The first transmission invented was the manual transmission system. A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission (informally, a “manual”, “stick shift”, “straight shift”, or “straight drive”) is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications. It generally uses a driver-operated clutch, typically operated by a pedal or lever, for regulating torque transfer from the internal combustion engine to the transmission, and a gear-shift, either operated by hand (as in a car) or by foot (as on a motorcycle).

 In manual transmission the driver needs to disengage the clutch to disconnect the power from the engine first, select the target gear, and engage the clutch again to perform the gear change.