The used-car market offers plenty of manual-transmission options, including many vehicles that came factory-equipped with TREMEC transmissions. Whether you want a fun daily driver or the starting point for your next project car, choices span multiple generations, performance levels and vehicle styles.
We have highlighted more than 10 TREMEC-equipped models worth considering, including multiple generations of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Corvette. The list extends beyond those familiar performance-car families to include other muscle cars, sports cars and performance sedans that deliver the engaging experience of shifting your own gears.
2005-2010 Ford Mustang
When the S197 Mustang debuted in 2005, it rocked the new-car world with retro styling that influenced competitors including the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. The design has aged well, with the cars still looking current two decades later.
Ford produced V8 and V6 models with manual transmissions in large numbers, so finding a clean 2005-2010 Mustang today is not difficult. V6 cars received the TREMEC T-5 5-speed transmission, while V8-powered Mustang GT models came with the TREMEC TR-3650 5-speed transmission.
Aftermarket support for these cars is extensive, with upgrades available for nearly any performance level. If you need more capability than the factory-installed transmission provides, the TREMEC Magnum XL 6-speed transmission is an easy bolt-in upgrade.
2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS
The pony-car world was rocked again when the fifth-generation Camaro reached a massive audience in the 2007 movie “Transformers.” When production models began arriving at dealerships for the 2010 model year, they did not stay long. Interestingly, Chevrolet built more V8 cars than base V6 cars during the first couple of model years.
Camaro SS models equipped with a manual transmission received the TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission to complement the 426-horsepower LS3 engine. Because Chevrolet produced these cars in large numbers, finding a manual-transmission 2010-2015 Camaro SS is not difficult.
Like the Mustang, the Camaro’s retro styling has aged well, and the car remains attractive nearly two decades after its debut. For those who need more capability than the factory TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission provides, a bolt-in TREMEC Magnum XL 6-speed transmission is also available for the fifth-generation Camaro.
2003-2004 Ford Mustang Cobra
After a one-year hiatus, the Mustang Cobra returned to the lineup in a big way for 2003. The centerpiece was a strengthened version of the Ford 4.6-liter DOHC modular V8 topped with a supercharger and rated at 390 horsepower. The 2003 Cobra also retained the independent rear suspension introduced on the 1999 Cobra, helping distinguish its handling from that of other Mustangs of the era.
The 2003-2004 Cobras came exclusively with the TREMEC T-56 6-speed transmission. Known as the “Terminator,” these cars remain available on the used market, but clean examples command a healthy budget. Inspect any candidate carefully for signs of hard launches, chassis damage and extensive modifications. Find the right one, though, and it will be a blast to drive.
2009-2023 Dodge Challenger R/T, R/T Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat
Dodge entered the modern retro-muscle-car era with the 2008 Challenger, the largest of the segment’s three competitors and arguably the most faithful to its muscle-car-era predecessor.
Beginning with the 2009 model year, HEMI-powered R/T models offered a manual transmission that gave buyers the engaging experience of shifting a TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission. Later high-performance versions, including the R/T Scat Pack and SRT Hellcat, also offered the TR-6060.
Dodge produced the Challenger R/T in substantial numbers, so finding one on the used market is not difficult with some searching. Many examples also have relatively low mileage and have been well maintained.
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO
Thanks to Holden in Australia, Pontiac returned to the rear-wheel-drive performance market after the demise of the fourth-generation F-body platform. The 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO was based on the Holden Monaro and wore a Pontiac split-grille front fascia.
Buyers who selected the manual transmission received the TREMEC T-56 6-speed transmission behind the LS1 in 2004 and the LS2 in 2005 and 2006. Manual-transmission GTOs can still be found on the used market, with prices varying significantly based on condition, mileage and modifications.
2007-2014 Ford Shelby GT500
The retro styling of the S197 Ford Mustang made the return of the Shelby name and the iconic GT500 badge feel inevitable. When the 2007 Shelby GT500 debuted, its supercharged 5.4-liter DOHC V8 produced 500 horsepower, making it the most powerful factory-built Mustang at the time.
Every 2007-2014 Shelby GT500 came with a TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission, while output ultimately climbed to 662 horsepower from a supercharged 5.8-liter V8 for 2013 and 2014. Finding a TREMEC-equipped GT500 in coupe or convertible form is not difficult, and prices for early S197 models can be reasonable relative to the performance they deliver.
2004-2014 Cadillac CTS-V
The 2004 CTS-V launched the V-Series and established Cadillac as a serious competitor to European performance-luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The first-generation CTS-V paired the Corvette Z06’s LS6 V8—and later the LS2—with the TREMEC T-56 6-speed transmission. The second-generation model raised the stakes with a 556-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 and an available TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission. Cadillac also expanded the lineup to include coupe and sport wagon body styles, both available with the TR-6060. Manual-transmission CTS-V models are available on the used market, although clean first-generation cars are becoming more difficult to find.
1992-2017 Dodge Viper
A centerpiece of Lee Iacocca’s effort to reshape the Chrysler image, with development led by Bob Lutz, the Viper was a brute of a car. The original two-seat roadster combined dramatic styling with a massive 8.0-liter V10 and a T-56 6-speed transmission. That combination helped establish the T-56 as one of the defining high-performance manual transmissions of its era.
Used Vipers are unlikely to appear on a typical used-car lot, but examples are regularly available through specialty dealers and auctions. The Viper may lack some of the refinement of its contemporaries, but it delivers a presence and driving experience unlike anything else.
Its unique transmission even featured the Viper logo cast into the extension housing and application-specific upgrades to handle the V10’s output, inspiring the “Viper 6-speed” nickname.
2016-2024 Chevrolet Camaro
For enthusiasts seeking a fun, TREMEC-equipped car, the sixth-generation Camaro is a great option because every engine offered with a manual transmission was paired with a TREMEC 6-speed transmission. Turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 Camaros left the factory with the TREMEC TR-3160 6-speed transmission, while all V8 models received the TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission.
Finding a used V8 model with a manual transmission is not too difficult. And before dismissing a non-V8 Camaro, remember that the sixth-generation V6—and even the turbocharged four-cylinder—is genuinely fun to drive with a manual transmission. A lower-output Camaro can also be a good option for a son or daughter learning to drive a stick.
Plenty of aftermarket upgrades are available for base Camaros, giving young enthusiasts opportunities to improve performance and discover the satisfaction—and occasional frustration—of installing parts themselves.
1994-1998 Ford Mustang
Thinking of the SN95 Mustang as a 30-year-old car can be startling if you remember when these cars were new. For perspective, when the SN95 debuted, the 1965 Mustang was the 30-year-old car.
Manual-transmission SN95 Mustangs used T-5 or T-45 5-speed transmissions. V8-powered Mustang GT models are plentiful, although many are well-worn and need some TLC. The massive aftermarket makes these Mustangs ideal modern project cars, and replacement interior parts are readily available, so even a ragged cabin can be made to look new.
These cars are among the most budget-friendly options on this list and, much like 1965-1968 Mustangs in the 1990s, have become the affordable project Mustangs of the 2020s.
1997-2013 Chevrolet Corvette
If you have a decent budget—and by “decent,” we still mean realistic—base-model C5 and C6 Corvettes offer some of the best performance for the money. Both generations offered TREMEC manual transmissions.
The C5 used the TREMEC T-56 6-speed transmission, while the C6 used the TREMEC T-56 and later the TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission. With LS1, LS2 and LS3 engines powering the base models over the years, finding more horsepower to enjoy while shifting your own gears is no problem. Both Corvette generations are great choices for straight-line acceleration or corner-carving fun.
1999-2004 Ford Mustang
The Mustang styling update for the 1999 model year led to the “New Edge” moniker. Ford added sharp edges and angles to the rounded SN95 body, giving the car a more aggressive look that was a hit with buyers. An even bigger attraction was the updated “power improved” 4.6-liter V8 in Mustang GT models, with output rising from 225 horsepower in 1998 to 260 in 1999. The base Mustang’s 3.8-liter V6 received an even larger increase, climbing from 150 horsepower in 1998 to 190 in 1999.
Manual-transmission cars used a TREMEC 5-speed transmission. V6 models received the venerable TREMEC T-5 5-speed transmission throughout the production run. Mustang GT models used the TREMEC T-45 5-speed transmission through early 2001 before transitioning to the TREMEC TR-3650 5-speed transmission during the 2001 model year.
Ford built approximately 917,000 New Edge Mustangs, most of them base V6 or GT models. Today, they are easy to find and remain affordable, even in excellent condition. They are also prime candidates for engine swaps. If you find a clean V6 as a potential project, extensive aftermarket support is available for V8 conversions, ranging from two-valve and four-valve modular engines to the Coyote DOHC V8 and Godzilla pushrod V8. Builders willing to stir up a hornet’s nest among Blue Oval loyalists can also install a GM LS-series V8 with readily available swap components.
2014-2017 Chevrolet SS
Holden in Australia again helped General Motors meet demand for a rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, this time with a version of the Holden Commodore sold in the United States as the Chevrolet SS. Built on the versatile Zeta platform, the Chevrolet SS used a 415-horsepower LS3 V8 as its sole engine.
Beginning with the 2015 model year, buyers could pair it with the TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission for the engaging experience of shifting their own gears. Chevrolet also offered the SS in a wide range of paint colors.
Finding a used SS with a manual transmission takes patience because relatively few were imported and automatics outnumbered manuals. When manual-transmission cars do appear, however, they are often low-mileage examples that have been well maintained.
1994-1998 Ford Mustang
The Mustang styling update for the 1999 model year led to the “New Edge” moniker. Ford added sharp edges and angles to the rounded SN95 body, giving the car a more aggressive look that was a hit with buyers. An even bigger attraction was the updated “power improved” 4.6-liter V8 in Mustang GT models, with output rising from 225 horsepower in 1998 to 260 in 1999. The base Mustang’s 3.8-liter V6 received an even larger increase, climbing from 150 horsepower in 1998 to 190 in 1999.
Manual-transmission cars used a TREMEC 5-speed transmission. V6 models received the venerable TREMEC T-5 5-speed transmission throughout the production run. Mustang GT models used the TREMEC T-45 5-speed transmission through early 2001 before transitioning to the TREMEC TR-3650 5-speed transmission during the 2001 model year.
Ford built approximately 917,000 New Edge Mustangs, most of them base V6 or GT models. Today, they are easy to find and remain affordable, even in excellent condition. They are also prime candidates for engine swaps. If you find a clean V6 as a potential project, extensive aftermarket support is available for V8 conversions, ranging from two-valve and four-valve modular engines to the Coyote DOHC V8 and Godzilla pushrod V8. Builders willing to stir up a hornet’s nest among Blue Oval loyalists can also install a GM LS-series V8 with readily available swap components.
2014-2017 Chevrolet SS
Holden in Australia again helped General Motors meet demand for a rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, this time with a version of the Holden Commodore sold in the United States as the Chevrolet SS. Built on the versatile Zeta platform, the Chevrolet SS used a 415-horsepower LS3 V8 as its sole engine.
Beginning with the 2015 model year, buyers could pair it with the TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission for the engaging experience of shifting their own gears. Chevrolet also offered the SS in a wide range of paint colors.
Finding a used SS with a manual transmission takes patience because relatively few were imported and automatics outnumbered manuals. When manual-transmission cars do appear, however, they are often low-mileage examples that have been well maintained.
Four Used Stick-Shift Bargains Worth a Look
A great manual-transmission car does not have to come with a new-car payment. These four models offer engaging performance at prices substantially below their original MSRPs—including one equipped with a TREMEC transmission.
- 2014-2019 Ford Fiesta ST: Every Fiesta ST came with a 6-speed manual transmission, along with sharp handling and a turbocharged engine. Representative values currently range from approximately $8,000 to $13,000, compared with an original price of roughly $23,000.
- 2006-2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata: The third-generation Miata delivers the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive experience that made the model famous. Many examples are available for approximately $9,000 to $11,000, depending on age, mileage and condition.
- 2013-2020 Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S and Toyota 86: These closely related rear-wheel-drive coupes offer excellent handling, strong aftermarket support and an available 6-speed manual transmission. Early examples can be found for approximately $10,000 to $13,000.
- 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS-V: With 464 horsepower and an available TREMEC TR-6060 6-speed transmission, the ATS-V delivers serious performance in coupe or sedan form. These cars originally cost approximately $68,000, while used examples now generally sell in the $30,000-$40,000 range. Manual-transmission cars are relatively rare and may command a premium.