"Keith J Chesworth" wrote in message
s.com...
On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 09:10:04 +0100, Martin Rich
wrote:
On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 11:35:21 GMT, Bill Hayles
wrote:

Things are different now, but when I took my (car) driving test in
1968, many cars didn't have synchromesh, so you got used to it from
the start.

1968 sounds rather late for many cars to be without synchromesh
(though Bill Hayles has explained elsewhere what he was driving at the
time). Certainly it was common to have no synchromesh on first gear -
at least on mass-produced British cars - into the 1960s, but that was
on the basis that you'd only engage first from a standing start, and
wouldn't be reason to learn double de-clutching.

From my recollection of driving then and well into the 70's, all mass
production cars ended up after 18months/2years without syncro.
snip

However most cars were made with something like a 90mph top speed and
55mph cruising speed. So high speed driving was rare. If you exceeded
the cruising speed for more than a short time the car would overheat.
Now cruising speed and top speed are the same, so when there is a bit
of open road things go much faster. Modern cars can take it (but maybe
not the driver!!). Older cars from then could not.

Different times, different conditions. I loved my first Car, a Morris
Oxford Series 2, 1956, with column gear change (they are in there
somewhere, trick is finding them!!). Magnificent wagon all round. But
today I would be rather scared about the thought of taking one out on
the open road and trying to drive it to suit todays conditions.

Keith,

I remember that one of my uncles had one of those, but with the "manumatic"
gear change, which was horrendous. I drove it once, and was not impressed.
At the time (1956) I had my first vehicle, a Morris Van Series SZPO formerly
of the GPO Telephones and of 1943 vintage. Top speed about 60 with a
following wind, but limited to 30 mph by the law. That was replaced in 1958
by a VW Beetle 1200 DL, with cruising speed 68 mph and max speed 68 mph.
Another one followed in 1960 and then in 1963 the choice was between the
first Ford Cortinas or a Vauxhall Victor FB (which I chose). Both better
suited to motorway cruising at 70-ish. The firm had Victor FA and Hillman
Minx in the pool, and the Minxes would do 80 plus on the M6 at a severe cost
in fuel consumption. You didn't get given a Victor if you were going far:-).
3-speed box on the Victor, of course, and a bench seat.
--
Terry Harper, Web Co-ordinator, The Omnibus Society
75th Anniversary 2004, see http://www.omnibussoc.org/75th.htm
E-mail:
URL: http://www.terry.harper.btinternet.co.uk/