The original 69.5 brochure listed a semi-automatic trans. I have never seen one. Does anybody know if any were made or was cancelled at the last minute?
I've never seen one in a Ford but Mopar used to have a clutch-flight trans. Launched the car using the clutch and then autoshifted the other gears. VW also made a set up like that years ago. Neat idea.
i've read about this as well but dont know anything about them or have i ever seen one.... would be interesting though
So how is this semi automatic.... a c4 doesn't have a "clutch" like a manual transmission. So you can't "use the clutch to take off" and then it shifts auto... Or maybe im missing something?
Chevy offered a similar setup called Torque-Drive on 6-cyl Novas and Camaros, which was a Powerglide with no valve body. All shifting is manual. Start in low, move the lever to 2, then D as required. Come to a stop, do it over again. The first Hondamatics in the Civics worked this way too. They are a Torque Converter trans that has to be shifted manually. Where the cost savings over a full auto comes in, I don't know. Youd think that almost all of the components of a regular auto would be required
Yeah, mopar made trannys like that, and Honda with motorcycles made um like that too. I have never seen, or never knew a mav had a trans like that. I learned something today. Dan
I am sure the manufacturer saved money by using a manual valve body... I have never seen one myself, but I think they were more of a Pinto tranny than Maverick, even though they were available in Mavs. Dave
...and on the cars that had the semi-auto, was the shifter on the column? I've heard of these but have never seen one. How would it be easy to identify without driving it?
It was on the column and looked just like a standard C-4 ... However , the shift indicator was clearly stamped - Semi-Automatic ... I think somebody was selling the Semi-Auto indicator recently either on here or eBay ...
I saw one in a 69.5 in a bone yard here like 10 years ago...... Never thought anything about it until I saw this thread.
so it has 3 pedals, and there is no converter. so its a stick for the launch and then you drive it like a normal auto? i wish had a trani like that I would have nobody ask to drive my car