When you arrive at Point-Mort (read UPDATE!)

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From the 1930’s on many luxury, sports- and racing cars came equipped with a preselector gearbox. Riley, Talbot-Lago, Invicta and Lagonda used Wilson or ENV; others like Délage or Delahaye preferred Cotal. The principle of these transmissions is simple and helps to achieve a relaxed driving style with quick gear-changes: first select your next gear with a small lever; then press a pedal after which your chosen gear will engage. As this works the opposite of present-day transmissions, many preselector gearboxes break down due to maltreatment. But the most frequent failure is lack of maintenance or using the wrong oil. When your pre-selector has reached a dead-end, why not consider a complete rebuilt by Oldtimer Rehberger in Germany? They specialise in this sort of repairs and will be able to recondition your own preselector or they can supply you with one in part-exchange.

Update by Dick Trenk: "In 1962-63 I was helping restore a Talbot-Lago 4.5 Lt. GP car which had been driven by Pierre Levegh. This had a Wilson pre-selector gear box and the car owner warned me that misuse of the clutch pedal could result in a stong violent kick back of the pedal. He was on crutches with left leg in a cast as a result of not following his own advice. I often wondered if this may have had some influence on the discontinuation of these types of gear boxes?"

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