what cars had push button transmissions

[OCharlie]

Several cars have featured push-button transmissions, most famously certain Chrysler Corporation models from the late 1950s and early 1960s, like the Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler. This system, often called Push-button TorqueFlite, replaced the traditional floor or column shifter with a dashboard-mounted panel of buttons for selecting gears like Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and Low. While it faded from mainstream use by the mid-60s, the concept has seen a major resurgence in modern vehicles, primarily with electronic rotary dials or buttons for gear selection, found in brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Chrysler Pacifica.

The original Chrysler system was an electro-mechanical unit. Pressing a button on the dashboard sent an electrical signal to a transmission solenoid, which then engaged the corresponding gear. It was marketed as a space-saving and futuristic feature. However, reliability concerns with the complex wiring and solenoids of the era, coupled with driver familiarity with mechanical levers, led to its discontinuation.

Today's systems are fully electronic and far more reliable. They are part of shift-by-wire technology, where there is no direct mechanical linkage between the selector and the transmission. This allows for innovative interior designs and advanced safety features, like the transmission automatically shifting to Park if the driver's door is opened while the vehicle is stationary.

Era	Brand/Model Examples	Transmission Type	Selector Design
1956-1964	Chrysler Imperial	3-speed TorqueFlite Automatic	Vertical row of buttons on dashboard
1956-1965	Plymouth Fury	3-speed PowerFlite/TorqueFlite	Horizontal row of buttons on dashboard
1956-1961	DeSoto Fireflite	3-speed TorqueFlite Automatic	Push-button panel on dashboard
1958-1959	Edsel Citation	Teletouch Push-button Automatic	Buttons mounted in steering wheel hub
2000s-Present	Jaguar XF	8-speed ZF Automatic	Rotary dial that rises from center console
2010s-Present	Lincoln MKC/Corsair	8-speed Automatic	Piano-key style buttons on dashboard
2017-Present	Chrysler Pacifica	9-speed Automatic	Rotary dial on dashboard
2010s-Present	Land Rover/Range Rover	8-speed ZF Automatic	Rotary dial that rises from console

[ONicole]

My dad’s old ‘59 Plymouth had them—a little row of buttons right there on the dash left of the steering wheel. It felt like driving a spaceship compared to the column shift in our other car. You’d just poke a button for Drive or Reverse. It was slick, but I remember him grumbling about it once when a button stuck. They were definitely a cool, futuristic idea for their time, but I guess the good old-fashioned lever just won out in the end for being simpler.

[JohnLee]

The push-button transmission was a signature innovation for Chrysler in the late '50s. It wasn't just one car; it was across their lineup. Think Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler models from about 1956 to 1965. The buttons were typically mounted on the dashboard. This design was meant to free up floor space and create a more modern, uncluttered cockpit. While innovative, the technology of the era wasn't as robust as today's electronic shifters, leading to its phase-out.

[QuinnFitz]

From a purely technical standpoint, those old push-button transmissions were an early form of shift-by-wire. The dashboard button completed an electrical circuit that activated a solenoid in the transmission. The most common units were Chrysler's PowerFlite and TorqueFlite automatics. It's a fascinating piece of automotive history that directly parallels the electronic gear selectors we see in modern cars from brands like Jaguar and Lincoln, proving the idea was simply ahead of its time.

[VanEliza]

If you're looking at modern cars with button shifters, check out current Lincolns like the Aviator or Corsair—they use elegant, piano-key-style buttons on the dashboard. The Chrysler Pacifica minivan uses a rotary dial. This modern approach is more reliable and integrates with safety systems. It's a clean look that maximizes interior space. The classic examples are collectible, but for daily driving, today's electronic versions are the way to go.