1957, It is September and the new cars are in the show rooms.

Question

1957, It is September and the new cars are in the show rooms.

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39 Answers

Anonymous · Answer 1 · 2016-08-18T04:00:00+0000

WRONG! & so am I......

As we learned, automatic transmission was based on technology first developed in the early 1900s by German manufacturers of marine engines. However, it was not adapted for automobiles for several decades. In 1938, General Motors developed the first line of cars to sport automatic transmission -- Oldsmobiles that offered "Hydra-Matic drive." The cars were introduced to the public in 1940. In 1941, Chrysler followed suit and introduced three different cars that offered their version of automatic drive, "Vacamatic" (later called "Fluid Drive"). Automatic transmission was a fairly common option on most American cars by 1948.

We steered over to the official Oldsmobile site to learn more about the innovative line of cars. In the History section of the site, we found an interactive timeline that offered a bit more information about Hydra-Matic drive:

It provided true clutchless driving with four forward speeds. Its fluid coupling between engine and transmission eliminated the clutch and its ********** foot work. Olds made the breakthrough Hydra-Matic available on all models for only an extra $57.
Not only was GM the first to market with automatic transmission, according to Chrysler's site, Vacamatic was really only semi-automatic. It featured four speeds and wo...

WRONG! & so am I......

As we learned, automatic transmission was based on technology first developed in the early 1900s by German manufacturers of marine engines. However, it was not adapted for automobiles for several decades. In 1938, General Motors developed the first line of cars to sport automatic transmission -- Oldsmobiles that offered "Hydra-Matic drive." The cars were introduced to the public in 1940. In 1941, Chrysler followed suit and introduced three different cars that offered their version of automatic drive, "Vacamatic" (later called "Fluid Drive"). Automatic transmission was a fairly common option on most American cars by 1948.

We steered over to the official Oldsmobile site to learn more about the innovative line of cars. In the History section of the site, we found an interactive timeline that offered a bit more information about Hydra-Matic drive:

It provided true clutchless driving with four forward speeds. Its fluid coupling between engine and transmission eliminated the clutch and its ********** foot work. Olds made the breakthrough Hydra-Matic available on all models for only an extra $57.
Not only was GM the first to market with automatic transmission, according to Chrysler's site, Vacamatic was really only semi-automatic. It featured four speeds and would switch automatically between the two lower or two higher gears, but the driver needed to use the clutch to switch from a lower gear to a higher gear or vice versa.

So there you have it -- in this race, Oldsmobile was the clear winner

switch gear higher gear vice versa race oldsmobile clear winner

(more)

Anonymous · Answer 2 · 2016-08-18T04:00:00+0000

I pick the Bel Air, the Starliner, and the Dodge Custom Royal. I also wouldnt mind a 57 Fairlane, just not the convertible. I would rather have the one that had the big glass roof, like my grandmother had.

Anonymous · Answer 3 · 2016-08-18T04:00:00+0000

I could add more to the list. When I was turning wrenches, I maintained 4 Studebakers for 1 gentleman. Two were show cars and the other 2 were for show. I maintained a beautiful 58 Chevy Bel Air convertible convertible for another customer. We also had a large variety of 60s muscle cars we maintained. My father raced 55 Chevys at a small racetrack in Houston during the late 60s and early 70s. Times were good.