09/11/2023
In 1935, Hudson came out with the optional automatic shifting lever called the Electric Hand. This was a small column mounted vacuum powered Bendix gadget where you twisted it through a small 3-speed gate pattern. You still had to use the clutch, but the big news was the elimination of the conventional shift lever in the middle of the floor which allowed 3 across seating. Every Hudson with Electric Hand also came with a spare conventional shift lever, just in case the column mounted gadget failed. Eventually, this was replaced by what became the industry standard “3 on the tree” shifter. But the Electric Hand didn’t die just yet… Cord bought it from Bendix for its late 30’s 810/812 cars and later Tucker, which used Cord transmissions, used it on its cars too…
