transmission gear ratios

[springerpete]

I have often wondered about the ratio between 1st and 2nd gear. They seem to me to be quite close. Often it is possible to start the car moving in 2nd gear. However, the ration between 2nd and 3rd/high is not at all close. My question is why did the Ford folks design the transmission with these ratios ? Thanks for your thoughts. Bill

 

[old ugly]

my guess is 1st gear is just to get the car rolling. once in 2nd gear, engine torque will go from there.
or
for driving slow on ruff 1920s roads. if you drive into a bumpy field for a car show you cant drive in there in 2nd gear you will get whiplash from all the bouncing. maybe ford had the bad back country roads in mind when it was designed.

if the ****** shifted from 1st to 2nd rite after the car starts to move, it shifts nicer than if the car is moving faster.
maybe if the 1st and 2nd gear were faster ratios it would be harder to make that shift.

just my guess. i don't know enough about it.

 

[PC/SR]

My recollection is that 1st is 3.12 and second is 1.85.