1938 LaSalle Production - GM Heritage Center

Starting the Car
Skillful driving includes the ability to coordinate the
operation of the gear-shift lever, clutch and accelerator in a
way that will start the car in motion and take it through the
gear changes without jerk or jar. The smoothly acting clutch
and Synchro-Mesh transmission with which the LaSalle car
is equipped provide the best kind of assistance for these
operations. The following principles of gear shifting will
enable you to check up on your own driving habits.
Normally a car should be started in low gear. It will
move off more smoothly and pick up speed more quickly
and—with the Synchro-Mesh transmission—the shift into
second can be easily and quietly made.
Note: Gear clash when shifting into low is caused
either by not pushing the clutch pedal all the way down
or by not waiting 2 or 3 seconds to allow the gears to
stop spinning.
The shift into second can be made as soon as the car
has gained enough momentum to travel 5 or more miles
per hour. The shift into high can be made at any speed
above 15 miles per hour.
In moving the gear shift lever of a Syncro-MesK transmission,
never jerk the lever. Always move it with a
steady deliberate motion to permit the synchronizing
mechanism to function.
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