Is there an accepted lineage?

Three on the tree

Four on the floor (What about four on the tree?)

Five in a hive?

Six with a stix?

Seven is heaven?

I think that the four on the floor comes from the fact that at one point in time you could purchase cars with the four speed transmission shift lever mounted either on the floor or the steering column.

You been on the juice ?

Reminded me to listen to ...

My first car was a 1939 Standard Eight with a 3 forward gears and 1 reverse, floor mounted'

I laso had several Vauxhalls and a couple of Fords with 3 and 4 speed column gear change.

I also drove an Austin J2 van that had a 4 speed column change gearbox and getting the right gear at the right time was like winning the lottery.

Going from 3rd to 2nd gear without getting 4th or reverse was pure pot luck.

three on the tree was when the gear stick was out the steering column (tree) I presume you could have 4 on the tree or 3 on the floor.

Doesn't rhyme as well though, so perhaps car makers didn't have success selling them.

I always thought 4 on the floor was a double date.

I always thought 4 on the floor was a double date.

Nooooooooooooo, 3 on the floor is a double date. I wish.