This historic transmission layout places the gear selector on the steering column rather than the floor. The shift pattern typically puts reverse up and toward the driver, first down and toward the driver, second up and away, and third down and away. It was designed to free up floor space so three passengers could sit comfortably on a front bench seat.
Heard on the job
My grandpa's old Chevy pickup has a three-on-the-tree, and the linkage always binds up if you rush the shift into second.
Do not mix it up with
- Four-on-the-floor: Three-on-the-tree is a column-mounted shifter, while four-on-the-floor mounts the shifter directly to the floorpan.