| tierod | -- 10-04-2009 @ 9:05 PM |
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Was 1953 the first year that an auto trans was available on Ford/Mercury pickups? Thanks
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| flatheadfan | -- 10-05-2009 @ 2:10 AM |
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Yes and no. I believe Mercury had an semi-auto trans about 1941 or '42. For Ford the first automatic trans was 1951. Tom
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| trjford8 | -- 10-05-2009 @ 6:53 AM |
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Flatheadfan gave you good info on passenger cars,but it looks like you were asking about pickups. 1953 was the first year for the automatic in a pickup.
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| supereal | -- 10-05-2009 @ 12:05 PM |
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The first production Ford automatic was the "Liqui-Matic" in 1942. It was a huge dud, and was recalled so standard transmissions could be installed at company cost. They were mostly destroyed, but apparently one does survive, and is displayed at the Early Ford museum, I believe. GM had come out with the Hydra-Matic in the late 30's, and Ford was under pressure to compete, but got a "lemon" instead. WWII intervened, and it was 1951 until Ford-A-Matic appeared. You can bet that it was more than thoroughly tested before it hit the street!
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| ford38v8 | -- 10-05-2009 @ 7:36 PM |
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Super, Lincoln used the GM Hydra-matic from '49 through '54. Lincoln Turbodrive began in '55. Alan This message was edited by ford38v8 on 10-5-09 @ 7:37 PM
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| supereal | -- 10-06-2009 @ 10:50 AM |
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I agree, Alan. As I recall, the HydraMatic first was put in either the Olds or Buick in 1938. I'm sure you will agree that the first Ford-produced successful automatic was in 1951, even though, as you note, Lincoln did use it earlier. I suspect we would have seen more use of the HydraMatic in other brands if the factory hadn't burned down. I was always surprised that GM used the two speed "PowerGlide", instead of the HydraMatic in Chevies and other division cars. I suppose it was to distinguish between the lower and higher price cars. The PowerGlide was troublesome, but the HydraMatic was one of the most reliable transmissions, and survives to this day in about the same form.
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