That Mysterious “E” on Some Gear Sticks Had a Simple Purpose

Drivers familiar with manual transmissions usually expect to see a familiar pattern: numbered gears for forward motion and an R for reverse.

But some older vehicles had something that could look confusing at first—a gear position marked with the letter E.

So what did it mean?

In certain older manual transmissions, E was used to indicate an economy-oriented gear or setting. Rather than providing another gear for strong acceleration, it was intended to help the vehicle cruise efficiently under suitable driving conditions.

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