I have a friend that is looking at a 3-speed 67 GS 400....with no console....is this car real ? How many did they make....how bad does the 3-speed kill the value ? Supposedly a California car...... LMK your thoughts. Peace WildBill
For me it's the least desirable of the three available transmissions (original buyers in 1967 agreed), but some buyers today might prefer the 3-speed manual over a 3-speed automatic because they like pushing that third pedal. For anyone interested:
This was one of the 3 Speed Convertibles. I bought it out of a tow lot for $500 in about 2003 or so. Got it home and got the trunk open and found the Star Wars air cleaner, base and knob in the trunk in really nice condition. Car was RUSTY!
Remember Larry Miller /Karen Miller was a 67 fanatic and had purchased a 67 Convertible 3-speed new. I recall a magazine article like 40 years ago 0)
While Larry did own multiple '67 GS400 convertibles, the car he bought new was a Blue Mist GS400 hardtop with the standard 3-speed manual transmission. He bought it new, sold it, but eventually got it back and restored it. It was at MCACN in 2022 and his widow Karen still owns it.
I never understood why the manual transmission cars came standard with 3.36 and the cars with automatics came standard with a 2.93.
This car he is looking at is blue with a blue bucket interior....gonna ask him this afternoon if he is going to pursue it. Peace WildBill
I wonder also.. Engineers had a reason I guess.. Maby because of the switch pitch on the automatic but that wouldn't answer the 68 to 69 automatic with the fixed pitch? Could you get a wide ratio M20 manual on any GS?
All three transmissions have a high gear that is 1:1 so why does a manual transmission car need to be buzzing down the road at a higher rpm than the ST400 cars? Did they think old men were buy the automatics and the hot rodders were buying the manuals? My '67 GS 400 convertible was built with a 2.93 posi but my '67 GS400 sedan was ordered with "G1 Performance Axle - with positive traction Differential $42.31" and has a 3.36 gear set.
The 3 speed for the GS is a heavy duty Ford top loader and the gear ratios match well with the 3.36 rear. No need for the 4th gear IMO.
Doesn't matter, those automatics with the variable pitch convertors will blow both of the manuals into the weeds. Especially if the manual transmission still has that sloppy factory shifter ('67 was the last year before Buick wised up and switched to the Hurst shifter in '68).
The manual transmission does not have the advantage of a torque multiplier ( torque converter) so a lower rear gear is usually used verses an automatic equipped car that would use a higher gear ratio. This technique was used with most manufacturers.
im guessing its more to do with your first gear. prob a bigger spread in the auto than the manual. so if they went 2.93 you couldnt take off as good and had to stand on the clutch.
A tall gear is suitable for a fluid couple torque converter in Auto Trans. A manual trans car needs a shorter /deeper gear to prevent slipping /burning up the clutch to get the car moving in first gear.
