I had no idea that Buick had an automatic as early as 1938! I know they came out with Hydramtic on Olds and Cad about 1940. During the late 30's, auto engineers (at GM) must have made the auto trans a priority - GM was the first out with a fully automatic trans. My dad used to say (he was 17 in 1938) that the american car-buying public was tired of 3 on the tree and clamored for automatic trans in the post-war era.
My father was an Engineer for Buick and was asked to present this transmission at a SAE Convention in Detroit in the mid-70s. The presentation has a slide that states that there were 143,301 Specials produced of which 3880 were Self Shifters. 2.7% of sales. I am scanning the 35mm slides and have the speaker notes from this presentation. Soon these will be combined and posted.
Thank you for your interest in this Self Shifting Buick... My father and I enjoy the comments here and in the AACA Forum. This car will shift under power and shift points will differ based on throttle position. The car also has a passing gear... or kick down... it will shift from 4th to 3rd if you desire to pass slower vehicles.
As a owner of a Buick special Series 40 Sedan, the auto transmission version is very very very smooth & rare. I will stand corrected but I believe there were less than 160 built ???? That transmission is strong and man those changes are positive and firm. 5/5
Kudos! Fascinated with AST, I've spent years looking for info on it. Numerous auto writers have generated considerable fiction as to its operation, but there is some good info out there on the Internet for now. It must have been interesting trying find seals, etc. to rebuild a 72 year old automatic. The old Buick has that familiar straight eight sound I grew up with, and seems to run very well. I wonder if you're modulating the throttle a little to smooth out that problematic 2-3 shift?
I had no idea that Buick had an automatic as early as 1938! I know they came out with Hydramtic on Olds and Cad about 1940. During the late 30's, auto engineers (at GM) must have made the auto trans a priority - GM was the first out with a fully automatic trans. My dad used to say (he was 17 in 1938) that the american car-buying public was tired of 3 on the tree and clamored for automatic trans in the post-war era.
bigcity233 5 months ago
My father was an Engineer for Buick and was asked to present this transmission at a SAE Convention in Detroit in the mid-70s. The presentation has a slide that states that there were 143,301 Specials produced of which 3880 were Self Shifters. 2.7% of sales. I am scanning the 35mm slides and have the speaker notes from this presentation. Soon these will be combined and posted.
jecwiiwiin 6 months ago
Thank you for your interest in this Self Shifting Buick... My father and I enjoy the comments here and in the AACA Forum. This car will shift under power and shift points will differ based on throttle position. The car also has a passing gear... or kick down... it will shift from 4th to 3rd if you desire to pass slower vehicles.
jecwiiwiin 6 months ago
As a owner of a Buick special Series 40 Sedan, the auto transmission version is very very very smooth & rare. I will stand corrected but I believe there were less than 160 built ???? That transmission is strong and man those changes are positive and firm. 5/5
fordroad 8 months ago
Kudos! Fascinated with AST, I've spent years looking for info on it. Numerous auto writers have generated considerable fiction as to its operation, but there is some good info out there on the Internet for now. It must have been interesting trying find seals, etc. to rebuild a 72 year old automatic. The old Buick has that familiar straight eight sound I grew up with, and seems to run very well. I wonder if you're modulating the throttle a little to smooth out that problematic 2-3 shift?
r40blanken 1 year ago