The letter E on the gearbox of old cars: here’s what it meant and what it was used for

the gearbox generally stood for “Economy”, a term used to identify a particularly long gear ratio designed for travelling while consuming less fuel.

This solution was found especially on some European cars between the 1970s and 1980s. In certain models, the E practically replaced the normal numerical indication of the last gear.

The principle was simple: once a suitable speed was reached, the driver would engage Economy gear to allow the engine to work at a lower rev number .

How the Economy Gear Worked
E gear had a long ratio,