Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

The first car I remember having a column change was our black Austin A50, GBV 517 in the late 1950s. The acrylic gear knob with the gear positions used to fascinate me :

[img]

My mother informs me that we had a 1956 Hillman Husky, again with a column change previous to that but the Vauxhall Velox, LCC 648, was the one that I remember. Three speed column change :

[/img]

I drove four vehicles with a column change, a 1961 Consul 375, A 1966 Ford Zodiac with a four speed column change, a 1978 Mazda B2500, 4 speed and lastly a 1986 Bedford Midi Minibus, again 4 speed.

All interesting experiences but not for every day use.

While looking for some photos to support this post I came across two things I did not know about

1. Morris Oxfords were available with column hearchanges :

[img]

2.I do not recognise this car with a column change.

[/img]

What is it, does anybody know?

What did you think of column gearchanges or do you prefer "four on the floor"?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[badhuis]

I think column gear changes are wonderful instruments. My first illegal car driving lessons were in my fathers Peugeot 404. Peugeot was one of the last makes that kept column changes for a long time.
My Hillman Minx s3c has column change and while it sometimes is a bit difficult to feel the difference between first and third gear, I would never change it as I think I is one of the nice details of the past that you have to accept. Like it or not but please do not remove it as it takes away part of the character of a car. A friend removed the column change in his Minx convertible and replaced it with a floor change. Sacrifice!
If I could have the choice between two similar cars I would choose the one with column change.
Same for automatics - why o why did these column change selector handles in American cars go out of fashion ? They are great. I was lucky to have a rental car in 2010 in Florida still with a column selector handle - a Crown Victoria.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[Minxy]

The last time I operated a column change? Every time I drive either of my cars
I actually find column changers very natural, when I go from my old car to my daily I often reach for the non existent gear change but never when I get in the old cars.

[Penguin45]

Not classics, but I ran a MkII Toyota Hiace van with a 5 speed column shift for some years. That was an absolute honey to use. It was followed by a Bedford Midi. The column shift on that was a complete nightmare by comparison. Mercifully, the engine broke in half (!) and a Sherpa ended my association with column shifts.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

[Rick]

Hi Ellis, I think it says Fiat in the centre of the steering wheel in your final photo - no idea offhand which model though.

RJ
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[alanb]

Ellis
The second picture is of a Fiat 1100 millicento, my father had one, the gear positions were opposite to the Hillman minx his previous car, (the one I learned to drive in) if you weren't thinking you tried to pull away in 3rd or tried to go from top to first instead of 3rd until we got used to it.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater

[ukdave2002]

About 2 mins ago as I pulled on to the drive in my modern Merc! But a proper answer would be last week when I took rubbish to the tip in the Bedford CA

Dave

[Phil - Nottingham]

1992 for a manual = an Auto Union 1000s I had owned for 10 years and then sold for restoration

Last weekend for an auto = a 1964 Rover 3 Litre Coupe we have owned for 18 years and it is far easier to drive than floor change modern manuals
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[mikeC]

Yesterday. I took the Lancia out in the snow!



The column change works surprisingly well; my experiences of CA Bedford and A60 Austin vans back in the 1960s put me off them for life - nearly! I must admit I do prefer a more direct connection with the gearbox: my present Lancia's change may be good, but the centre change on the coupe I used to own was much better.

[kevin2306]

My dad had a nice Saab 96 which had a column change.
It was very easy to use.
My Singer has column change for the auto box

Kev

[Ray White]

It has been a long time since I drove a car with column change but I have fond memories of a Jowett Javelin with it.( I also seem to remember the Jupiter being the same).

I don't remember the year but one car I used to admire was a Sunbeam Talbot 90; that had column change. My wife's late Uncle had a lovely example and held on to it for many years claiming that "they don't make 'em like that anymore". The gear change seemed so much more sophisticated than floor change.

My Dad had a Ford Consul and that had column change and although I thought it was a nice feature he described it as "wooly". Like most mechanic's cars, it probably required attention!

[Rootes75]

My 55 Minx has column change, she is next on the list to get going and I'm looking forward to driving her.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Richard H]

Yesterday, in my Austin Somerset! I'm a big fan of column changes
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Richard Hughes

[Da Tow'd]

It has been a couple of years but I liked driving our '71 Citroen ID 21 4 speed column shift. The shifter just felt right.
When I was in high school I drove a 1959 Fiat 1200 Gran Luce with 4 in the tree.
Hank

[goneps]