Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

I have a 1930 Fordor Town sedan... I was waiting in a parking lot for my wife to come out of a store... This elderly gentleman came up to me, and told me that in years past he has owned 3 model A's... He seemed very knowlegable... He told me to get into the car and put the gearshift lever in neutral... And then to pull straight up on the gear shift lever... He said it would disconnect from the transmission and then I could move the lever way out of the way if I chose to do so... My car does not do this... Has anyone ever heard of this??? Or was he pulling my leg...

Thanks ahead of time for your reply's...

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

My '31 RDPU does this and I assumed they all did. It doesn't need to be in neutral when doing this, any gear will do. You can be driving down the road in 3rd and get the lever out of the way of the passenger. You need to remember to be careful when returning it to the normal position, hold the lever and let it down slowly, don't just let it bang.

Charlie Stephens

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

It should move out of the way, maybe you did not pull it up high enough.

Bob

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

My Friend , Rick, showed me this "Trick"the first day I owned my town sedan. He said his father told him that it came in handy when you were on a date. I can't imagine what exactly he meant by that, maybe you can figure it out.
Terry

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Yes , Down under its know as the courting gear?? out of gear , Both hands on it ( the gear lever ) pull up & fold too one side , That gives you much more room in the front seat when ???

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

If you're really talented you can get it in reverse and second at the same time which effectively locks the transmission.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

The original idea behind this designs stems more from when you notice which side the keyed door handle is on. It was customary in the day for the driver to enter/exit from the curb side passenger door. Moving the shift lever out of the way allowed the driver to easily slide across the seat.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Maybe that's why the spare tire is on the left side?

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Henry made it that way so when you park by the curb, you get out on the side walk that is on the passengers side. It does not matter if you are in gear or in neutral. I have had 5 model a's and one AA and they all will do it. This is for only 3 speed transmissions. The ones that don't want to pull up, is because the spring in the shifter tower is real strong. Trust me it works. I learned that in the 70's.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

A good friend of mine learned to drive in a Model A in the 40's. He was getting lucky on a date and she instructed him to pull the lever up and get the shifter out of their way. Funny what girls knew about cars that we dummies never thought of. That works best if the car is in neutral and is an early 28 with the brake on the other side. A very proper looking elderly lady came to look at my rumble seat when I first bought my roadster. She told me, "I lost my virginity in one just like that." So much for prim and proper

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Have owned the A since 1960 and never knew of this feature.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

I have to go into the garage now and try this!

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

I thought it was a design "feature" to add a third killer spring after the rear spring and the multiple clutch plate spring.

It is where the term "third time lucky" came from.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Has anyone got a video of this? I think I'd like to see it before I try it!

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

The "League of Decency" has tried in vain for over 85 years to stamp out this information. And it must be noted, that since most have forgotten this 'shift lever slide', the birthrate has dropped down amongst Model A owners.

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

My father-in-law told me about this long before I owned a Model A. He said they called this the "dating stick."
Marty

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

In the 50's we called it the "honeymoon gear" Jack

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

She must have been a gymnast!! :p

Re: Gear shift lever on a Model A
 

Me too. Seeing is believing.