![]() This is believed to be the only extant example of this transmission. Liquamatic transmission on display at the Early Ford V8 Museum in Auburn, Indiana. One feature of the design seemed to be a counter-rotating tailshaft that kept both second and third gears rotating at the same speed. Of course, the unit could be controlled manually through all gears as well. The 2-3 shift was by an electrically controlled vacuum cylinder, while the shift into overdrive was by vacuum. In normal operation, the unit was to start in second gear, then shift into third at about 35 mph. The Liquamatic was a fairly complicated unit that involved a conventional clutch, a fluid coupling, a three speed transmission and on Lincolns, an overdrive. America with the 1942 Lincolns and Mercuries. And, with great fanfare, Liquamatic Drive was introduced to Mr. Still, it must have been clear that some sort of self-shifting mechanism was going to be part of the price of admission for medium and upper priced cars in the 1940s. But by the late 1930s, Henry was getting on in years and his products were becoming a bit – ahem – conservative. Henry Ford’s way was Henry Ford’s way, with some skilled mechanics to take Henry’s ideas and fashion them into metal prototypes and further refinement under Henry Ford’s watchful eye. ![]() However, his opinionated way was not conducive to a modern engineering department, as had taken shape to one degree or another at every other major automaker. Henry Ford was, of course, a mechanical genius – in a self-taught, farmboy sort of way. This being Lincoln Week here at CC, now would seem like the time to take a look. ![]() ![]() Not so well known is that the Ford Motor Company launched its own ill-fated semi-automatic transmission: Liquamatic Drive. Its major competitor for shiftless driving was Chrysler’s Fluid Drive, and the many variations of semi-automatic transmission that were attached to that fluid coupling. We are likely all familiar with the GM Hydra-Matic Drive of 1940, the first fully automatic transmission. (first posted ) I have long been fascinated with the many stops and starts that eventually led to the automatic transmission as we know it today. ![]()
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