Back in the day the 4 speed was deemed faster and rated according to NHRA as such. At that time there were numerous drivers out there both pro and non pro that new how to bang gears keeping the right to the floor and bearly touching the clutch pedal. don't see all that many now. They are there but in the numbers there were back then. Also the autos of the day were not quite as quick shifting as there were not the kits and valve bodies available then as now.