I am the proud owner of a 1954 Daimler Roadster with a Wilson preselector gearbox. I am wondering if it is possible to fit an overdrive to the car. At present when I am doing 70mph I am doing over 3,000rpm - much to high!
It's funny how our opinions have changed with modern motoring comparisons.
When the car was new, the chances are that it hardly saw the need for an overdrive. Modern driving tends to see loads of motorway type roads which seem endless if cars rev highly. And yet we all moan that it is impossible to drive anywhere without being held up due to overcrowded roads.
I can understand the wish though for lower revs. I have a Honda S2000 which sits at nearly 4000rpm when cruising at motorway speeds. It does rev out to 9000 rpm though. I also have a V6 Audi which cruises at 40mph per 1000rpm in 8th gear. The Audi is the preferred vehicle for distance.
I think these cars were not meant to cruise along at 70mph, they were not Sports Cars.
The brother of the first owner of the New Drop Head Coupe that I owned told me that "It was a Gentleman's Cruiser which purred along at 50 to 60 effortlessly" .
I think this is the speed that they should be driven at.
There again 3000 rpm doesn't sound particularly arduous for a straight six.