Ford’s Cruise-O-Matic and the C Family of Automatic Transmissions (Part II)

We continue on our Abandoned Background protection of the Ford Cruise-O-Matic transmission nowadays, shortly right after the three-velocity automatic proven alone as a trusted commitment resource for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury merchandise. Developed by the Warner Equipment division of Borg-Warner, the new computerized caught Ford up to the competitiveness as significantly as an automatic giving was involved. Efficient and affordable to make, Studebaker got in on the Cruise-O-Matic action for their autos also.

Soon after the box proved by itself on Ford and Mercury cars and trucks, it spread to the magnificent ’55 Lincoln lineup where it changed the 4-speed GM Hydra-Matic. We pick up there, as attempts obtained underway to enhance upon the first Borg-Warner style and incorporate whiz-bang capabilities. This entry does not end up in which you’d expect.

The activation method of an automated transmission was a thing truly worth marketing and advertising in the Fifties. When levers were so unexciting, pushbutton automatics became all the rage. Chrysler received the soar on the other Detroit automakers when it introduced a pushbutton TorqueFlite computerized into its lineup in 1956 (we’ll have a TorqueFlite series before long). Ford made the decision immediately that it desired a related element.

Dearborn started the advancement of pushbutton controls of its individual, which it released under the name Keyboard Handle. The aspect debuted in 1957 on the Mercury line and executed five independent buttons. People buttons weren’t labeled how you’d hope: The longest button was at the top rated of the regulate panel as Push. Underneath, the four smaller buttons were Brake (park), Neutral Start (neutral), Hill Manage (very low), and Reverse.

All those entertaining names lasted on Mercury vehicles for exactly 1 product year. The Keyboard Manage was reworked for 1958 and renamed to Multi-Push Keyboard Control. New labels appeared on the buttons, which then numbered 6. Drive was break up into Overall performance and Cruising, when the Park button became a lever that moved forward and backward. When pushed in the vehicle was in park, and the buttons were being locked from activation right up until the lever was pulled back out.

Each versions of the pushbutton computerized had been a little bit of a gimmick and did not demonstrate all that preferred with consumers. The program went absent just after 1958, and in 1959 Mercury automobiles were being outfitted with a ho-hum column equipment selector.

Although bewildered people pressed buttons in the Mercury showroom, transmission advancement carried on at Ford. The Ford-O-Matic was made use of as a commencing place for two new transmissions Ford on their personal. The enterprise wanted much more variations of the a few-velocity as domestic passenger vehicles, in general, grew larger sized, sprouted fins, and carried at any time bigger portions of major chrome.

The larger sized bejeweled autos weighed extra and needed even bigger engines to drive them across the state. But individuals wanted additional than adequate energy the latter 50 {7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} of the Fifties was the unofficial start off of the horsepower race in Detroit. A lot more horses and extra torque intended a want for a tougher transmission.

What Ford produced on the basis of the Ford-O-Matic were being its MX and Fx variations. The MX was the larger sized transmission, while the Forex was lesser. Continue to three-velocity automatics, both versions utilized the similar planetary gearset as the primary F-O-M but relocated the transmission’s pump from the rear to the entrance of the box. The MX and Forex also carried a new valve system that authorized them to start out in to start with gear in travel, instead than second.

The bigger MX was destined for use in the impressive V8 motor vehicles from Lincoln, Mercury, and better-end Ford automobiles. All MX bins ended up built at Livonia Transmission (1952-existing) in Michigan. Forex was used only in Ford and Mercury designs, and largely in midrange offerings. The Fx was made in the Fairfax Transmission plant in Cincinnati, along with the then-dated Ford-O-Matic.

The new transmissions’ ability to start in initially gear posed a branding challenge for the outdated Ford-O-Matic. When it was technically also a a few-speed, it differed in that it didn’t start off in initial gear like the Forex and MX. Ford made a decision to current market it as a two-velocity right after Fx and MX debuted, which undoubtedly perplexed some current house owners who considered their cars a a few-speed prior to 1958. Even more, the two new variations of the transmission were promoted beneath a new household name: Cruise-O-Matic.

But that was not plenty of naming confusion, as a new version of the Ford-O-Matic arrived for the ’59 design yr. It was a easier version of the first Ford-O-Matic and employed a torque converter with a compound planetary gear established. There was a multi-disc clutch at the front that taken care of substantial gear, whilst a band on the clutch drum managed low gear, and a band on the rear gear drum created reverse. The simplified two-speed was made available only on choose Ford and Mercury designs, as effectively as Edsel.

The environment of automatic transmissions stayed in stasis at Ford for the following couple of many years with the gen-two Ford-O-Matic, and MX and Fx three-speed Cruise-O-Matics sufficient for all of the Blue Oval’s passenger automobiles. In other places in the world, other nations ended up also wading into the waters of the automated. But as a substitute of struggling by means of the progress of their individual transmission, they stole Ford’s. Let’s discuss about the Soviet Union and GAZ.

Ford Fairlane & Fairlane 500 – 1958

Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ) did have a legit partnership with Ford in the Twenties. In 1929 as The Terrific Depression approached, Ford contracted with GAZ: The brand name new Russian corporation was to make the Product A underneath license. Ford equipped the engineering paperwork to GAZ, who set to function. The deal was through the USSR’s international commerce division, named Amtorg Buying and selling Corporation (1924-1998). Amtorg was the initial small business existence the USSR experienced in the United States, and it was headquartered in New York Town.

Although Amtorg was contracted with Ford, it also contracted with Albert Kahn’s architectural business. Kahn intended numerous Ford crops but was struggling for American small business through the Depression. Kahn labored for Amtorg and cooperated by way of the company with Ford to design and style the pretty very first GAZ plant in the USSR, at Niznij Novogrod. They were being heading to establish Ford automobiles in any case, why not?

Just after cooperation with Amtorg started, Kahn assisted begin a govt place of work in Moscow to support with the progress of Russian architects and engineers. The office, Gosproektstroi, worked especially with regard to popular manufacturing facility layout in the established Ford and Kahn types. Best rating employees from Kahn’s organization moved to Moscow to do the job at Gosproektstroi. The business office was in cost of the standardization of developing construction across the USSR. This exercise did not go down effectively with many people today in the United States, who rapidly accused Kahn of supporting communism.

The deal with Amtorg and the USSR business didn’t last extensive even though, as the GAZ manufacturing unit was opened in November 1930, and Kahn’s deal with Amtorg finished in 1932. The to start with GAZ was the A – a in the vicinity of copy of the Model A, which then was developed into the AA pickup truck. Cooperation in between GAZ and Ford lasted by way of 1935, and one miracles how lots of phone calls of communistic assistance had been directed at Dearborn.

Some 20 years afterwards, it was no shock that when GAZ wanted an automatic transmission an evaluation of Ford items was at the top of their to-do listing. By then GAZ was between the most remarkably regarded automakers in Russia, with a comprehensive lineup that involved executive and luxury cars for substantial-position customers of the politburo, as perfectly as off-road automobiles and trucks of varying duties. We’ll choose up our tale with the GAZ translation of the Ford-O-Matic future time.

[Images: Ford]

Turn into a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC requires, and everything else that gets to the truth about automobiles initially by subscribing to our publication.

Similar