Most individuals who learn Jalopnik will possible agree that an actual sports activities automotive deserves a handbook transmission. This is borne out by the truth that for many years, three pedals and a stick had been the one manner you possibly can get many sports activities automobiles. Hell, the 911 didn’t get an automated transmission till 1989!
Or, properly, that’s principally true. See, Porsche supplied one thing known as the “Sportomatic transmission” from 1967 to 1980 and it was one thing of a hybrid of a handbook transmission and an automated. They weren’t particularly widespread, however they’re fairly attention-grabbing. Volkswagen used a model, too.
When I say that the Sportomatic is a hybrid between a handbook and a torque converter auto, what I imply is that you just shift your gears manually (three or 4 of them, relying on the yr) however you don’t have a clutch pedal. Instead of that pedal, the Sportomatic makes use of a torque converter to permit the automotive to come back to a cease with out stalling AND a conventional-ish clutch that’s managed pneumatically by microswitches on the shift lever.
Shifting works like this: You’re sitting at a light-weight and the sunshine turns inexperienced. You transfer the gear stick into first gear. When you contact the stick, the microswitch actuates a solenoid that actuates a pneumatic valve. This valve used vacuum to launch the clutch permitting the synchros to work and shift into gear. Once you’re in gear and take your hand off of the gear stick, the clutch reengages and also you’re off.
It will get cooler and in addition weirder. Instead of getting 1, 2, 3 and 4 for gears, Porsche gave the Sportomatic L, D, D3 and D4. Low was like first gear in a traditional handbook, however Porsche mentioned it was only for steep hills and inspired drivers to set off in D. D and D3 had been like shorter second and third gears in a normal transmission and D4 was overdrive.
The torque converter that allowed the automotive to not stall additionally acted as a torque multiplier which implies that technically, you possibly can set off in any of the 4 ahead gears.
Source: jalopnik.com