@GaryPoole: I grew up in the 1970s and learned to drive in the early 1980s. Automatics cost more and were not then standard in cars. So I grew up learning to drive in a 1970 Cheyenne pickup and a 1980 Chevette. Truck was R-1-2-3, and the Chevette was a R-1-2-3-4, both sticks. Truck's was on the steering column, and Chevette's was between the seats. My uncle gave me his 1979 loaded T-Bird when I went to college, and that was my first automatic.