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Technical 4 on the tree

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by SnakePlissken69, Dec 7, 2019.

  1. SnakePlissken69
    Joined: Oct 24, 2019
    Posts: 56

    SnakePlissken69

    Most people (self included) had never heard of such a thing. I only learned about it after buying my 64 falcon club wagon recently. So here's a pic of an owners manual showing how it works. I suppose it wouldn't be all that difficult to drive now that I look at it. Anyway, neat bit of history 94A7D52B-63A9-438C-A564-DC3A4A14773D.png
     
  2. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,299

    oldiron 440
    Member

    That has got to be a rare option.
     
    Stogy and loudbang like this.
  3. LM14
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,936

    LM14
    Member Emeritus
    from Iowa

    Mercedes used a on the tree, too.
    SPark
     
  4. pwschuh
    Joined: Oct 27, 2008
    Posts: 2,827

    pwschuh
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have an OT car with a 5 on the tree.
     
    Stogy likes this.

  5. Didn't Simca's of the '60s have that?
     
  6. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    '63 Econoline van had a 4-on-the-tree option(SAAB GT also had it)
     
    Stogy likes this.
  7. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,132

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    I recall mid/late 60's Chevy vans also having that option.
     
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  8. john walker
    Joined: Sep 11, 2008
    Posts: 1,137

    john walker
    Member

    My old DKW 3=6 had 4 on the tree.
     
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  9. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    4 on the tree meaning 4 forward gears I assume.
    Many or most English and European small cars had this configuration.
    Early Japanese including Toyota and Nissan/Datsun including many of their commercial vehicles also were sold this way.
    In the USA the Hillman was probably one of the best example, although some were sold with a floor stick shift.
    My old F100 6 cylinder had 3 on the tree.
    In Australia most Holden's and Falcon's (6 cylinder engines) that I recall came that way unless automatic which upto about 1970's remained on the column.
    The Toyota Crown a 6 cylinder sedan came with 4 on the tree.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  10. Flat Roy
    Joined: Nov 23, 2007
    Posts: 533

    Flat Roy
    Member

    Had a 51 Chevy hotrod with a corvette 4 speed. was easy to make 4 on the tree. had an extra pull up knob for reverse.
     
    MO54Frank, Cosmo49, belair and 2 others like this.
  11. Had a '61 Citroen with 4 on the tree...
     
    Stogy likes this.
  12. A have a friend that has a late 60's Chevy van with a 4 on the tree, but I have never seen a Ford van with the 4 speed on the column, gotta be a rare item. HRP
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2020
    Stogy likes this.
  13. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    That's wild. I knew a lot of Euro cars did that but never thought any US manufacturers made 4 on the column.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  14. no55mad
    Joined: Dec 15, 2006
    Posts: 1,956

    no55mad
    Member

    Hillman's had 4 ott.
     
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  15. GTS225
    Joined: Jul 2, 2006
    Posts: 1,244

    GTS225
    Member

    Hmmmm. Must have been a bit "busy" from the column to the trans.

    Roger
     
  16. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    A friend had a 4-on-the-tree 1959 Saab.
     
  17. greybeard360
    Joined: Feb 28, 2008
    Posts: 2,074

    greybeard360
    Member

    That was a Dagenham 4 spd in the vans. I have seen a few but not real common.
     
    seb fontana likes this.
  18. When I had my Shop in Tucson, AZ I use to Service one, that was
    about 38 year's ago and it was a Ford 63 or 4 its getting Hard to Remember
    some things, I think that the Trans was English & the Customer
    bought it New at the Ford Dealer,
    He turned it into a Motor Home for when he went Hunting up North
    near Flag.
    It had everything that a Motor Home of today would Have!

    Just my 3.5 cents

    Live Learn & Die a Fool
     
  19. Mimilan
    Joined: Jun 13, 2019
    Posts: 1,230

    Mimilan
    Member

    The Dagenham 4 speed gearbox around '64 was from the English MK3 Zephyr. [Ford]
    They were all 4 speed column shift. [You had to pull the gear knob outwards, as a reverse lock-out, then shift into reverse]
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2019
    wackdaddy likes this.
  20. Terraizer
    Joined: Jul 18, 2006
    Posts: 521

    Terraizer
    Member

    A friend has a late 1960's International Loadstar 1600 Cabover with a 5 speed column shift.
     
  21. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,442

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    That is probably an interesting linkage..
     
    LAROKE, kidcampbell71 and Frankie47 like this.
  22. H380
    Joined: Sep 20, 2015
    Posts: 483

    H380
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Uncle had a 78 or so Ford pickup with a 4 on the column. Granny first.
     
  23. wackdaddy
    Joined: Nov 11, 2015
    Posts: 214

    wackdaddy
    Member

    Took my drivers licence test at 16 in 1971 with my mom's 59 Ford Consul 4 ott. No ground gears. Passed
     
  24. Mimilan
    Joined: Jun 13, 2019
    Posts: 1,230

    Mimilan
    Member

    Toyota HiAce vans from the 80's were 5 speed column shift.

    The gearbox has 2 levers ! one for up/down and the other for forward/back

    The gearbox was basically a Supra/Celica/HiLux where gearsets and casings interchange.
    You can fit Supra gearsets into a HiAce and get a close ratio 5 speed column shift.

    We have a friend with a Hilux stadium race truck that kept landing on it's nose [over jumps]
    The engine /box was shifted back 24" and the supra gearset was installed in a HiAce van casing.
    Then he used the cable shifter and cables to shift it ,with the gearbox behind the driver
     
  25. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    There was a lot of 6 cylinder vehicles out there in the 50's and 60's that could have benefited from 4 on the tree or floor for that matter
     
  26. buick bill
    Joined: Dec 18, 2008
    Posts: 856

    buick bill
    Member
    from yreka;ca

    when I was 8 my dad had ( for a very short time ) a simca with 4 on the tree . how did I remember that from 50 yrs ago.what are we talking about ?
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
    Sandgroper likes this.
  27. My first car was a 62 Consul 315, 4 speed on the column.
     
  28. strait8
    Joined: Jun 11, 2014
    Posts: 142

    strait8
    Member
    from Skokie, IL

    Does anybody have any examples (pictures) of a 4 on the tree using the pull knob for reverse? Would love to see how that works. I love my 3 speed column shift but with a Buick straight eight it would be cool to get an extra gear, get rid of the torque tube AND keep the column shift.
     
  29. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,440

    Boneyard51
    Member

    There’s a dude here in Oklahoma selling one with a 4 on the tree , for $1300!






    Bones
     
  30. Dick Stevens
    Joined: Aug 7, 2012
    Posts: 3,710

    Dick Stevens
    Member

    I had a Borgward that had 4 on the tree. That was fun driving but it took a little getting use to.
     

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