What Was the First Automatic Transmission Car?
The Early Years
The first attempts to create an automatic transmission date back to the late 19th century. In 1896, Alexander Winton of the Winton Motor Carriage Company patented a two-speed automatic transmission. However, this transmission was not very reliable and was never put into production.
In 1903, the Sturtevant Automobile Company introduced the first production car with an automatic transmission. This transmission, known as the “Sturtevant Planetary Transmission,” was a two-speed planetary transmission that was operated by a lever on the steering column.
The Sturtevant Planetary Transmission was not very successful and was only used on a few hundred cars. However, it did lay the groundwork for the development of future automatic transmissions.
The First True Automatic Transmission
The first true automatic transmission was invented by Alfred Horner Munro in 1921. Munro’s transmission was a four-speed planetary transmission that was operated by a hydraulic control system. This transmission was much more reliable and efficient than previous automatic transmissions and was the first to be used in a production car.
The first car to be equipped with Munro’s automatic transmission was the 1921 Chrysler Imperial. The Imperial was a luxury car that was priced at $2,500. It was the first car to offer an automatic transmission as a standard feature.
Munro’s automatic transmission was a major breakthrough in automotive technology. It made driving much easier and more convenient and helped to popularize the use of automatic transmissions.
The Development of Automatic Transmissions
In the years since Munro’s invention, automatic transmissions have continued to evolve and improve. In the 1930s, General Motors introduced the Hydra-Matic transmission, which was the first automatic transmission to be offered as an option on a wide range of cars.
In the 1950s, Ford introduced the Cruise-O-Matic transmission, which was the first automatic transmission to be offered with a torque converter. The torque converter made automatic transmissions much smoother and more efficient.
In the 1960s, electronic controls were introduced to automatic transmissions. These controls made automatic transmissions more responsive and reliable.
Automatic Transmissions Today
Today, automatic transmissions are the most common type of transmission in use. They are found in a wide range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks. Automatic transmissions are easy to operate and provide a smooth and comfortable ride.
The development of the automatic transmission has been a major factor in the popularity of the automobile. Automatic transmissions have made driving much easier and more convenient and have helped to make cars more accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
