Name That Shifter, No. 116: 1948 Chrysler Windsor

On Monday, we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle whence it came. We’re not sure how you came so close with your guesses this week—we figured we’d stump you for sure—but one of you correctly identified the make and model. That commenter was Jake S., who figured out the shifter belongs to a Chrysler Windsor. He’ll receive a Save the Manuals button and sticker as a reward.

The Windsor pictured here is from our December 1974 issue. Our retro test revealed the big Chrysler to be a calming cruiser that wafted down the road without much fuss. The car we tested was powered by a 114-hp inline six linked to a four-speed semi-automatic transmission. Before anyone cries foul that this Chrysler’s column-shifted transmission isn’t a true manual, allow us to explain. The unit features two forward ranges (think high and low) for what is essentially a two-speed gearbox, plus a reverse gear. The driver can come to a stop and accelerate without depressing the clutch, but the third pedal must be pushed in order to shift between the two ranges and reverse. With either range selected, the transmission automatically shifts between the two available speeds. If this sounds like a recipe for molasses-like acceleration, you’re right: The trip from 0 to 60 mph took 22.4 seconds.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/2A_QT8Z4Crc/

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