Old car with a modern gearbox - what would you choose?

[devnull]

Following on from Chris Harris's statment about the skin and rice pudding gearbox of the legendary AMG hammer last week, it got me thinking how cool it would be to have a modern AMG gearbox mated to the original motor. Pretty sure it could be done if enough money was thrown at it!

Would you do the same, and what would be your engine and 'box of choice?

[Asterix]

Interesting idea but for many of the great older engines a modern box would detract from the experience I think.

There were some awesome engines mated to 3 speed autos but it made sense becauue the engine was tuned in such away to make the best of the box. Stick an 8 speed Lexus auto on it and it would be a mess.

[Ozzie Osmond]

This is very true. In a modern auto the engine and gearbox are talking to each other all the time,

• the engine telling the gearbox how much power the driver has requested and the gearbox replying with an appropriate torque management strategy, or

• the gearbox detecting a hill (for instance on cruise control) and asking the engine for more torque.

[In reality it's all one combined system]

Having said all that, a modern auto box would surely improve pretty much any old automatic car. And many old cars would be enhanced by a modern multi-gear manual. I think it's quite common to fit more modern manual boxes in old American muscle cars so that they cruise better on the motorway.

[rossub]

Classic Impreza with the 6 speed from the 01- STI. 600 bhp capable box