Re: 69 55hp Johnson

[billw]

I never saw an early one that would idle very well. I think that was my biggest objection to them. The automatic transmission Mercurys work well, also, when they’re maintained correctly. Like the automatics, the hydro-electric gear cases were a miracle to behold, engineering-wise. Really cool stuff. (Perhaps that because there was a really big-name engineer at least somewhat involved in both of them.) Were they the right product for the recreational market? Although I love my automatics, my personal answer would have to be "no."

Long live American manufacturing!