A vehicle transmission that has a main multi-speed gear change mechanism is provided with a sub speed gear change mechanism particularly useful for four wheel drive vehicles. The main gear change mechanism has parallel input and output shafts with the various gears and the sub speed gear change mechanism has an intermediate shaft and counter shaft parallel to the input and output shafts. An input gear on the intermediate shaft continually meshes with a gear on the input shaft and an output gear continually meshes with a gear on the output shaft. A gear reduction train and synchronizing mechanism selectively connects the input and output gears to establish that sub speed gear. The intermediate and counter shafts do not extend beyond the input and output shafts therefore minimizing the length of the transmission. The gear selecting mechanism allows selection of the sub speed only when the vehicle is in four wheel drive.
