Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

How does the transmission affect a musclecar's value? For example; how much would an automatic equipped '70 Z28 differ in value from a manual transmission equipped Z?

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Depends on the buyer... for everyone who says "i'd never buy anything without 3 pedals", there's someone else out there who wants an auto, be it for ease of use or so the wife can drive it too, or whatever... I'd say more people prefer manual transmissions in musclecars, (as do I) but then you have cars like the COPO 68 Novas with the CX TH400, etc.. Stick vs. auto is like debating which color is worth the most... it depends on the particular buyer and what they prefer. It also depends on the rarity of the car... for example, if you found a good deal on a 69 Yenko camaro, would you not buy it if it was an auto and you preferred a stick? What about if it was fathom green but you preferred hugger orange? When you factor the car's overall rarity in there, specific details like stick vs. auto don;t seem to be as big of a deal to most people...although there are still some that want what they want, and will pass up a car that doesn't fit their exact criteria. Lots of value questions on this board lately...

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Most people that I talk to would prefer a stick in their muscle cars strictly for the fun factor. My wife prefers the 4 speed as well. If you drive in a lot of heavy traffic the automatic is definitely the wiser choice. At the strip the automatic is a lot more consistant and breaks fewer parts. There is definitely more skill involved in driving a stick shift car, especially at the strip. Anyone can look like a pro with an automatic. The rest of us get humbled by our 4 speeds regularly. Show off and you'll miss a shift every time. I'd pay more for a 4 speed car every time. Keeps me humble.https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I'm sure I'll be the exception to the rule, but give me an auto car any day...while you stick-boys are tap dancing and huntin' for gears I'll be getting the win light! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I said the same thing as Joe until I bought my '70 Camaro. I have 3 M-21 cars and one TH 350 for cruising. Yeah a manual transmission is fun, but the auto is easier to drive. Value wise, I wouldn't pay more for a manual then an auto.

A lot of people in the hobby frown upon auto cars but lately I have seen some really nice Mopars, and BBC Chevys with autos getting equal attention. There is a local '70 Cuda with a 440 6-pack, black/black torque flight auto with steel wheels and dog dish caps that I would buy in a heart beat. Auto/Manual comes down to the originality of the car, paperwork, quality of restoration (if it applies) just like anything else. Good luck, what car is in question?

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

As time marches on,a new generation of People are entering into this Hobby.
Most never growing up with a Manual trans. Vehicle at all in their History,and thus not very skilled or confident in piloting one.
For the prices they have to pay for some of these cars today,I am seeing more newcomers desire an Auto. trans Behind Anything,so they can drive/enjoy it more and not let it resemble a Paperweight.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I think the high perf car's with auto are a little rarer then the 4-speed car's.camaro L34 high perf 396, there were 2579 made 1015 M40 automatics.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I think only 1,483 '67 396 Camaros were built with M40 auto trans (L35 only), 4,520 with manuals (both L35 and L78).

(Just going from memory, someone please corect me if I'm wrong.)

I wonder how many BY/black vinyl top/L35/M40/power drum brake/tilt wheel/tach-guages/power steering '67 Camaros were built? I wonder how many survive?

Yes, that was a shameless plug. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

[ QUOTE ]
As time marches on,a new generation of People are entering into this Hobby.
Most never growing up with a Manual trans. Vehicle at all in their History,and thus not very skilled or confident in piloting one.
For the prices they have to pay for some of these cars today,I am seeing more newcomers desire an Auto. trans Behind Anything,so they can drive/enjoy it more and not let it resemble a Paperweight.

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember my wife showing me an article that had a list of things that every parent should teach his or her child. Among the items on the list was teaching your child to drive a manual transmission car. Other items included teaching them how to fish, finding the North star to navigate by and starting a fire without matches. I dont know where that list went...maybe that was another item on the list...teaching your child to make a list and then being able to find it later. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

[ QUOTE ]
How does the transmission affect a musclecar's value? For example; how much would an automatic equipped '70 Z28 differ in value from a manual transmission equipped Z?

[/ QUOTE ]

The question here is value............................

Over the years it seems that the number of any given model built determines its value. The lower the build count of a particular option combo the higher the value. Don't matter if its stick or auto.

I enjoy "rowing" a 4-speed on the street, but for drag strip action I'll tske an auto any day. Much more consistent.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think the high perf car's with auto are a little rarer then the 4-speed car's.

[/ QUOTE ]

For Pontiacs, that's true. Initially, it was due to the 2-speed auto, although Pontiac's hipo image had a lot to do with it too. Starting in 1967, with the advent of TH400, this changed, but all the hi-po cars (HO and Ram Air) were rarer with autos by a pretty decent margin. This stood true till 1971 with the 455HO. I don't remember the numbers, but they are close, if not more autos built.

With Mopars, they had the excellent TF auto, so even the hipo cars often were built in great numbers with autos. For Hemis, it often was a toss-up, but 440s were much rarer with a 4-speed. For 383s, I don't think the difference was that great. One of the reasons, I believe, for the TF's popularity is the poor Inland shifter, which I believe was replaced mid-1968.

I'm not familiar with Fords to be able to comment, but I love big cars with sticks, and to find a '68 XL GT with a 428 4-speed would be very cool. Speaking of sticks, they were not totally rare in the early days. Starting around, perhaps, 1966, it was becoming a rarity to find a muscle big car with a 4-speed. I know Pontiacs dropped severely during that time.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I think it depends on the comfort level of the buyer.I personally am happy with my automatic/console Copo, but what if you have two supercars that are similar,color,motor,rearends, but one is a 4spd and the other an automatic on the column? I would think the 4spd car would bring more $$$.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I drove both my 71 W-30 cars this weekend. My 4 speed is a bear in trafffic but equally a smooth cruiser as my automatic on the highway. The rarer the 4 speed application the more it will affect current and future value. I have a 86 Charger 383 4 speed with Inland shifter. DO NOT ATTEMPT to power shift one of those, the distance of the throw will dislocate your arm. Nice cruiser but not real pleasant to drive. If it were a Hemi car I would prefer the auto.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Look for knuckle marks on the dash !!! 69 Muncie unit is not much better.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Had 'em both. If you are a rare beast like a 71 hemi 'cuda rag, it couldn't possibly matter less. Fun factor? Rowin' a Rockcrusher is tops with me.

Just love the whine https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif !!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Power steering and a stick was a bad combo for bad weather, especially if hills were part of the landscape. Downshifting a 440 in the snow in Detroit could be a bit dicey, and remember these cars were daily drivers back in the day.
Ask some of the PA folks here if they preferred a stick or auto when waiting for the light to change on a steep hill when the weather was bad. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif
Has anybody not had to replace the clutch more often if they lived in San Francisco? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif
Both stick and autos have things that drivers like, as mentioned. Guess it's whatever you get used to.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

I have a richmond 6 speed in my 67 Chvelle SS and it likes to sing to ya! Four speeds are cool but a 6 speed is awsome!


Bobby Dodson https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Resale wise, would suspect 4spd to be more popular than auto in most cases. Fist full 'o radio buttons recalls fond memory or two.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

For some reason the 4-Speed seems to be the transmission of choice in the 70 Z cars.
If you wanted a 1970 Camaro SS/L78 your transmission choices were a 4-Speed or a 4-Speed…
Automatic NOT Available.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

You sure the automatic was not available with the L78? I know it was first available in 1969 except for a handful of COPO 1968 Novas . . .

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

Not on a 1970 L78 Camaro, I brought a 70 L78 that was originally a 4 speed that
someone had put in a TH400 and the car ran Great with it. I am not sure why GM
chose to install 4-speeds only. Someone in CA claims to have an original L78 with
an M-40 but the owner will not let us authenticate the car.

Re: Automatic vs. Stick (value)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Starting in 1967, with the advent of TH400, this changed, but all the hi-po cars (HO and Ram Air) were rarer with autos by a pretty decent margin.

[/ QUOTE ]
I have a 67 GTO, 400 HO/Auto. ~4000 of them, but there were close to 10,000 HO/sticks. While I don't subscribe to the rarer is better mentality, this one's a keeper - well optioned, has a color combo I like, and the <u>Hurst Dual Gate</u> makes it a little more interesting... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif