Was curious if any customs built back in the 40’s or 50’s used a true auto trans ( no foot clutch) I don’t know a lot about trans and the years they came out . I believe GM’s first year of the powerglide might have been 1950 ? What was the first year ford or some of the other makers offered a true automatic ( non foot clutch) ? Was going to be running a mid 50’s engine , so was just curious if there were any period correct automatics from around that era that could work . I know most had 3 speed foot clutch on column , but kind of like the ease and comfort of an automatic in a car that is just for cruising , not a hot rod .
GM's 4 speed Hydro, in Cadillac, Pontiac and Olds. Buick Dynaflow, Chrysler had a true automatic in '53 (?).
I guess driving my late 1950’s impala with a powerglide made me really enjoy cruising an automatic. I run into a lot of traffic daily driving so the automatic just is more practical for my own driving use. Would an earlier powerglide be possible behind a 1954 331 caddy with an adapter and some other parts ?
I remember when the early adds for the B&M Hydro Stick were all the rage, and I’ve got a pretty soft spot for them. But in a current project (except a gasser) I’d be looking at a 200R4. I know it’s not what you asked, but it’ll fit pretty much anywhere a glide will, and having a real 1st gear and the o/d gives you the performance and cruising you’ll love. Probably half the weight of the hydro, not to mention the cost. And not much more than a well built glide.
You could make an early Powerglide work behind the Caddy, but I'd look for a Hydramatic to use instead. Get the right one and it'll bolt right up and you've got 2 more gears. They're out there for sure.
The '50s-'60s Cads used at least three different versions of the Hydramatic. We've got core engines and transmissions if you can't find any locally. jack vines
From Kustomrama- Sonny Morris' 1950 Mercury 1950 Mercury restyled by Bailon's Custom Shop for Satan's Angels member Sonny Morris of Hayward, California in 1956. The car is also known as The Blue Mirage, and it featured bumpers made by quadruple round-rods. Custom Cars September 1957 defined Sonny's bumpers as nerf bars, The rear bumper terminated in a pair of 1949 Fordbumper guards. 1956 Buick taillight lences were mounted horizontally in the rear, giving the Merc a totally new look. The car was shaved for handles and emblems and was push-button operated. The hood was peaked and a new Pancake opening was made. Heart shaped brows were welded on to the frenched headlights. The grille bar was from a 1956 Plymouth. The Merc was dropped by cutting the coils 1 1/2 inch and by installing 6 inch lowering blocks. The side trims were removed and dual Appleton spotlightswere added. Sonny swapped the stock flathead with a 1952 Oldsmobile engine connected to a Hydramatic transmission. The interior was done in blue and white Naugahyde by San Leandro Seat Cover Center of San Leandro, California. The body was painted Mirage blue once completed Dick Katz' 1949 Chevrolet- 1949 Chevrolet Sport Coupe restyled by Dee Wescott of Wescott's Auto Restyling in Portland, Oregon for Dick Katzof Dalles, Oregon. Dick's Coupe is a great example of a late 1950s custom built on a early 1950s car. The hood, deck lid and door handles were shaved and operated electrically. The side trim originated from a 1953 Packard. Dee extended the front fenders, and stretch the rear fenders as well. The taillights were from a 1955 Chrysler, slightly tunneled with parking lights located beneath. Aerials were placed on top of the fenders. A hand made bracked was molded to the split bumper to provide the needed opening to have room for both the license and club plate. The unique scoop in the quarter panels featured teeth from a 1954 Pontiac grille. Up front, the headlights rested under the shades of the extended fenders. A custom grille opening was made and fit with a 1955 Chevrolet grille. The license plate was deeply frenched by using the stock overrider. In order to get the right stance, it was lowered up front with dropped spindles and reworked A arms, and it was C'd in the rear. The car was also quite fast, sporting a 1957 Oldsmobile Rocket engine with Hydramatic
As many cars as there were by the early fifties with automatics commonly optioned I'd say by the mid fifties they were commonplace in customs. And considering many custom guys were still putting hot engines in customs till the seeming drift to low and slow from the mids sixties I'm willing to bet many autos were swapped into them in the fifties.
Hydramatic available on Cadillac, Olds, Pontiac, Lincoln, Kaiser, Frazer, Nash, Hudson in the late 40s - early 50s. Chevy Powerglide from 1950. Buick Dynaflow from the late 40s. By the early fifties pretty much everyone had an automatic except Chrysler, they still had their weird Fluid Drive setup. They only got a true auto in 1954 (Powerflite 2 speed) and 1957 (Torqueflite 3 speed). So , a lot of customs probably had automatic if they were based on the more expensive cars. Hot rods, not so much, they made a point of adapting 3 speed manual trans to Olds, Cadillac, etc.
draggin.. it’s obvious to me you are wanting to build to the 50’s. The available automatics are discussed and one aiming a more modern which would be nice but if anyone looking in your engine compartment will notice the tv cable giving away something I’m pretty sure you don’t want. Hydramatics are heavy and bulky and really so are iron Powerglides so it your choice if you looking at those 2. Remember that their throttle pressure rods don’t operate in the same direction.
Yeah, I’m doing my best to keep the aesthetics and parts correct from mid 50’s . My daily driving involves a lot of stop and go traffic . I had a shoebox ford with the 3 on the tree with foot clutch and I hated it. I love manual trans but only on the floor . I guess it’s gonna have to be either or your options mentioned ( hydramatic or powerglide ). I plan on daily driving the car and I just think some true automatic from the mid 50’s best suits my driving needs . Thank all of you guys for posting examples from that era and your input . It’s really helpful
I haven’t yet decided whether to run the hydromatic behind my 53 331 or not. I have it and it would be easiest. But, I also have a bellhousing for a standard which would be much more fun. The lowering part would be a benefit with the automatic.
If it was me (which it's not) I wouldn't hesitate to go with a 200R since the only outward clue will be the tv cable, and how many people will notice or nitpick that? The advantage the 200r has over any of the '40's and '50s transmissions is that you find people who know how to work on them! Hydramatics were a hell of a good, stout transmission, but repair guys are about as common as rotary-dial telephone repairmen! Sometimes 'period correct' isn't practical (unless you have Jay Leno's bankroll). Good luck!
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