Why do these cars start in 2nd Gear?

[Paul99]

I have always wondered why these cars start off in 2nd gear, (unless you select 1st). Seems a strange thing, just of cars of this era i guess, but cant see the logic of it.   We also have an old American car of the same era (1955) and that has a 3 speed Auto box, and again always starts in 2nd gear unless you select 1st.

That is even stranger as it effectively has only 2 forward gears (slow and not so slow!)

Just wondered if anyone knows the logic of why a few manufactures thought missing first gear was a good idea.

[thelews]

because 1st gear is used for pulling stumps

[Mike Hughes]

Starting out in 2nd is not just limited to M-B vehicles built in the era of fluid coupling auto-boxes.  My W124 300D also takes off normally in 2nd.  Like my Pagoda, it will take off in 1st if the accelerator pedal is floored but, face it, how often is it really necessary to floor the accelerator when pulling away from rest?  Quite apart from generating sharp looks and words from "she who must be obeyed" (who thought we were just going out for a nice leisurely ride) the full throttle shift from 1st to 2nd puts unnecessary stress on motor mounts, transmission mounts and flex discs.

Now, lets examine the real reason why the 1st gear is so low in relatively heavy vehicles with relatively small displacement engines:  It's about being able to move from rest on steep grades without rolling back or stalling.  In Britain, there has been a motor vehicle test on the books for over a century that prescribes that any vehicle registered in the UK must be capable of starting off in low gear on the steepest section of Ffordd Pen Lech in Harlech, Snowdonia, Wales without stalling or rolling back.  Ffordd Pen Lech is the lane up to Harlech Castle and is the steepest signed, public, sealed road in the UK, with a posted 40% grade.  (Another test prescribes that the handbrake alone must hold a vehicle in place on this same section of road.)

[stickandrudderman]

Well you learn something new every day!

[Mike Hughes]

… comes from fooling about with pre and post-war M.G.s for nearly 50 years ;^)  Such vehicle performance standards may also explain the continuing popularity of British hill climbs and "mud-plugging" trials!

[BaronYoungman]

I am only speaking from what I heard from a old Head Mercedes Mechanic from 1973-1988 at Laurel Mercedes in Westmont Illinois.  He said the reason for the 2nd gear start in the USA on the W126 models (vs 1st gear start in some European models) was to comply with the government gas mileage standards set during the Oil embargo.   The 1975 law required that each vehicle openly post its miles per gallon rating, similar to listing ingredients in food that was required by the Food and Drug Administration. The law also required manufacturers to achieve the more challenging goal of improving fuel efficiency to reduce pollution and limit dependence on foreign oil. And they did: In 1978, American autos averaged 13 miles per gallon compared to 22 mpg in other Western countries; the law set the goal at 28 mpg for new American cars by 1985, which manufacturers achieved.  No idea if this applied to earlier cars just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

[thelews]

My mother had a '71 280 SL from '72 to '89.  I drove the car a fair amount in my college years.  While I loved the car, I never liked that 2nd gear start and 1st was just geared so low.  Would chirp on the 1st to 2nd shift.  When I went on the hunt for a Pagoda many, many years later, I vowed only to have a stick.  And I do.  It solved my issue.

[Paul99]

Interesting comments! Many thanks for the info.     Re the hill start, I live very near Brooklands Museum, which is the site of the worlds first Motor racing circuit. It was built by a very wealthy man in 1906.  a massive banked circuit with no crash barriers. The lap record was set by John Cobb in a Bentley-  143mph - in 1934.

Still there today is "test hill" a massively steep hill which cars had to start at the bottom, get up half way, apply handbrake and set off again.  If they couldn't, they were not allowed to race!  I have driven it in the pagoda - but without the midway stop. Perhaps that's where the car tests started.

 https://heritagecalling.com/2017/07/06/10-winning-facts-about-brooklands-motor-racing-circuit/

[Mike Hughes]

I had my M.G. TF on a section of the banking and the test hill in 1990.  They were still in the midst of restoring the Wellington back then - amazing airframe!  As you know one needs to get a really good running start in the less steep section near the bottom ( 1:8 ) to make it to the top with any degree of decorum.  I'll leave to the professionals coming to a stop and restarting anywhere from the middle section on. The steepest section at the top of the test hill is 1:4.  The steepest section of Ffordd Pen Lech is 1:2.73.  No wonder these days it is one way downhill only for most of its length!

[Tom in seattle]

In my working years I had occasion to travel to Germany during the early '70s. It was common that our company had a Audi turbo sedan driven by a chauffeur.  At every stop it was the driver's custom to drop the pedal to the floor and we would shoot off like a rocket.  I noticed that other drivers of powerful cars did the same.  I'm just wondering if part of the reason the 1st gear was geared so low was to satisfy the need of the local lead foots.  Probably also explains autobahn speeds and the one accident I saw where multiple cars were cartwheeling in the air simultaneously.

[UJJ]

I have to agree with thelews' comments. I have driven all W113 with auto trans and manual 5 speed and 4 speed trans.
The best option is certainly the 5 speed, however, I do not want to spent that much on this issue.
My current solution is a manual 4 speed with the 3.27 rear diff. and I am quite happy with that. This way the 1. gear is really usable and the take off is quite fine especially if you rev it higher.
Urban

[wwheeler]

I use the first gear to get into my garage. There is a small incline and the first gear allows the car to creep in at idle by itself. If in second gear, you have to goose it a bit and with the tight space, is a little nerve wracking. Still, I'd rather have a "normal" 4 speed auto. Or better yet, a stick.....

[TEJOLX47]

Hi Paul99,

I am no engineer, but would guess that being able to start in 2nd gear depends mostly on the gear ratio of that same gear.
If the the gear ratio is enough, then it will be able to displace the car.
I was looking for the standard gear rations on the W113 but i couldn't find them. Will keep looking for them as your question is obvious and interesting.
Cheers
Francisco