1960 with 3 speed manual transmission

[thehotroddude]

I have found a 60 hardtop with a 3 speed manual transmission. According to my research there was only about 900 manual transmission cars in 1960. Is this true? If so does anyone know an approximate value once restored?

[arizonajack]

It's probably close to being true.

At any rate, it's rare.

My first T-Bird was a 1960 with a 3 speed manual on the column. I owned it from about 1967 to 1969.

Here's another thread where I posted a photo:

http://www.squarebirds.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=16074

Unfortunately, I'm not sure rarity (in this case) makes it any more "valuable" than a hardtop with AT.

In fact, it was horribly inconvenient because it was not syncromesh and I had to come to a complete stop to shift back down into 1st gear.

Probably worth getting just for the bragging rights.

Then upgrade the tranny with a later syncromesh 3 speed.

[simplyconnected]

The 3-speed synchro-crunch was the 'standard' trans that came on all Thunderbirds as well as Ford Cars and trucks.

The extra cost 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic was new for Squarebirds as other Ford Cars were still fitted with 2-speed automatics and Y-block engines. FE engines and 3-speed C-O-Ms were 'big time' options and a vast improvement back then. - Dave

[arizonajack]

Squarebirds were touted as something of a luxury car, higher priced than other Fords and, consequently, most buyers opted for the automatic transmission.