Today, many younger drivers grew up with:
- Touchscreen dashboards
- Digital displays
- Fully computerized transmissions
So discovering mysterious letters on old gear selectors feels almost like uncovering forgotten technology from another world.
Social media has made this even more common.
Photos of unusual dashboards regularly go viral online, with thousands of people trying to solve these small automotive mysteries together.
Final Thoughts
What makes the old “E” gear so fascinating is that it represents a forgotten moment in automotive history.
It reminds us that every generation of vehicles reflects the concerns of its time.
In the 1970s and 1980s, fuel efficiency became a major priority —
and engineers responded with creative mechanical solutions long before modern computers took
over.
That tiny “E” on an old gear selector may look insignificant today,
but it was once considered smart technology.
And now, decades later, a whole new generation is rediscovering it with curiosity and surprise.
Not electric.
Not emergency.
Just:
Economy.
A small mechanical attempt to save a little fuel, one gear shift at a time.
