Understanding Column-Shift Manual Vehicles
Column-shift manual vehicles were highly popular during the 1940s until the 1980s. Column shift vehicles are often referred to as “three on the tree” by people who own them or talked about them, but the OEMs simply called them “column shift.”
Three-speed manuals were the most common type of vehicle driven in North America throughout the ‘40s and ‘70s, and the column shifter design had a lot to do with the trend.
Most car companies began to adopt the column-shift lever setup as early as the 1930s. Doing this meant the floor space could open up, resulting in a more comfortable seating capacity beside the driver.
During this time, more women began to get behind the wheel as well, so having an open floor space and a column shifter contributed to a more sophisticated driving experience.
The last vehicle to come with a column-shift manual transmission was the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which offered this option until 2012 for the 1500 series and until 2013 for the 2500 and 3500 series. Ford offered a 3 on the tree in pickups until 1986.
Overdrive transmissions were popular in three-on-the-tree cars and pickups in the 1960s.
Each of the three ranges had an additional range provided by a planetary gearset that would engage by simply releasing the gas pedal after the manual shift.
The planetary would disengage, you’d shift to the next gear, and then release the gas pedal. The planetary engages again, and you basically have six gears instead of three even though you still had three gears on the tree. On the dash, there would be a T-handle that said “Overdrive” you’d pull out to disable the overdrive function on pickups when pulling heavy loads.
How to Drive 3 On the Tree: Shifting Pattern
One of the most notable features of a three-speed manual vehicle is its unique shifting pattern due to the limited number of gears. Generally, a 3 on the tree shifting pattern resembles the letter “H.”
Like modern manual transmissions, the neutral gear is in the middle for three-speed manuals. This can be visualized as the horizontal line of the letter “H.”
From the neutral position, shift left and pull down to go into first gear. To go into second gear, go back to the neutral position, shift right, and push up. Simply shift down from the second gear to go into the third and final gear.
To go into reverse, shift left from neutral and push up. The reverse gear for three-speed manuals might seem uncharacteristic for manual vehicles, but this is actually a feat that’s been incorporated into modern vehicles.
The 2021 Toyota Corolla Altis, for example, may come as a six-speed manual and have the reverse gear sitting on top of the first gear. The only difference is that there’s a ring you have to pull from the shifter knob to go into reverse.
Driving a 3-on-the-tree vehicle is no different from other manual vehicles. You’ll still need to depress and release the clutch pedal to shift gears. The only difference is that there are fewer speed options to choose from.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 3 On the Tree Column-Shift Manual Cars
Automatic transmission vehicles might have taken over the industry, but there are still some drivers who prefer getting behind the wheel of a manual vehicle for a number of reasons.
Advantages of a 3 On the Tree
You Have Total Control Over Your Vehicle
Manual vehicles are always fun to drive because they make you feel like you’re in total control of everything that goes on in the engine, and three-speed manual vehicles are no different.
Aside from the rush of excitement you get when shifting from one gear to another, braking is also simpler with manual vehicles because there’s no need for a torque converter.
Affordable Maintenance
Any manual transmission is cheaper to maintain than an automatic. This means that you won’t have to spend as much to keep your vehicle running in tip-top shape.
Plus, parts for a manual transmission are also relatively cheaper than an automatic, but certain factors can affect this, including the type of part, brand, and more.
Convenient Design
A column-shift three-speed manual has a convenient design that creates more space for passengers. In addition, the placement of the shifter allows for easier operation when driving.
Disadvantages of a 3 On the Tree
There’s a Learning Curve
A manual transmission vehicle can be quite difficult to master, especially for people learning to drive for the first time.
Automatic vehicles are certainly easier to drive一all you have to do is to shift into “D,” release the brakes, step on the gas pedal, and you’re pretty much good to go.
But when driving a manual vehicle, you’ll have to do a lot more. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the working level of your clutch to ensure that you’re not riding it too much when shifting gears and avoid damaging the transmission.
Driving It Can Be Challenging
One of the most challenging scenarios when driving a manual vehicle is when you’re stuck on an incline. Should your engine die out because of a miscalculation, you could end up rolling backward and bumping into the vehicle behind you.
It Can Be Confusing
Driving a manual vehicle involves shifting speeds at a constant rate. If you’re not familiar with how your vehicle runs, you could end up damaging the transmission when shifting gears.
There Are Speed Drawbacks
A three-speed manual isn’t exactly the fastest car out there. Don’t expect to go very fast when there are only three-speed configurations in your transmission.
Four-Speed Column-Shifted Transmission
It was very rare, but there were some foreign cars that had a four-speed column-shifted transmission. One notable vehicle with a four-speed column shift transmission was the 1961 Ford Fairlane.
This setup was quite rare for cars, as most four-speed transmissions were typically floor-mounted. There were also some Chevy vans from the late 1960s that featured a four-speed column shift and the Chrysler Simca also had a four speed column shift.
Additionally, Mercedes-Benz models from the late 1950s, such as the 1959 Benz, had a four-speed column shift transmission.
The shifter is in the same place that the column shifter is in an automatic that doesn’t have buttons, a knob, or a floor shifter. Mechanics sometimes call an automatic transmission column shifter a “PRNDL” stick. The manual transmission column shifter is in the same place but the driver must manually select each forward gear just like a manual transmission with a floor shifter.
Key Takeaways
3 on the tree is a three-speed manual vehicle that was popularized during the ‘40s and ‘50s. This type of setup provides an open floor space and a convenient lever location, creating more cabin space for passengers.
Aside from the lever sticking out of the steering column, another noticeable characteristic of a 3 on the tree is the “H” shifting pattern with the reverse gear sitting on top of the first gear.
Some of the advantages of driving a three-speed manual include having total control over the vehicle, affordable maintenance, and convenient design.
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