Manual vs Auto - the choice is not an easy one.

[ignatzcatz]

And nobody has mentioned heel and toe application with a manual box. A car in which I had my first dabble in motorsport didn't have any synchromesh so down changes involved de-clutch rev the engine to a corresponding speed for the lower gear, clutch in and select the lower gear. Every time for every downshift otherwise the gear just would not select. Do all that and brake hard for a corner at the same time and you have to heel and toe. Every single racing and sporting car driver back in the day had to excercise this fancy footwork. And returning to the initial question what can be nicer than hearing the bark of an exhaust as the result of a particularly perfect down shift. And further nobody has mentioned the PDK gearbox that utilises two clutches. My wife has one of these on her Porsche Macan that when you select one of the sport driving modes, when the gear is changing down, it actually blips the throttle for you. Isn't that sad.
BTW it's a four speed close ratio toploader with a Hurst competition shifter for me!

[Dominik]

In the early days of Shamrock parts availability (manual transmission) was a challenge in SA. As was legroom in their "Mk1". Legroom didn't improve much later on, nor did their knowledge and skills. Once automatic, always automatic...

In 2002 they refused to even upgrade to knock-off wheels which were cheap from WAW/Wheelcraft. Anyway, I digress...

Not that there weren't a few manual cars.

With my 6'4" I didn't really fit in any Shamrock. Even with the seat padding reduced to Zero.

All else being equal, as in no parts sourcing problems or space, a manual is the way to go in this car. All you wrote about being told it's easier on the drivetrain and there is enough power is all BS. They just couldn't do it.

You can adapt a Toyota 21R (weak, but can be upgraded), Jaguar (scarce), Toploader...
GILO in Johannesburg has adapter bellhousings. Go with what they offer.

But first make sure you can add a clutch pedal. And a clutch slave cylinder between bellhousing and frame rails.

[Dominik]

If I recall correctly, from personal experience, the common TH350 or TH400 does downshift when you approach a slow bend in high gear and push the throttle to accelerate.

Depending on vacuum in the manifold.

Also, applying WOT you have a kick.down switch sending the transmission into 2nd or 1st, again depending on vehicle speed and engine vacuum. Not nice in a long bend.

The reverse happens when you accelerate smootly through a bend, lift slightly, and the automatic shifts up.

Not a very controlled manner to drive fast.

What I did have once, if I remember correctly, was a "manual" TH350 which changed gears only when you shifted by hand. It would even roll away from standstill in 3rd, if you so desired.

Good for driving in the snow. Especially with M&S BFGs...

As posted before, a Shamrock may not have enough room for a clutch fork and pedal. Check with someone who has a manual in it.

When I took Jan Nel's Mk1 Shamrock to port almost 20 years ago, I really struggled to find space. But I am 6.4, which is cramped in most Cobras. It had a manual.

Clive C, with the supercharged Shamrock had a manual, if I am not mistaken. 15 years ago. I can't recall why I didn't take his offer to drive it (at Killarney)