Yup.
CAR LIFE, September, 1964, page 66
"Chrysler abandons its push-button automatic transmission selector after
nearly 10 years. It was highly popular for some years, but it ran its
course. There are at least 10 reasons why it was dropped.
"But perhaps the most important was the human habit factor. Buyers
switching from a GM or Ford product, while originally intrigued by the
push-buttons, found them a bit inconvenient. Some drivers, used to the old
steering column lever, would forget themselves and push heater buttons due
to right-hand habit. Too, in recent years the selector buttons were placed
so close together that some drivers would accidentally hit the wrong button.
"Driver training schools and rental and leasing agencies also started to
show some reluctance toward the cars. "Why shouldn't they, when 85% of the
cars on the road have steering column shift levers," says one Chrysler
staffer. "And that's what most people have been accustomed to, so we had to
get back into the swim of things." Push-buttons were an excellent selling
point for a long time, but no longer - even in this push-button era."
POPULAR SCIENCE, October, 1964, "What's New at the Chrysler Corporation",
pages 86-89
On page 87 -
"Pushbutton controls for the Torqueflite automatic transmission have been
dropped from all Chrysler products. The usual column-mounted selector
lever now does the job. Reason : Surveys show that although owners of
Chrysler-built products liked the pushbuttons, most of the owners of
competitive cars claimed they would not buy a car with pushbuttons."
Note absolutely no mention of any government rules or regulations. And for
one simple reason - there were none in 1965.
POPULAR MECHANICS did an owners' report on the new 1965 Plymouth Fury for
the August, 1965, issue. Under "Least-liked Interior Features", 3.5%
mentioned "No pushbuttons" (#4 on the list). Under "Most-desired Changes"
came "Restore transmission buttons" at 4.6% (#2 on the list). Given the
miniscule numbers in favour of the buttons, it seems Chrysler may have done
their homework.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eastern Sierra Adjustment Services" <esierraadj@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 12:48 PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Pushing my buttons !
Dave/Bill/List, the "answer" (or, maybe just the official-party-line) on
the elimination of
our beloved pushbuttons will probably be found, published in one, or more,
of the automotive
enthusiast magazines of 1964, on one of their "News From Detroit"
front-pages.
Neil Vedder
Dave Homstad wrote:
Bill,
The Gov't wanted the shifting mechanism to operate like all the others.
Some people were making mistakes with unfamiliar mechanisms and patterns,
causing accidents or damage to the drive train.
Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500
---- Bill Amberger <Magnumguy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I was told/heard that the Gov't. told Chrysler to make their cars
operate like all others, so no pushbuttons. But, weren't pushbuttons
used on the heater controls w/o complaint?
Bill The Magnumguy
Romans 8:28-29
http://www.mopowerstyle.net
Chapel & Magnum/Cordoba Forums
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Runkel To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, June
05, 2008 9:06 PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Push Button Tranny
Does anyone know the REAL reason Chrysler stopped using the pushbutton
trans controls after the 1964 model year? Some people have told me it
was because they wanted to be more conventional to the public. Others
have even said there too many complaints from women breaking their nails
when trying to push the buttons.
I'm hoping to hear from people who were employed by Chrysler or Ross
Roy in that era that were in a position to KNOW the reason(s).
Thanks,
Gary Runkel
Canton, MI
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