3 speed clutchless, How does it work

in the 50's  Dodge had a stick with a torque converter 

Yes, it was throw-back tech -- about one fourth the cost of a $300 auto (option price -- E-stick was around $60. so as little under 1/4th auto price). Not much today, but in the early 60s a new American with three on the tree (and a clutch!) only costs a bit over $1800. Consider that the cheapest cars now still cost from a third to half a year's pay for the average person ($60K in 2016 for the US, $6200 in 1963), which is still about right ($2K for a 63 American in 63, $18K for a 2018 Ford Focus -- close enough to 1/3!). So an auto trans was around 15% more -- that would be $2700 more on the Focus, though that option is only $1100 (about 6% more). The Fiesta is $3K less than the Focus, but I'd say it would be more comparable to a Metropolitan of 63... but even if you use it the cost isn't much below a third of the yearly average income.


Edited by farna - Dec/21/2018 at 6:14am