<VV> Re: hand controls and stick shift

[Bill Elliott]

My former AC Acedes was designed and build as an all hand-control 
vehicle (by the British National Health Service who issued them to 
people who needed them). It was a four speed manual (and four reverse 
gears as well since for reverse you simply restarted the 2 stroke engine 
backwards). In fact, it was designed to operate the majority of controls 
with one hand (the right hand only used to shift gears, operate signals, 
etc).

The control was a single motorcycle type handlebar. Push forward to turn 
right, pull back for left, push down for brakes. The throttle was a 
motorcycle type twist grip with the same hand operating a motorcycle 
type lever for the clutch. I never got my frozen engine rebuilt, but I'm 
sure it would have been a handful (literally) to drive in traffic... but 
they were in use for a few decades in a similar configuration.

http://fnader.com/ACAceces_in.JPG

(To the right are the gear shift, parking brake, and reversing lever)

With modern electronics and solenoids, I'd think something similar could 
be worked up for a conventional manual shift car...

Bill



ScottyGrover at aol.com wrote:

> 
>In a message dated 7/5/2007 7:30:01 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
>hmlinc at sbcglobal.net writes:
>
>Scotty,  I'm not quite sure how you would build hand controls for  a stick 
>shift car.  Let's see, one hand for the clutch, one hand for  the shifter, 
>one hand for the throttle or brake, one hand for  steering.  I think you'd 
>have to train an octopus.
>
>Later,  JR
>
>  
>