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a Corvette with an automatic. ha, ha, ha, this vehicle must be amputated.
Actually, the new Corvette automatic is pretty decent, And if you're talking cars before about '89, the automatic was easily modified for increased performance, shifting faster than a manual trans could, and shifting when you want it, fast and firm. It's not luxurious and smooth when you do that, it can actually be very violent.
I've built numerous automatic equipped sports and GT cars for autocross competition and track days. With a few mods, they work VERY well. When autocrossing especially, i want one foot on each pedal and one hand on each control in order to shave off every thousandth of a second.
For example this car was built for slalom racing, with a highly modified Ford 302 V8 and AOD automatic transmission, with a shift kit, performance clutch packs, and a modified torque convertor for very fast, very firm, shifts when you moved the lever. It pulled 1.2 Gs laterally and almost that in acceleration and braking:
That run may not look fast until you realize that the turnaround at the far end of the track is a quarter mile away and the car got to that point after 2 slaloms and a set of 90 degree turns, and it STILL did it under 20 seconds. It could run a 12 second quarter mile time WHILE slaloming. With an automatic.
Chrysler was the 1st US car with an Automatic tranny.
My dad was a mechanic with his own licensed repair shop he built behind our house in Ont Canada in 1940.
Dads brother (one of my Uncles) had bought one of the 1941/42 models in that yr or early 1942 before the end of assembly change to war production (my memory is a bit vague as to the actual date). Recall sitting behind the steering wheel and being memorized with the shifting procedure. Car still had a lot of chrome so it was probably the 41 model as they went to a Non Chrome grill etc in the 42 models. (cut short production year)
Edit: Will add that dad bought a New 1947 Fleetline after being on the waiting list for 1 yr and 1 day. Was told to pick up the car or it would be sold to the next person on their list. Car had a Vac controlled shifter on the steering column that made a hissing sound when manually shifted......how times have changed.
Last edited by Steve Bagu; 06-23-2014 at 05:34 PM..
Reason: Add info
a chevy pickup. I remember when I lived in Oklahoma City as a Youngster sitting on the back of it. Is that still allowed over there? Over here it would be a misdemeanor.
Actually, the new Corvette automatic is pretty decent, And if you're talking cars before about '89, the automatic was easily modified for increased performance, shifting faster than a manual trans could, and shifting when you want it, fast and firm. It's not luxurious and smooth when you do that, it can actually be very violent.
I've built numerous automatic equipped sports and GT cars for autocross competition and track days. With a few mods, they work VERY well. When autocrossing especially, i want one foot on each pedal and one hand on each control in order to shave off every thousandth of a second.
For example this car was built for slalom racing, with a highly modified Ford 302 V8 and AOD automatic transmission, with a shift kit, performance clutch packs, and a modified torque convertor for very fast, very firm, shifts when you moved the lever. It pulled 1.2 Gs laterally and almost that in acceleration and braking:
That run may not look fast until you realize that the turnaround at the far end of the track is a quarter mile away and the car got to that point after 2 slaloms and a set of 90 degree turns, and it STILL did it under 20 seconds. It could run a 12 second quarter mile time WHILE slaloming. With an automatic.
You describe "shifting when you want it".how can you operate it (yourself). Does it have a Fixing of the automatic to single gears like a BMW alpina had?
Why are manual transmission vehicles unpopular in the USA
Today when I came from work I saw a BMW i3 Electric car parking close to my house. The design didn't even look unsportive, pretty attractive. It didn't have a stick (Manual, automatic) at all, but a fat piece right to the wheel. But I didn't know to whom it belongs (all Apartment buildings) so I couldn't ask thed river about the modalities.
You describe "shifting when you want it".how can you operate it (yourself). Does it have a Fixing of the automatic to single gears like a BMW alpina had?
You realize that even an automatic transmission shift lever has positions for other gears than just D, N, R, and P, right? You move the lever by hand to what gear you want it in and it shifts instantly to that gear, no clutch pedal. So with a modded automatic, you can leave it in D and it'll shift itself fast and firm, no slippage, or if you move the lever, it shifts to the gear you move the lever to. This was very common to do with the automatics in hot rods and muscle cars in the '60s. 70s, and '80s.
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Why are manual transmission vehicles unpopular in the USA
