Even so, if you're after a small car with a self-shifter the choices are distinctly limited.

An automatic doesn't sound very sporting, but this is far removed from the notion of a luxury car's self-shifter.

Credit here is due to ZF's almost supernaturally slick six-speed automatic - perhaps the era's finest self-shifter.

Beginning in 1933, the Royale also featured as an option REO's semi-automatic transmission, the Self-Shifter.

The Self-Shifter first appeared in May 1933 and was offered as standard on the REO Royale and as an option on the Reo Flying Cloud S-4.

This is a shame because the six-speed self-shifter is by far the sweeter option, if only because it changes from first to second without making all your passengers nod in unison, a feat that is impossible to achieve in the manual, which has a clunky, ponderous action and notably springy clutch.