Re: Auto vs 5-spd; was Re: 1998 Dakota R/T (question about

From: Klaus Wilkens (klaus@buffnet.net)
Date: Tue Oct 14 1997 - 22:19:47 EDT


T & J wrote:

> > Don't know how old you geezers are but I've forgotten more
> bullshit
> than I remember what was usefull.
> > Volkswagens used to have what they called a "autostick" which was
> a
> combination manual and an automatic trans. The clutch which it had was
> only
> used during stops or starting out and all you did after that was shift
> to
> the gears that were needed until you came to another stop again. It
> was
> made around the mid '60's to early '70's and was a good idea in
> consept but
> sucked for workability and relibility.
> > in the '70's GM used a modified version on the racing circuit by
> using
> actual clutching components and hooking (bolting) the clutch mechanism
> up
> to an automatic and had great success
>
> I seem to recall the VW used a torque converter with a stick shift,
> very similar to the Chrysler fluid drive of the late 40s and early
> 50s. Renault had an electricly actuated clutch back in 57 or 58 in the
> Dauphine. When the driver moved the shifter it closed a swith whch
> would disengage the clutch and when the shifter was released it would
> re-engage, not a very successful idea I might add.

The first automatic to use a manual clutch that I remeber was the
Clutch-Flite in the late 60s. A Torqueflit was modifeid to use a manual
clutch and retain the hydraulic shifting mechanism. This is probably the
fore runner of todays Lenco trannies.

KW



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