Dog leg gearbox

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A dog leg gearbox is an unusual manual transmission layout, an up-over-up shift between first and second gear resembling the hind leg of a dog.

Typical 5-speed layout:Manual Layout.svg5-speed Dog leg layout:Manual Dogleg.svg

Dog leg layout gearboxes are usually found on performance automobiles because in road racing it is rare to shift into first gear other than for the initial start or exiting a pit lane. This layout is also typical of 9 and 10 speed heavy truck transmissions. In the case of a 10 speed transmission, the gears are 1-5 in the low range and 6-10 in the high range (the 1 position is not used in the high range of a 9 speed transmission).

Notable street cars to feature the dog leg layout are the BMW M535 and (Non-US) M3 E30, BMW 2002 Tii and Turbo, Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16, Ferrari 308 (Magnum), Porsche 914, early 911, 924 Turbo (all featuring Getrag gearboxes) Porsche 928, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, Vauxhall Firenza HPF the Lamborghini Miura and the Maserati Biturbo. A non-performance car to feature such a shift pattern is the Subaru 360. Also: Datsun 160J Hardtop SSS. A dog leg transmission has also been seen in odd places such as a 1980 Datsun 210 Wagon built during the 210/310 crossover or a Citroën 2CV.

Many Datsun/Nissan 200SX models utilized the dogleg shift pattern. The Transmission used in the American 200sx (not to be confused with European or Japanese 200sx, which are completely different) is a popular swap for the 1968-1973 Datsun 510 (which came with a borg warner 3 spd auto or a 4spd manual w/ no overdrive.) as it bolts in only needing a modified cross member mounting.

The mid 70's Oldsmobile Cutlass with the 260 V8 had an optional 5 speed transmission that utilized the dog leg shift pattern.