Pre selector on Goggo and Spatz was a fully functioning gear selection system. You selected a gear, engaged and then selected the next gear required on a switch. Thus loaded, the system would do the gear change in relation to the clutch pedal. An early productionised system of the now much vaunted paddle gear box from Hans Glas - who pioneered the rubber cam belt. The man was an engineering hero.
So the one thing they did not have was automatic clutch. I do not know about the Spatz, which had five speeds, but the Goggo had one of the best manual gear changes of a car I have ever driven. Certainly most rear engine cars would dream of such a change. So why they bothered with the complication, I do not know. Its is alleged that it was to help disabled servicemen to drive them, but you need all limbs still, so I find that hard to believe. I prefer the manual, which is that good you can make clutch-less gear-changes once you have learned the box and engine speeds. For a 400cc it thus will out accelerate a lot of big hitters up to about 40 mph. Heb used to have burn ups with his twin Amal tuned Dart where he would out drag a V8 Holden or whatever, handbrake turn and wave at them going the other way. Try that in a Tiger!
The Smiths system is an automatic clutch. It used activated iron particles through which an electric current was applied to gradually create a solid magnet. The problem was continual slipping of the clutch, or mal-adjustment of the unit, meant the iron particles wore into rounded shapes and then had less grip on each other.
Both systems relied on contact sets and switches. Any of which could get fouled, burned or fail. It was another thing to go wrong.
Yet Goggo managed to supply perhaps half its 400cc models with the pre-selector, offering it as an optional extra in many cases. I have evidence of only one total failure, A destroyed gear set from the Great Bradley hoard. The switch gear tends to be the weakness though the ball bearings used to lock the gears have been known to wear with the activating rods. The entire gear set and diff were different and not directly interchangable with the manual set. It had a manual stuck in second pull lever on the gearcase to get you home if there was a failure. The first limp mod, by Hans Glass, as well? Is it any wonder BMW wanted to buy Glas....
The Smiths clutch was not a sales success. I believe it was something like only 12 examples sold. I had one of the working ones, a 4W RHD top of the range car. It really offered very little extra to driving the car, save you might cut one leg off. I think the IC potential was of interest to BMW Brighton. That went to a chap called Chamberlayne who got heavily into the club for a spell. Another in less good condition came through too. I forget who had that one but I am pretty sure it went to Canada eventually. At the time of ownership the cigarette industry where still using the technology and from there activated iron could be got. Wills of Bristol, old school contact, don't y'know old boy. I might even still have a bag, kept just because.
The Smiths appeared in other cars, I think particularly Hillman Minx, was it? Also think it was made nearby at Minster Lovell - Witney to you lot. Root's Grandfather might even have been involved!
