3-Spd manual on the floor available in 1969???

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

was this available in 1969 on the charger??? if so what shifter came with it, was it liek a 4-spd shifter with a different ball???

[pettyfan43]

I think the 3 speed cars were all column shifted.

[69charger2002]

i don't know about 69, but i did have a 70 383 3 speed manual. that was an oddball car. like 1 of 109. i'm sure chris with the registry knows the answer for 69
trav

[69CoronetRT]

I think the 3 speed cars were all column shifted.

[Chad L. Magee]

The two 3-speed manual Chargers (1968 318, 1970 /6) I have are column shifted and I believe that is the only way you could get a manual 3-speed in a second gen Charger.  If I am wrong, please let me know......

[Charger1973]

Ive never seen a Charger with a 3 speed manual on the floor, or with any engine besides a /6 or 318 (from the factory).

[69charger2002]

The two 3-speed manual Chargers (1968 318, 1970 /6) I have are column shifted and I believe that is the only way you could get a manual 3-speed in a second gen Charger.  If I am wrong, please let me know......

no that's what i was trying to say.. i don't know about 69, but i had a factory 1970 charger, N code, 383 4 barrel. with the d13 tranny option, it was a 3 speed ON THE FLOOR. only one i had ever seen or had.. but they DID make them at least in 70.. and it was a big block no less. very odd
trav

[69CoronetRT]

1970 Data book

[Mike DC]

The concept of a column-shifted manual tranny seems so strange to me.   

I know not everyone's a car nut or anything, but I can't imagine trying to use a stick on the column no matter what the circumstances. 



 

[twenty mike mike]

The concept of a column-shifted manual tranny seems so strange to me.   

Frees up the center front seat for a body. Back in the bad old days, few cars had center consoles, families were larger and buyers needed every possible seat.

[Chad L. Magee]

Trav-  Thanks for the information as I thought that only 4-speeds got the floor in a Charger........

twenty mike mike-  I can agree to that statement as it pertains to my 70 /6 bench seat, but does not explain the other car (68 with bucket seats).  I would think it would be a rough ride to sit between the two bucket seats.......

[twenty mike mike]

Trav-  Thanks for the information as I thought that only 4-speeds got the floor in a Charger........

twenty mike mike-  I can agree to that statement as it pertains to my 70 /6 bench seat, but does not explain the other car (68 with bucket seats).  I would think it would be a rough ride to sit between the two bucket seats.......

Nope, not utilitarian or sporty, is it? Here's my guess: Dodge was still pretty traditional and the whole sport coupe concept was still confusing for them. My '66 Charger was originally a three on the tree with buckets and a console! In the case of your '68, could be that the buyer ordered it that way because he was having a mid-life crisis and wanted something sporty, but couldn't quite spring for the floor shift. Or, the dealer ordered it that way not knowing any better. Did the car come that way from the factory? Remember, the late '60s was a time of great social upheaval and the Big Three sometimes responded in strange ways.

[Chad L. Magee]

Yes, it was a factory 318, 3-speed manual column shift, bucket seat Charger (in yellow, black vinyl top, and gold interior).  The fender tag is present, but all of the interior is missing (so no buildsheet).  The transmission is missing, but the orginal engine, rear end and steering column are still there.......

[Chris G.]

OK gang, this is what I have on this subject. Speaking for 1970 of course...

The D13 option was for a floor mounted manual 3spd. The tricky thing for me is that you could get a console with that option. I have never seen one optioned this way that didn't already have the 4spd conversion. I still don't know how it appeared with the 3spd setup, whether it be a pistol grip or a ball shifter? We have 7 in the registry right now, and all but one are 383's. The one 318 tag does not appear to be real, so I cannot say for sure the car is real. Out of those 7 cars, 3 came with a console.

The D12/D14 option was for the column mounted 3spd manual. We have 6 in the registry right now, and they are all 318's.

[69charger2002]

chris my 70 383 3 speed manual on the floor was still a 3 speed. it was a ball type shifter.. definitely not a pistol grip. only thing different was there was a skull mounted for the shifter ball instead of the actual round ball. but the shifter was the non pistol grip variety. if i didn't register that one with you let me know.. i know i talked to you about it while i had it
trav

[Chris G.]

Trav, we definitely have your car registered.

The pistol grip curiosity was mainly for the console equipped cars. I am very curious as to how they may have come.

[Mike DC]

 
My earlier comment wasn't about column-shifted cars as a whole.  I was saying that column-shift setups for MANUAL transmissions seem very strange to me.

 

[Ghoste]

And yet, at one time they were extremely common.  I don't have an answer either, it must have seemed classy at one time or something.

[Chad L. Magee]

Chris G.-  I thought I had my base 1970 /6 registered with you..........

[Chris G.]

Chris G.-  I thought I had my base 1970 /6 registered with you..........

Chad, you are absolutely right. I left out the "D11" 3spd manual column shift. That option came with the /6 which you have. I am not in front of the database, but your /6 did have the D11 trans I believe. Is that correct Chad?

We have 3 slant 6 cars registered with the D11 option.

[Chad L. Magee]

Yes, that had the D11 option.....