<VV> auto trivia question including CORVAIR

[kenpepke at juno.com]

In the days before the Model T there were rear engine cars (60 years
before the Corvair) that had no differential ... they were chain driven by
a sprocket on the rear wheel.  By the time Henry got around to the T
the live axle 'third member' had been introduced.

So if your Corvair is not a 2 speed PG then it must be a 3 speed or a 4 speed.
Why do we refer to the number of 'speeds' when speaking of transmissions?

Ken Pepke
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Well I finally got my answer to the question "Why are removable differential
center sections called "third members?"

 
The answer didn't come from VV and I really had to dig into google and
wikipedia to find it, but here it is:

 
Early (We're talking Model T here) Fords had three-piece rear axles, a left
axle tube, a right axle tube, and the center section was. the third member!
Today the term still refers to a separate casting that includes the
differential gear set.

 
And now we know the rest of the story!

Craig (I can sleep now) Nicol