That’s what ours was like
WE just need ‘our hero’ to chime in with his thoughts and opinions re manual/auto boxes…he’ll put us right, he knows everything. 
Likewise, I wouldn’t have a manual car.
A little story:- 20+ years ago I bought a manual Jaguar X type, I didn’t have it for long, it had to go basically because I couldn’t handle the clutch…ME, an experienced ‘knight of the road’… Mrs GOM could use it, no problem, but I’m ashamed to say that I kept stalling the damn thing. 
The saying in times past was “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going”. These days it’s “If its Boeing I ain’t going”. I can only speak for myself but on long-haul, give me an A380 over any 777.
But what if it’s a synchromesh box? In a Volvo? 
To a large degree, it depends on what you’re driving. I’ve had a little experience with an auto box in an Iveco Stralis (couldn’t get the hang of it, but this was a decade back) and a 2651 Actros that seemed to do the job well enough.
If like me you’re driving middleweight rigids (Japanese ones) around town all day, they are all, without exception, utter rubbish. They’re all 6-sp synchro boxes for heaven’s sakes, how hard can it be to come up with something that changes gears as quickly as I can driving a manual?
When I retired in 2018 the company I drove for had about 70 artics and all had 10 speed manual boxes except 2 which had auto’s. I was only working 3 days a week and given whatever was available to use. They gave me an auto box for the first 2 days (first one I’d driven) and got used to it. The third day I was back to a manual box and leaving the RDC I came up to the gatehouse (we got told to stop calling it a guard shack) and was stopping when the truck started shaking and bouncing. I remembered to press the clutch in just before the engine stalled. 
Early last year I had cellulitis in me clutch leg just above the ankle bloody painful for a few weeks and actually grounded me for a month. Big believer in manual boxes but had my mind changed much against my will July last year so present mode of transport is a VW T6 150 bhp Auto campervan, took to it like a duck to water and it’s a brilliant drive yet still hanker after a stick changing down approaching traffic lights roundabouts, steep hills etc 
nah wouldn’t go back. I chat to older distance wagon drivers who have made the transition and they are of the same opinion.
I’ve got a 150 Touran 6 speed manual and not looking forward to probably having to replace it with something auto at some point.The thing is a lot quicker than I’d expected it to be and nice to drive, even in town just left in 3rd most of the time.In addition to the old V12 Jag converted from auto to manual.Also having had to seek rare manual options like Granada Ghia X pack 5 speed manual in the past.I really don’t like driving autos at all trucks or cars.
The human eye and brain and neuro muscular system working in harmony with a manual box and a clutch ain’t a bad combination.Also better engine braking than torque converter.
This is old school F1 non synchro Hewland type.
30.00-30.22.
Although most truck autos are just automated clutch and gearshifts not torque converter type.Torque converter Allison is a bleedin awful thing to drive.
A grand looking ‘wag and drag’. 
Triumph Herald
BMC FG
Ford Zephyr
Ford Cortina
Bedford CF
Did i get any correct?
A broken down Hillman.
BMC Farina.
Standard Atlas or Ford Thames pick-up.
Austin/Morris 1100.
Commer Cob.
Your Zephyr is a Zodiac.
The CF is a CA.
I remember both A1 and Longs, but didn’t know one did for the other, what happened there then?
Longs was a family firm which in the 70s went through a few ownerships.Ocean, McGregor Cory Albert Fishers and at one point tried to buy A One. Then A One was bought by an unsavoury chap who had already bought and taken down Barnfather (remember them) then took over A One. He then bought Longs and took the lot down.A One and Longs were old established firms in their own rights.I cant remember the blokes name but he wasn’t popular.Somebody on here will know.There’s a thread on here for A One that goes into detail.I worked with a few ex A One and Longs drivers
