I've never owned an automatic trans in all my 74 years, and proud of it; I enjoy being part of the mechanical process of driving a vehicle. Love the sounds of gear changes and engines revving. Learned on a Ford 8N tractor and a late-30's International pickup, working summers baling hay for a farmer as a 15 year old kid. Right after I got my learner's permit, Dad shows up with his midlife crisis '64 327 4 speed Corvette roadster, so you know how that car suffered! 135 with the top down and my buddy sticking his head above the windshield to watch his hair fly STRAIGHT back. Then Dad's '68 Chevy Suburban 283 granny gear 4 speed, then my 1 st car I bought in the Air Force, a '57 VW Bug, a '65 Mustang A code 289 with a T10, a '65 VW I drove down the Alcan Highway to my next & last station, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, etc. etc. Never an automatic. Ever. Sooooo...to document this legacy, I'm getting my first tattoo, the image of a 4 speed shift knob. Talked to a well known local artist today, and going in on the 19th; should look like this (but with more wrinkles):
Just got it today. Easy peasy, and a fun experience. That’s the shift pattern on my Ranchero; the numbers & lines were done in white, which he said will show up better later.
