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Why wasn't the 440 available with a 4 spd after 1972?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:48 pm
by sdweatherman
Watching the Mecum Dallas auction today and noticed the 1973 Pontiac 455 super duty 4 speed car sell for some pretty high dollars. Did some looking and the 4 speed was available behind the 455 super duty in both 1973 and 1974. Does anyone know why Ma Mopar didn't allow the 4 speed behind the 440 in the Road Runners and Chargers for 1973 and 1974?
Re: Why wasn't the 440 available with a 4 spd after 1972?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:55 am
by JimT1971RR
That is a good question. I, living in California, remember that from the early seventies through 1982, when the first Mustang GT 5.0 came out, you couldn't buy a V8 car with a manual transmission at all in CA. Trucks yes, but no cars. Even the late seventies Trans Am had the 403 with an automatic only.
Re: Why wasn't the 440 available with a 4 spd after 1972?
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 6:59 pm
by SureGrip
Likely a matter of sales.
They probably weren't getting many orders for 4-speeds in 71-72, and with the dropping of the Hemi, they decided to stop offering it as a choice.
I'd be interested to see if any 4-speed cars made it out of the factory.