Here, I'll help ya out. A trans brake hold the transmission in both 1st and Reverse at the same time. Then you can get the revs up, and when the tree lights up, take your finger off the button, and it releases reverse, so you take off in first.

 

All you guys that want a automatic, order a 2011 Roush with an automatic and a supercharger. Problem solved.
http://store.roushperformance.com/detail.aspx?ID=1555

 

Too bad the original 67, 68, 69, and 70 all had the ability to come with automatic transmissions...

 

The thing is that was 40 years ago when the majority of cars have V8s in them and the transmissions used weighed as much as many engines do now. A 428 CJ engine was rated at 335 HP which is less than the 355 HP 3.5L Ecoboost engine in today's Ford Flex. On top of that the 428 was a PITA to set up and had very little reliability and sure didn't get 21MPG.

We tend to look back nostalgically at those times (I do as well) but realistically very few vehicles back then pushed 550HP out of the box like the Shelby does and companies like Ford can't justify the expense in this day and age developing an automatic transmission for a niche vehicle that would have the reliability we expect from today's cars.

 

Who said Ford has to make it?

 

Ford Motor Company should be investing in such an automatic transmission now as they will need it to remain competitive within the next few years.

 

You're off the mark on a few facts. Having owned a 1969 Mach I 428 CJ 4spd car for 13 yrs I can tell you that the 428 CJ in mine was very reliable and had over 100,000 miles on the odometer (original unrebuilt engine, trans and dif) before a rock through my radiator on the highway caused it to overheat and spin a rod bearing. Tuning was a breeze as the 735 cfm Holley is easy enough for a 5 yr old to rebuild. I swapped out the distributor for an electronic ignition model out of a 390 pick-up truck and had it recurved. The 335 hp rating was grossly underrated and don't forget the 440 ftlbs of torque. The 428 CJ's actual power is more like 400 and could easily destroy a 3.5 ecoboost.
My 1969 Mach I weighed 350 lbs less than my 2010 GT500 and my GT500 gets about 12 mpg in town, almost identical to my 428 CJ.
That said my GT500 is much more comfortable,faster, safer and easier to drive than my old 428 CJ car.
I still prefer old school manual transmissions but there is no denying that the modern performance dual clutch automatic can do the job better and if Ford does not want to lose sales in this market they need to eventually offer a kick *** hi-po automatic trans.