!
Actually, this kinda solves an age-old mystery (kinda).
Back in the 80s, one of my brother-in-laws {like I need more than one? :nonod:} had a 1976 Nova which had been remotored with a Vette engine and had a three speed on the floor. He bought it that way so we never knew what year the motor was from or where that tranny came from. The car was very, very fast but that three speed was always a topic of discussion. Where did the guy who built the car find a three speed which would bolt up so nice, run like a cat with it's tail on fire and stand up to the kind of abuse we subjected it to?
With this new insight, I'm guessing the tranny came with the motor from a pre-70.
Three speed can make a nice driving car, depending upon the engine. Why have more then three speeds? Basicly to keep the engine in its powerband. The narrower the powerband the more gears that are needed. Look at the GP motorcycles, 17-20,000 rpm, very narrow powerband (400-500 rpm range) and 17 speed transmissions. But a big torquey V-8 has a very wide powerband. For everyday driving all that is needed is a 3-speed or even the old two speed powerglide. But what about the modern 6-speeds? Those are for gas milage. The 5th and 6th gears are overdrive units to improve the CAFE standard. :D
I remember old road tests of some high performance cars back in the 60's and the magazines were saying that they did not need a 4-speed due to the broad powerband of the V8. :)
Very valid points but is good gas mileage such a bad thing? I mean, really! Besides the "oh-my-goodness" factor of having a six speed justifies all the extra gears.
The first vehicle I learned to drive was a three speed- on the tree; a 71 GMC pickup with inline six (292 cid); gobs of torque and no top end- excellent for a young hooligan to learn on. It was a long time before my parents allowed me to touch the car- 76 Chev Impala 4 door, 350 with a two barrel. It wouldn't spin the tires in gravel. I tried!! :nonod:
The T-56 6-speed in the Viper (which has different/stronger internals than the T-56's used in other cars) is there for two reasons - 1) It's the only manual on the planet that can put 500 foot-pounds of torque through 13"-wide tires and stay in one piece, and 2) Two overdrive top gears - 4th is 1:1, 5th is 0.7:1, 6th is 0.5:1. With the 3.07 axle, 6th is like having a 1.53:1 - about 1500 rpm at 70mph. Viper top end is 192mph in 5th gear - shift to 6th, and it drops to about 175 - can't pull that 1.53 overall gear ratio :steering:
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3-Speed Manual Transmission?
