I drove a '65 220S with 4 speed standard tranny and a '73 280 4.5.
It is amazing how much this model evolved in just a few years!
The 220S was nice, but it was too early for me to buy something. The '73 was a total project, so I decided to look for something better.

I have a question about the automatic transmissions. Have I observed correctly that V8 cars have a 3 speed auto, and 6 cyl cars have a 4 speed auto? Any rhyme or reason on where the shifter is, floor or column? I've seen 4.5s both ways.
I've also seen auto tranny floor shifters with a reversed pattern, P is all the way back. Any reason for this?

Are the auto transmissions generally reliable and long lived?

What mileage do these cars get, both 6 cyl and V8?
Thanks,

Csaba