3-on-the-tree

3-on-the-tree

The gear shift on older makes of U.S. automobiles (especially those made between 1939 and 1970), which was located on the steering column and had three speeds. Primarily heard in US. My grandad still has his old 3-on-the-tree truck sitting in the shed. A: "What the heck am I supposed to do with this thing?" B: "Ah yes, 3-on-the-tree. You've probably never even seen something like that before." I can drive manual, but I'm definitely out of practice with 3-on-the-tree.

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