Need some enlightenment here

[Dan D.]

Regarding 1972 Corvettes; All spec sources that I have examined seem to agree that total production for the 1972 model run was 27,004. these sources indicate the transmission application breakdown as; 1,638 M21 4-speeds and 14,543 M40 Turbo Hydra-Matics. Unless there 's a serious gap in my education; that comes to 16,181... What happened to the other 10,823 cars?

[John H.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

Regarding 1972 Corvettes; All spec sources that I have examined seem to agree that total production for the 1972 model run was 27,004. these sources indicate the transmission application breakdown as; 1,638 M21 4-speeds and 14,543 M40 Turbo Hydra-Matics. Unless there 's a serious gap in my education; that comes to 16,181... What happened to the other 10,823 cars?

Dan -

Those 10,823 cars got M20 4-speeds - M20 was standard equipment, M21 was optional, and M22 was part of the ZR1 option.

[Michael J.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

Were they still making M20s and it just got left off?

[Dan D.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

Thanks for the reply. I knew that there were three different versions of the 4-speed which can be identified by the ending letters "A" (M20 Muncie wide range type), "B" (M21 Muncie close range type) and "C" (M22 Muncie rock crusher) in the stamping. Looking at the Chevrolet RPO codes we find "M20", "M21", and "M22" listed. I just found it hard to believe that there were 10,823 "M20s and "M22s" placing the ratio of manual to automatic transmissions at 46% to 54%. I don't know why, but I expected for there to be a higher ratio of automatics.. I've seen window labels with "M21" listed but I can't remember ever seeing a label with either "M20" or "M22." Then again, that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Frankly, I've seen many labels that have no transmission, at all, listed. Of course we all know; just because there is a label, even if it's dirty, wrinkled and spotted...that doesn't mean it's real. Anyway, thank you for the reply, and have a great day.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

Thanks for the reply. I knew that there were three different versions of the 4-speed which can be identified by the ending letters "A" (M20 Muncie wide range type), "B" (M21 Muncie close range type) and "C" (M22 Muncie rock crusher) in the stamping. Looking at the Chevrolet RPO codes we find "M20", "M21", and "M22" listed. I just found it hard to believe that there were 10,823 "M20s and "M22s" placing the ratio of manual to automatic transmissions at 46% to 54%. I don't know why, but I expected for there to be a higher ratio of automatics.. I've seen window labels with "M21" listed but I can't remember ever seeing a label with either "M20" or "M22." Then again, that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Frankly, I've seen many labels that have no transmission, at all, listed. Of course we all know; just because there is a label, even if it's dirty, wrinkled and spotted...that doesn't mean it's real. Anyway, thank you for the reply, and have a great day.

Dan------


It's just as John mentions. The 10,000 or so "missing" cars were equipped with the M-20 transmission which was standard equipment. The standard transmission is not shown on the vehicle option list. To obtain the number of cars equipped with the standard transmission you have to add up the number of cars equipped with optional transmissions and subtract that number from the total cars built. In this case, you also have to subtract the number of ZR-1 cars which were automatically equipped with the M-22 transmission as part of the package.

For example, for 1969 the 3 speed manual transmission was the standard transmission. So, how many 1969's were equipped with it? Well, there were 16,507 equipped with M-20, 13,741 equipped with M-21, 101 equipped with M-22, and 8,161 equipped with THM-400 for a total of 38,510. There were 38,762 total cars built. So, by difference, there were 252 equipped with 3 speed manual.

The same rationale applies to figuring the number of base engine cars.

By the way, you mention that you figured the percentage of automatic-equipped cars would be higher for 1972. Well, for that general period of time, when folks ordered a Corvette, the vast majority only thought in terms of a 4 speed. For example, look at the numbers for 1969. I don't think that preferences would have changed that much for 1972.

[Terry M.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

The last numbers I saw, admittedly a decade ago, put those in the USA with the ability to drive a manual transmission at just over 20%.

Some other recent references:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/19/us/manual-car-question-comeback/

http://www.cartalk.com/content/stick...l-transmission

and lastly, to keep this on Corvette track:

http://www.corvettemuseum.org/specs/...vetteStats.pdf

MYC 6 Spd Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission 7229 53.7%

I limited the above 2013 numbers to total production. A much more detailed lit is at the above Corvette Museum link. These are the latest numbers available.

[Michael J.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

The last numbers I saw, admittedly a decade ago, put those in the USA with the ability to drive a manual transmission at just over 20%.

Some other recent references:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/19/us/manual-car-question-comeback/

http://www.cartalk.com/content/stick...l-transmission

and lastly, to keep this on Corvette track:

http://www.corvettemuseum.org/specs/...vetteStats.pdf

MYC 6 Spd Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission 7229 53.7%

I limited the above 2013 numbers to total production. A much more detailed lit is at the above Corvette Museum link. These are the latest numbers available.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

All-------


Many high-end European sports cars are no longer available with a full manual transmission, at all. If Corvette continues to offer a full manual transmission it might become unique in the premium sports car world.

[John H.]

Re: Need some enlightenment here

All-------


Many high-end European sports cars are no longer available with a full manual transmission, at all. If Corvette continues to offer a full manual transmission it might become unique in the premium sports car world.

Joe -

Correct! The well-known ones (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren) have all gone to dual-clutch manuals with paddle-shifting electronics operating the shifting hydraulics, and the luxury marques (Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, etc.) have true full automatics with paddle-shifters (like Corvette).