1971mach1

It's funny, most of the power options then are standard even on basic cars now.
I guess they found out it was cheeper to make them all the same with different trim levels.

The base model prices attracted people to the dealers and options were a way to make more money. Who realy wanted a stripped car with no power options and a column shifter 3 speed manual?
Even on Cadillacs an auto trans was an extra charge option. It would have been funny to order one with a manual "3-on-the-tree".

MustangFTW

its kinda funny how automatic tranny was an option back then and nowadays stick is an option, it also costs more.

1971mach1

It's hard to even find sticks anymore, now mostly just in some sports cars.
Everyone wants an auto or those silly paddle shifters.
I guess it's too hard to also operate the cell phone, GPS, Ipad, etc.

andrewmp6

the auto trans came out in the 50s and was marketed to women drivers.A stick was cheaper back then when you sold mostly sticks now its backwards everything is auto.Also for a cup holder they sell a stick in one that goes in the ashtray hole but they only hold a coke can nothing bigger.I use a cheap auto zone plastic cup holder that sits on my trans tunnel.

2+2GT

It's a matter of volume. The 3-speed manual was called the 'standard' transmission for decades, because that's what it was, standard equipment. It was cheaper to make than a complex automatic transmission. Years later, automatics became so popular the price began to even out, due to the very high volume of autos.

The crank-up windows were dropped from the Mustang when Ford saw that so many were ordered with power, and so few with cranks, the price to make them was about the same, and tilting in favor of the power.