This is a pretty interesting compilation of manual transmission "take" rates from the late 50s through the 1960s. Olds full size was running about 0.5%.

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/auto...-transmission/

 

Very interesting, Joe. Thanks for the link. That Curbside Classics site has all kinds of interesting tidbits.

 

That was a good article. One of the things Gear Vendors does, in addition to offering their product, is to keep the awareness alive that overdrives were originally separate units, engagable in all gears, and offered some nice driving modes.

AMC did something interesting with the Eagle. You could get 4x4 or overdrive, but not both, as the units sat in the same spot.