Oldsmobile Presents Motoring's Magic Carpet Hydra-Matic B-44 (1942 Oldsmobile Playlets) (1941)

[NDrLoR]

Hydra-Matic was the first and best fully automatic of them all. It was a four-speed fully automatic transmission with a fluid coupling (not torque converter). All three shifts were quite noticeable, but that was because there was very little slippage with the fluid coupling. In high it feels like a direct drive stick shift. It delivered both better performance and gas mileage than the torque converter Dynaflow, especially behind a powerful V-8.

[5BGVO4]

anyone know if the first Hydramatic was a 3-speed? I never could understand how as late as the '60s, GM had those crappy 2-speed Powerglides in Chevys and Dynaflow/Triple Turbine in Buicks. the Hydramatic was a much better transmission.

[dagr382]

This is wonderful. I miss Oldsmobile.

[InflatablePlane]

Thanks for posting. Olds was first with an automatic in 1939. :D An amazing piece of machinery and a fantastic car :D