4 speed intro for passsenger cars

[Jeff C.]

What was the first year that 4 speeds were a factory option for GM passenger cars?

[Jim T.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

I am going to guess 1960 since a friend had a 60 Impala 348 tripower with 4 speed.

[Michael H.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

What was the first year that 4 speeds were a factory option for GM passenger cars?

I believe 58 was the first year.

[Edward J.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

I was thinking the the 58 impala. had a 4 spd ?

[Bill I.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

I think 58. I drove a friend's 58 Impala with the 348 and a 4 speed. Bill

[Tom P.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL Late Great gurus swear straight up and down and sideways that a 4sp WAS NOT a 58 RPO. BUT, there have been a few semi-confirmed VERY poorly documented examples of what MAY have been factory installed 4spds in late production 58 pass cars.
But absolutely for sure, the 4sp RPO was a true option for 59. Chevy even had full page ads in magazines of 59 pass cars with FI and 4sp, and the theme being that it was the "family size" sports car. Although, the 59 FI 283 was still higher priced than the solid lifter tri-power 348.
The last year for FI in the full size pass cars was 59.
Pont only had FI for 57-58.

For those who may have never seen them, here are Pont FI pictures.

57 Pont FI












58 Pont FI






The Pont FI units had the fuel meter UNDER the plenum! And they had a REAL short pump drive cable.

[Stewart A.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

There are rumors that a handful of 1957 Chevrolets left the factory with Corvette 4-speed, floor-shifting transmissions. No concrete documentation exists to back this claim up. So I guess that 58 was it !! Stewy

[Mike M.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

when i restored our 57 210 250 hp chevy, i did a reasonable amount of research regarding availability of t-10's for the 57 chevys. i concluded no way a production 57 pass car chevy got a 4 speed.mike

[John N.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

I believe that 59 was the first accepted year per the experts. Bruce Geisler did buy a new 58 Del Ray? 315 HP factory installed four speed from Dwayne Grotwold a Iowa Chevrolet dealer. He traded in the 56 SR-1 which also had been purchased new at that dealership. Bruce who lived in LA when he had a valid drivers license would take the cars to Harry Mann Chevrolet and supprise them with cars that thry were not aware of.
Regards

[Clem Z.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

59 was the first year as my new 348 impala had one but i could not get one in my 58 new 348 impala

[Jim T.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

I think 58. I drove a friend's 58 Impala with the 348 and a 4 speed. Bill

I had a 58 Impala with tri power and 4-speed. The 4-speed was not factory installed, a 64 El Camino was the donor.

[John N.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

when i restored our 57 210 250 hp chevy, i did a reasonable amount of research regarding availability of t-10's for the 57 chevys. i concluded no way a production 57 pass car chevy got a 4 speed.mike

Mike
I have never seen a factory four speed 57 pass car. Dwayne Grotwold had told me about a project factory car that Chevrolet had that had four speed transmission with shift on the column. Reverse was handled with a cable simular to a overdrive. Based on how much trouble the three speed column linkage was, I am glad that did not make the cut. Bark Henry said that Duntov had provided Rosenthal Chevrolet with a factory 57 station wagon with FI, four speed and I believe Pontiac seats for their tow car. I would consider that a brass hat, COPO etc type car for their top "independent" Corvette race team.
Regards

[Ray G.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

Mike
I have never seen a factory four speed 57 pass car. Dwayne Grotwold had told me about a project factory car that Chevrolet had that had four speed transmission with shift on the column. Reverse was handled with a cable simular to a overdrive. Based on how much trouble the three speed column linkage was, I am glad that did not make the cut. Bark Henry said that Duntov had provided Rosenthal Chevrolet with a factory 57 station wagon with FI, four speed and I believe Pontiac seats for their tow car. I would consider that a brass hat, COPO etc type car for their top "independent" Corvette race team.
Regards

Hello John Neas;
Heard stories back in the day, in the National Nomad Club, about a factory four speed '57 wagon.
Didn't know, at the time, if they were factual.
Thanks for the history.
Regards.
Ray

[Ray G.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

Mike
I have never seen a factory four speed 57 pass car. Dwayne Grotwold had told me about a project factory car that Chevrolet had that had four speed transmission with shift on the column. Reverse was handled with a cable simular to a overdrive. Based on how much trouble the three speed column linkage was, I am glad that did not make the cut. Bark Henry said that Duntov had provided Rosenthal Chevrolet with a factory 57 station wagon with FI, four speed and I believe Pontiac seats for their tow car. I would consider that a brass hat, COPO etc type car for their top "independent" Corvette race team.
Regards

Hello John Neas;
Found the following web page PDF. w/ partial picture of '57 metal car and of course the Corvettes.

http://www.legendarymotorcar.com/inventory/287/Binder2.pdf

Regards, Ray

[Joseph T.]

Re: 4 speed intro for passsenger cars

when i restored our 57 210 250 hp chevy, i did a reasonable amount of research regarding availability of t-10's for the 57 chevys. i concluded no way a production 57 pass car chevy got a 4 speed.mike

When did the 4 spd show up in the chevy AIM and what are the dates of the drawings?

Just curious..to see how they follow the drawings in the Corvette AIM.

A friend at Borg Warner sent me the original T-10 4-spd bluepints and I recall one being noted as passenger car. Next chance I get I will take another look.

Joe