Vehicles with strange controls.

[cros]

Most people know what an odd thing the Model T is to operate,and if you've not had the 'pleasure' there are plenty of YouTube videos to talk you through the process.

Mention of Caterpillars in another thread reminded me of driving 955s which have a decelerator instead of an accelerator pedal. The 435cc Citroen 2cv4 I used to own would have benefitted from this feature which permits the engine to run at maximum revs until you push the pedal down instead of the more usual set up.

I hope there are still some cars left that dare to be different but maybe I was just perverted to lust after that car that boasted a dual range gearbox but no 4wd?

[SiC]

I'd love to have a go in a car with manually operated fuel mixture controls and ignition timing. So many knobs and twiddly bits to keep yourself occupied when driving!

 

It seems mostly pre-war stuff that had all this. Most I bet are big money now.

[dollywobbler]

Mitsubishi Colt had a dual range gearbox. Most pre-war stuff is unusual in some way. The Model T is indeed most odd.

[Mr A Lawrence]

I once drove a car that had the following weird controls....

 

Only 4 forward gears

Windows you had to wind up with a lever

No assisted brakes or steering

Had to lock/unlock each door individually

 

And, get this, one key for the boot and doors, another for the fuel cap and one for the ignition.

 

Madness

[Rod/b]

I drove an odd car the other day. It had three pedals and you had to keep pressing the left one to (get this) change the gears yourself. LOL.

[tooSavvy]

Pneumatic throttle.... ??

 

* well, it wasn't a 'quartic wheel'!

 

TS

[hennabm]

On top of the fuel and ignition controls, many pre war cars had the throttle in the middle and the brake pedal to the right of the throttle.

 

Could make for some interesting driving if you forget!

[D Spares & Tyres]

A friend of mine had a Model T pick up.

 

This had the usual gearbox plus another gearbox on the back axle.

 

I seem to remember the handbrake was also the gearstick for one of the gearboxes

 

 

Driven a few forestry vehicles. Many levers with no markings..

[cros]

Mitsubishi Colt had a dual range gearbox. Most pre-war stuff is unusual in some way. The Model T is indeed most odd.

Thanks for merinding me it was a Colt, I was wrongly thinking Diahatsu. I once borrowed an early Westminster which had a 3 speed gearbox with overdrive mechanically operated via a lever under the parcel shelf. The entire motor was well buggered and distracted me from savouring it's delights due to a chronic misfire and brakes that needed three strokes to put in an appearance. Hence I didn't discover if the overdrive worked on all gears.

[Dirk Diggler]

Mitsubishi Colt had a dual range gearbox. Most pre-war stuff is unusual in some way. The Model T is indeed most odd.

I can remember a early 80s jap import colt that we scrapped as part of a scrap page scheme around 2000; a second shorter gear lever with two positions, 'Power' and 'Economy'; suppose it's all relative

[mercrocker]

I take it we are talking strange by design here, rather than examples like my Mk1 Granada with a stubby jammed in the ignition switch or the Mini with no indicator stalk, just wires (helpfully "labelled" with red and green tape) to hold against the steering column..... 

 

No, mine are all normal now although a mixture of column and floor change manual, automatic and handbrakes on each side of the seat.   I can cope with all that but still always end up turning on the wipers on the VW instead of the indicators.  

 

I had a go in one of those old straight six Wolseleys once with the right hand change which felt weirder than a left hooker.    I always wanted to try a pre-selecter, too.

[JeeExEll]

I can remember a early 80s jap import colt that we scrapped as part of a scrap page scheme around 2000; a second shorter gear lever with two positions, 'Power' and 'Economy'; suppose it's all relative

1978 - 83 Colt Mirage. Maybe some of the saloons too (Lancer, Sapporo?).

 

[Asimo]

I'd like a go in an Invacar to try the tiller steering.

[fiatdaft]

Hand throttle,a few fiats and possibly others had them .

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest Hooli]

   I always wanted to try a pre-selecter, too.

 

I used to drive a coach with a pre-selector, they are brilliant once you get over the mental block of selecting gears at the 'wrong' time.

 

 

1978 - 83 Colt Mirage. Maybe some of the saloons too (Lancer, Sapporo?).

 

 

I had one them! but without the second stick

[John F]

Motorbikes: old British & (some) European bikes up to the mid-1970s had the back brake / gearchange on the other sides to what has become the norm... the change was apparently brought about due to yank legislation.

 

Depending on the manufacturer, the work-around to comply with this change in the legislation generated some odd gearchange sequences... one down, three (or more) up in some cases, one up, three (or more) down in others. And in some cases the strange shifting patterns existed before the legislation changed.

 

Some Japanese scooters, e.g. the Honda C90 Cub, have a circular shifting pattern where neutral is available again after top gear, followed by 1, 2 and 3 again. This can cause comedy revs if you forget what gear you're in and change from top gear into neutral. Also, the C90 has a foot-operated clutch where you keep your foot pressed on the pedal to engage the clutch and release it to engage the gear.

 

Pushbikes: for some reason*, in France a pushbike's front brake is on the left and the back brake is on the right.

 

* possibly to do with hand signals in right-hand traffic, although pushbike brake lever assignment in e.g. Germany tends to be the same as in the UK.

 

Tanks: the Chieftain tank has a normal automatic car-style accelerator and brake for the right foot and a motorbike-style gearchange lever for the left foot, then a lever on either side of your thighs that you pull upwards to clutch/brake the respective track for turning. You're doing better than me if you can get a smooth gearchange.

[Spottedlaurel]

1978 - 83 Colt Mirage. Maybe some of the saloons too (Lancer, Sapporo?).

 

I don't think any of the RWD models got that arrangement, but I believe the Tredia and Cordia did have it for a while.

 

I would regard any RHD car having lights and indicators on the left of the wheel as being strange/wrong. I have to suffer this myself on the modern car as it seems to have been foolishly decided that this is How It Should Be nowadays, but at least the other four have it the proper way round.

 

Still not really used to the modern's electronic handbrake after 3.5 years either.

[stuboy]

i helped my mate on his farm once and drove similier john deere to this, and more ratios, speeds, more knobs than a polictical party conference.. i didnt crash it neither

[Louise2cv]

Dad's three wheeler has got 3 levers on the steering wheel, throttle, air, and erm...summat else. Gears inside the car handbrake outside. And a little dooby that you adjust the drips of oil through.

 

Mind boggling.

 

Though I am sure none of this was strange in 1928.

[spartacus]

I had a late 70s Alfetta once, it had a sort of cruise control that was just a choke type hand throttle.

Just dangerous I thought!

[red5]

1978 - 83 Colt Mirage. Maybe some of the saloons too (Lancer, Sapporo?).

 

 

Nah, just the fwd platforms.

 

Two ratios on input shaft, so proper 2 x4 

 

Later versions had a '5' speed box which was 1-4 and Reverse in 'low' range, 5th gear was 4th in 'high' range (vacuum operated)  

[chaseracer]

I once drove a car that had the following weird controls....

 

Only 4 forward gears

Windows you had to wind up with a lever

No assisted brakes or steering

Had to lock/unlock each door individually

 

And, get this, one key for the boot and doors, another for the fuel cap and one for the ignition.

 

Madness

 

You have just described my Dyane!  Except the windows slide... 

[Lacquer Peel]

Andy's described my vehicle, but it's supposed to have 5 forward gears. (edit: but it does have power brakes and steering, spoiled millennial)

[Junkman]

I once drove a car that had the following weird controls....

 

Only 4 forward gears

Windows you had to wind up with a lever

No assisted brakes or steering

Had to lock/unlock each door individually

 

And, get this, one key for the boot and doors, another for the fuel cap and one for the ignition.

 

Madness

 

You had an R16 too?

[DSdriver]

Ford Popular/Anglia had windscreen wipers that worked off manifold vacuum, or didn't when going uphill.

Citroen DS footbrake was not a normal pedal but a sort of large button on the floor (usually under the carpet somewhere).

[RayMK]

The Cz175 (1971) that I bought new had a left foot gear change lever which also actuated the clutch, handy during cold weather when operating the normal handlebar lever was prevented by frostbite.  The same left foot gear lever was also the kickstart - press inwards with your ankle and flip it over to a kickstart position.  I liked it, nice, solid and dependable.  I never did take to Jap bikes with their funny little levers and gearboxes which felt as robust as a watch.  

 

A friend had a Triumph Tina scooter.  It had an ignition continuity switch under the saddle i.e. go over a big bump and there was a good chance that this stupid device would cut the engine.

[DSdriver]

Did cars with pre-selector gear shifts (Lanchesters for one) have a built in Mystic Meg to let you know whether you were going to need to change up or down next?

[anonymous user]

My 1937 Morgan had a Meadows gearbox, no synchro on first or second and with a reversed gate (first where third would be expected and vice versa) also cable operated brakes where the handbrake worked on all four wheels.

Trabant had a right hand column change with freewheel on top gear.

Daimler Dingo had preselect gears but also another change lever for forward/neutral/reverse.

Also once drove an old Lagonda which had a centre throttle and as it had an open special body, the right hand gear change and handbrake were on the outside.

My Mk6 had right hand gear change and handbrake, plus on the steering wheel boss were the choke, hand throttle and adjustment for the shock absorbers.

[anonymous user]

Did cars with pre-selector gear shifts (Lanchesters for one) have a built in Mystic Meg to let you know whether you were going to need to change up or down next?

No they expected you to know what you were doing, so once you were in top you would move the selector back to third and leave it ready, then when you needed to change down you'd press the change pedal. Basically you always put the shift where you'd expect to need it next, nothing happens until you press the pedal so you can always move it again.

[Asimo]

Talking of gearboxes, I've always been a bit puzzled as to why positive-stop gear changes are never seen in cars, even extreme sports cars, yet every manual transmission motorcycle has them. Has anyone here driven a bike-gearboxed car?