Re: There are rumors in circulation...

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2015/6/24 17:30:16

I think Packard was the only one that put them on the steering column which I thought was a strange arrangement with that big pod hanging there the first time I saw those.


Plenty of precedent for transmission controls on a stalk on the steering column. Though not push buttons or automatic transmissions, in addition to the Cord 810/812 quite a few other cars used a miniature selector at the end of a stalk on the steering column. Hudson did so for a year or two prewar, and many of the higher end prewar European cars like Delage, Daimler, Delahaye, Lagonda, Alvis and others that used the epicyclic (planetary) Cotal or Wilson gearbox. These transmissions were the precursors to today's automatics, the Cotal box accomplishing planetary gear changes electromagnetically rather than with bands. Very unique and interesting. If you're curious, see for a starter:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preselector_gearbox