Re: Manual versus Automatic (ULTRAmatic), post-war

Posted by HH56 On 2015/6/10 8:38:20

If you do go with a manual shift and OD I think you will be pleasantly surprised as to just how little shifting you will have to do.

Considering that automatics were just coming on the scene in any quantity and the fact that small independent Packard was able to design and build their own Ultramatic it was quite an accomplishment. I believe GM was the only other mfg with the engineering talent and resources to do so in house. The others partnered up or outsourced their automatics for several years after Packard had theirs.

Packard did tend to hedge their bets since many of their old and conservative long time customers didn't want to mess with new fangled ideas. The manuals did stick around and I believe Packard was even proud they were a luxury brand and offered one.

If you do go with a manual car, for the most point I believe it will be in the junior or lower to mid models. Relatively few Patricians and other senior cars had them.