[Rich-Tripower]

Is anyone familiar with a '66 /'67GTO with an original heavy duty 3-speed manual? I would venture a strong guess they are pretty rare. My question is: did the 3-speed manual come with a Hurst shifter or a GM shifter? If you own such a car, have you kept the original 3-speed or modified it to a 4-speed (or other transmission)?

Thanks!

[Ram4king]

I have a 67 3 spd car and it has a hurst shifter identical to the 4 spd unit. Its funny you brought this question as im changing it to a 4 spd later this week. It seems that people would rather buy a 4 spd car than a 3 spd. Ive found that most people dont care if its changed as long as it looks correct!

[goatmanmitch]

If I don't see more confirming responses, I will call a local guy who has an original 66 3 speed. mitch

[Rich-Tripower]

I guess it would apply to any Tempest with a manual three speed, wouldn't it? Except that only the GTO would have had a Hurst I suppose.

[gloryrestoparts]

my 66 hardtop California car was originally a Ford heavy duty 3sp. I bought it as a rolling shell so I can't help with the shifter.

[salem1912]

Rich my other car is a 69 Vette 350/300 3spd manual-- it's boring -get a 4spd

[Mr_GTO]

I recently sold a DB code Cast Iron Ford made toploader 3spd manual out of a '68 convertible GTO I owned and it did have a Hurst Shifter.

[Rich-Tripower]

Sounds like they are pretty uncommon. Aside from interesting general knowledge, the reason I asked is that I know where I can obtain a new-in-the-box Drag Fast shifter for a 65-67 GTO with a HD 3-speed (I assume it's for the toploader 3-speed now). Drag Fast made quality shifters which were as good or better than Hurst back in the day, but is no longer in business. These shifters have a unique look which differs quite a bit from stock or Hurst shifters.

Anyway, by my logic, if a GTO with a three-speed had a Hurst as original equipment, I can't see too many folks being interested in such an aftermarket shifter because they have either replaced the 3-speed with a 4-speed or want to keep it original with the Hurst. Now, if that 3-speed had had a GM shifter, those with 3-speeds might want a cool looking, period correct upgrade but that doesn't appear to be the case. I don't think it's worth the $100 asking price since the market is so small and likely to never show any interest. (I don't have any need for it, I thought I might be able to pass it on, however.)

Thanks for the input!

[baron_]

they're actually rather common - from the factory

but rarer these days because everyone has switched to the 4spd

3 spd was stock in the GTO, so you had to order the 4spd as an option - if you wanted it
Which means a substantial # of "all original 4spd" GTO's are actually 3 spd's, if you get the PHS
Plus, i hear that was a common dealer upgrade

They used the same shifter handle, which is rather hard to find
But the hurst competition plus shifter is different - for a 3spd and not for a 4 spd

The handle is worth a few bucks - i believe you can swap it to a 4spd shifter to be correct for a real 4spd car

[Shadowjack]

Pontiac torque was too much for the Muncie 3-speed of the era, so they bought the Fords for the GTO and the big cars. A "heavy-duty" trans needed a "heavy-duty" shifter, so all Dearborns got the Hurst. Poor old weak-sister Chevy got the Muncies and GM shifters.

[blue69bird]

My 69' bird has a 3 speed with the factory Hurst.

[Ol Goat]

My '67 GTO came from the factory with the Dearborn 3-speed and floor mounted Hurst shifter (no console, bench seat). It was that way until 1998 when I did the swap to an M-20 4-speed. Much more fun but no quicker at the drag strip.

[judgeman6970]

i have a '67 GTO, and have the original HD 3-spd exactly where it belongs...in my basement!!.....switched it to a M-20 4-spd(the way it should have been built)

[ted400]

Originally Posted by Shadowjack

Pontiac torque was too much for the Muncie 3-speed of the era, so they bought the Fords for the GTO and the big cars. A "heavy-duty" trans needed a "heavy-duty" shifter, so all Dearborns got the Hurst. Poor old weak-sister Chevy got the Muncies and GM shifters.

Mmmmm...3 speed Muncie? I don't think so. Chevys under 300 hp got a Saginaw, over 300 hp got a heavy duty Borg Warner. I too pulled the FoMoCo Dearborn 3 speed out of my '66 GTO, and still have it.

[Shadowjack]

"3-speed Muncie" was me talking out my... Never had a Chevy so didn't even give it a thought. But I do know about Fords.