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Keith’s Blog: Paddle or Duck?

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Keith Martin

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I continue pondering the Alfa Romeo 4C as a solution to my inability to drive our Lotus Elise, due to its 6-speed manual transmission.

If I trade out of our Elise and into a 4C, two things will happen. First, it will somehow cost me around $15k. I’ve learned than whenever you sell one car to buy another, you end up spending at least that much. And that’s assuming the new car needs nothing, which is never true. Second, my daughter Alex tells me she will change her name to WHERESMYLOTUS Martin until I once again buy the car back. (Yes, I have sold and bought back this very car before.)

We’ve not yet had a chance to see if I (and my rollator) will fit in the 4C. But in the meantime, another alternative has been brought to my attention.

I happened to be texting with our ace European auction reporter Paul Hardiman as he was returning from covering the €10.2m Bonhams auction in Belgium. He mentioned that he had recently seen a 1933 Invicta S-type modified with hand controls, and he wondered if a hand-controlled clutch might be an option for me.

I had been down this road once before, with a vacuum-operated system fabricated for our Junior Zagato. That turned out to be a very expensive (over $15k) and frustrating exercise, as the little engine just didn’t generate enough vacuum to work properly. In the end, we gave up, removed the automated clutch system, and sold the Junior Z back to its former owner, SCMer Gordy Hyde. He was delighted to have the car again.

I mentioned the hand-controlled clutch idea to SCMer Brad Miller, as well as SCM Webmaster Michael Cottam, and soon enough the pot began to boil.

Enter the “Duck clutch.”  According to the manufacturer, this device electronically operates the clutch from a hand control on the gear lever, eliminating the need to use a pedal. Estimated installation time is between eight and nine hours.

I’ve found web references to one of these being installed on an MGA and MGB, which both have hydraulic clutch linkages. So does our 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 Mk III.

Our fear-no-challenges guru Chip Starr at Race Car Resurrections says he looks forward to the project.

In the meantime, if any of you have used a Duck clutch or know where to source the units, please drop me a line at keith.martin@sportscarmarket.com.

Also let me know your thoughts about being able to manually shift our Healey as an alternative to getting a 4C. I look forward to reading your comments below.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
Something’s missing here
Wait now it’s found
The Healey with friends
Paddles or duck clutch
Automatic 3-speed meets manual 6-speed

Read my previous blog posts here.

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18 responses to “Keith’s Blog: Paddle or Duck?”

  1. bubblecar Avatar
    bubblecar

    I would do just about anything to keep MY daughter happy.

    (Plus, that Healey is one hell of a car!)

    .

    Reply
    1. Keith Martin Avatar
      Keith Martin

      Thanks for the kind words. I know this is a first-world problem. And I’m lucky to have it! I’m focusing on the Healey right now as my son is eager to drive in it with me to the Healey National Convention next year in Tahoe. I’ve decided I won’t sell the Lotus, even though I can’t drive it (I can’t drive the Healey either). At this stage in my life my pleasure is vicarious and comes from watching the smiles on the faces of my kids as they enjoy the cars.

      Reply
      1. bubblecar Avatar
        bubblecar

        Wisdom comes with age, doesn’t it, Keith?
        Your kids are lucky to have you as their parent. Enjoy their smiles!

        Reply
  2. Bob Bigler Avatar
    Bob Bigler

    I’d go with the 4C. Another option would be a Ferrari Mondial with Valeo automated clutch. Love your magazine. All the best.

    Reply
    1. Keith Martin Avatar
      Keith Martin

      I have heard about the Valeo, but I worry who would every be able to service it in Portland, OR.

      Reply
  3. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    I’ve owned both a Healey 3000 and a 4C. The Healey is a 50+ year old GT, The 4C a modern mini Scuderia.
    Go for the 4C. It’s similar to the Elise and if your daughter drives it, she’ll love it.

    Reply
  4. Scott Crater Avatar
    Scott Crater

    I am still going to endorse the Alfa 4C.
    I drove mine last night since the humidity in South Florida had broken. The top was off and it was absolutely wonderful.
    Razor-sharp steering without power assist.
    And this model has proven to be extremely reliable. So you won’t have to spend $15,000 getting it ready.

    Reply
  5. Bob Banks Avatar
    Bob Banks

    Ever think about an automatic transmission conversion for the Healey? I know, it would not be the same as shifting a manual, but you could drive it easily and retain the original trans for when you sell it, as the conversion would be reversible. I have been quite involved in the C4 (’90-’95) ZR-1 world over the years and we have a number of owners who have adapted automatics to their otherwise 6-speed ZR-1s with considerable satisfaction. There is some discussion on Healey forums about an automatic conversion and a couple years ago one participant noted the following:
    “…the auto box compatible with the Healey is the Borg Warner type 35 that was used on the Austin Westminster A110/ Wolseley 6/110 and many other smaller (by US standards) engines. Reconditioned versions are available in the UK. As the box originated in the US and was used on various sub 200cu in / 140hp cars such as Rambler and Studebaker it seems probable one could be found State side”. Anyway just a thought. I would think that an Alfa 4C would be a bit difficult to get in and out of–at least I know it would be for me–and I did love my ’67 Healey 3000 so I am a bit biased. –Bob

    Reply
    1. Keith Martin Avatar
      Keith Martin

      Thanks. I would rather leave the Healey as it is and just watch my son drive it. It’s too special. I’m coming to grips with the fact that there are just some cars I will never drive again. But I put 10,000 fabulous miles on the Lotus and I will always have those memories.

      Reply
  6. mark berger Avatar
    mark berger

    Another vote for the 4C . Your daughter will fall in love with it and ultimately get over her Lotus affair. And, …If she doesn’t… you will gently remind her of all the wonderful things you have done for her over the years . Then encourage her to buy one for herself if she does not take it well. It’s the messenger who will need to use proper phrasing with much love. Good Luck!

    Reply
  7. Don Peterson Avatar
    Don Peterson

    As an indirect encouragement…

    A little over 20 years ago I was part of the US Advanced Aerobatic team. There was a World Championship flown every other year. Most of our team had… independent… sources of money. I was self-funded. So, where my teammates would ship their planes in the belly of an aircraft I would find someone in Europe with the same type as mine and arrange a rental.

    One year I connected with an Englishman who had a Czech single-seat plane same as mine. He was paraplegic.

    He would strap his floppy useless legs to the floor and bolt a simple-but-complicated mechanism on the inside of the left wall.

    Right hand would operate the control stick for elevator and ailerons, plus a squeezy grip on top for brakes.

    His left hand would operate throttle and rudders. The plane used a tail wheel, known to demand keen skills to keep straight on the runway.

    The sport would involve all sorts of aerobatic maneuvers, up to around 250 mph, down to 600 feet above ground, and gee loadings up to +9 and -6.

    I fail to see how one innovative control, not requiring extreme maneuvers, should be insurmountable.

    Practice, practice, practice.

    Reply
  8. Bob FitzSimons Avatar
    Bob FitzSimons

    As they say,
    This is about much more than the clutch.

    Owning the Healey (or the Elise) and not being able to drive it is surely a major frustration.
    But the predator must hunt regularly. I sense you may not be quite reconciled to the reduced size of your fleet. And I wonder if you might not be ready for a new approach. Many of us have learned again and again by purchasing cars. Might we all evolve a little and set a course of borrowing or renting or otherwise using cars for a month without buying them?

    By all means, fit a clutch to the Healey. It will be more complicated and more expensive than you think. If not, HURRAH! If so, well, you kind of expected it to be, anyway…And no, don’t sell off the Elise. But why not figure a way to divide that $15K “turnaround cost” into 5 bites of $3000 (or 4 bites of $4000, if you must) and pay someone to let you spend 30 days with some likely candidates. Speed dating for cars.

    Reply
  9. David Peterson Avatar
    David Peterson

    Keith I have watched your “empire” surreptitiously for over forty years now, so I hope you will take this comment in the spirit it is given. Surrendering to advancing age is never the desired result. It is, however, the most dignified and honorable. My next will be my 74th, and until I was diagnosed I used to tell myself I was no different than 30 the year old me. I will salute you and your accomplishments whatever road you choose.

    Reply
  10. Leslie A Roberts Avatar
    Leslie A Roberts

    Alex should buy the Elise and keep it forever! Problem solved. (Always happy to help.)

    Reply
  11. Peter Moore Avatar
    Peter Moore

    Keep the Elise so as not to piss off Alex, she will haunt your dreams. Throw caution to the winds and buy the Invicta that Paul told you about, they’re sweet.

    Reply
  12. David Thum Avatar
    David Thum

    I love your magazine and am also a long time Alfa owner (all GTVs). The simple answer to your 4C dilemma is to try to get in or out of one. At a local car show a 4C owner graciously allowed me to sit in his car. The embarrassing experience of ingress and literally crawling out of the car on my hands and knees was enough to for me to admire the car, but love my GTV even more

    Reply
  13. Mike Storm Avatar
    Mike Storm

    I saw a 240Z that had a (it was stated to be) motorcycle clutch lever on the shifter, using the stock clutch master cyl to work the clutch. I didn’t get a chance to examine the linkage, but the driver was missing his left leg from the knee down. The operation appeared and sounded to work pretty good.

    Reply
  14. me Avatar
    me

    Keith, given you and I both date cars for a while (vs. marrying them!), I’d put some time into seeing what the effort is to extract the Duck Clutch gear from one car and put it in another at some point in the future. If it’s not too onerous/expensive a job, then a one-time investment in that kit might enable you to enjoy a bunch more interesting cars over the next decade or two.

    Reply

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