1959 t-bird 4speed manual trans

[Guest]

I have come across a '59 T-bird that has what appears to be a factory 4-speed manual transmission with a column shift. What can anyone tell me about it? Is it real?

[Alexander]

RE: 1959 t-bird 4speed manual trans

Welcome to the site.

1958 to 1960 had standard 3-speed manual transmissions with the 352 engine. An 3-speed manual with overdrive was optional. With the 430 engine in 1959 and 1960, the automatic transmission was required. The manual transmissions were very rare during the 1958-60 Thunderbird productions,, so they were not available in 1961. 98% of Thunderbirds from 1958-60 had the optional automatic transmissions. No 4-speeds were available. All the manual transmissions where column shift.

A friend told me that many years ago he had a factory 430 with manual transmission, but that car was destroyed in an accident.

Holman-Moody campaigned 430 equipped cars with manual transmissions during 1959 and 1960, but these were custom built by Holman-Moody on body shells that did not make to the end of the production line.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[Guest]

RE: 1959 t-bird 4speed manual trans

Thank you, I did not try the car, but was told that by the sailsman. I did notice that it had overdrive. Perhaps that was the 4th gear he was refering to.

[Alexander]

RE: 1959 t-bird 4speed manual trans

You would know the car has overdrive by a chrome handle under the dash marked "overdrive." Youwould shift into third and then pull the overdrive handle to put it into overdrive.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[tmjsong1aolcom]

RE: 1959 t-bird 4speed manual trans

I cannot verify that there wewre many 430's with manual transmissions, but saw one in Mi. that toook a while to verify. The serial number stamped into the body under the cowl did verify the data plate that it came with a 3 speed manual trans. I do not remember if it was an overdrive model or not.

There was no ROT sheet found to gurantee that it was real.

Fuz
58's&64's