As a Chrysler employee back then let me make some corrections. In 53 Chrysler and DeSoto offered both fluid drive and fluid torque drive. There is a difference between a fluid coupling and one with a torque converter. This one would have had the writing fluid torque on the the shift emblem on the column if it has a torque converter. Except for dynaflow on Buick, Mopar was the only car offer a torque converter with their automatics. It gives a much faster breakaway speed with ratio of about 4.72 torque multiplication to 1. The tranny is a 4 speed built as two overdrives. One on low range and one on high. Let off gas at 10 on low to upshift and at 20 on high. To downshift to 3rd just floor it same in low range. For normal driving you never use the clutch. Except for first time. Cab companies loved them and the engines and ran them 600 k with no problems according to yellow cab in New York. But in 54 they went fully automatic 2 speed poweflyte with torque converter.

@cam9728

Ай бұрын

Hey sir I don’t know if you would still be able to respond to this but I’m in desperate need of some help. I have a ‘52 imperial all original, 70,xxx original miles. Fluid torque drive and nothings ever been touched on this car. Im 22 years old and trying to preserve this thing as it’s the last car I have relating to my grandpa after I lost him, he was a mopar nut and built 2 ‘55 Chrysler 300s full body off restoration on his on. I just need help with the transmission, it’s going out I think and making some awful racket and not quite wanting to shift when you left off the gas. Any help from anyone would be much appreciated thank you!

@keithsgarage5831

Ай бұрын

@cam9728 You should get a shop manual for the car and study how the transmission works. I also have uploaded a few videos. You should watch them. Your problems could be related to many things. Transmission oil type. Pump pressure. Electrical connections. Shit Piston functioning properly? Silver points clean? Etc.

The first American fully automatic transmission was the Hydramatic from GM, first used in Oldsmobiles in late 1938/39... Then when those proved popular, Cadillac offered them late 1940, early '41. I'm pretty sure that the closest thing to the Chrysler Fluid Drive, was GM's Dynaflow... The difference being that Dynaflow skipped the whole clutch aspect. Buick did an incredible amount of development over the years on that transmission, but ultimately went to using the Turbo Hydramatic that the the entire GM 'family' turned to by 1965. ALL of those early automatics and semi-automatics from the various manufacturers were and still are Engineering Marvels... And quite fun to use. Some of them weren't the best ideas in practice, but I guess they worked well enough for what they were designed to do. Cheers Gang!

I learned to drive a '49 DeSoto, same transmission, then we had a '53 Desoto which shared a lot of parts with your car. However, we did not have the RLND indicator on the column. Same pad on the clutch pedal though! So the first two cars I drove a lot were "normal" to me. And note the '49 had a push button on the end of the shift lever which would, without much interval, put you one gear below if you were in 2nd or 4th. Also on the '49: Get in at night, put the headlights on "park" and a small bulb would shine on the ignition lock so you could see where to insert the key. Those sixes were incredibly smooth. I have wondered about the power to weight ratio; perhaps that's why not many have made hotroddish use of them. Thanks for your nostalgic video.

Around this time Chrysler Company used this transmission in Dodge cars and called it the Gyromatic in Dodge Cars.

My father had a '52 Dodge Coronet Club Coupe. With a Fluid Drive trans. Semi- Automatic. You would start off in 2nd gear, shift to 3rd. There's no 1st on the tree. When you stopped completely there's an ever so slight "thunk" as she automatically dropped into 1st gear. Hence the semi- automatic feature. I learned to drive in her. Thanks Dad, rest in peace. I love you ♥️

I loved my 53 New Yorker. It was my first car. We always carried an " emergency brick". Many great memories.

The 1953 Chrysler is the first car that I remember our family owning. It was even this shade of green. No kidding on how easy it is to release the parking brake. Dad would back the car into our inclined driveway with the nose of the car about 5 feet from the street. There was no sidewalk. Across the street was a stand of trees and a sharp descent into a field. My earliest memory was of a 4--year old me in 1959 playing in the car and somehow releasing the brake. The car began to roll toward the street with me in it! I knew that nothing good was going to come of this, so I put my foot on the brake pedal and yelled for help! The car did not roll into the street, I was rescued, and am here to tell the tale!

@DavidSmith-sb2ix

5 жыл бұрын

The brake on my 49 Dodge had a handle shaped like the handle of a sickle. I think there was a release on it that allowed it to drop down. You pulled it up to release. Clumsier but effective. Chrysler didn't use a park gear until about the mid 60s. My 61 Chrysler didn't.

My first car was a 1950 Dodge Coronet with Gyro-matic Drive. I drove it about 75K miles. These were rock solid cars with one exception - they didn't like humidity and just wouldn't start when it was damp. Unlike what you described it did NOT have a shift quadrant. If you wanted to start in first gear you placed the shift lever in the normal second gear position on a manual transmission, let out the clutch and stepped on the gas. At about 20 mph you let your foot off of the gas and it shifted up to second gear. Then, you could put in the clutch and shift it to third gear. There were only three forward gears. OR, the usual way everyone drove them was to push in the clutch, put the lever in third gear position, let out the clutch and hit the gas. The transmission started in second gear and then when you let your foot off of the gas it shifted to high gear. The transmission always started in the gear lower than where you had the lever - if the lever was in second position it started in first and shifted to second - if the lever was in third position it started in second gear and shifted to third. They used a manual transmission, torque converter and solenoids to accomplish all of this. I think Chrysler started using it in1942 and switched to 2-speed Powerflite fully automatic in about 1954. In about 1957 they hit the market with the rock solid 3-speed Torqueflite. Best transmissions I have ever owned.

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

The cars with a simple fluid coupling didn't have the shift dial, I think only cars with the torque converter did. Your 50 did have 4 speeds, but 2nd and 3rd were so close together that it seemed like it only had 3.

Keith didn't really say it this way, so I want to add this: You only needed to push-in the clutch to move the gear shift lever. Also, not mentioned, is that all of the clutch pedals since the first fluid-drive in 1939 were embossed with "Safety-Clutch" visible on the pedal. The reason is that at the time people were afraid of a car that had the ability to move on its own and "Safety-Clutch" gave them the confidence that they were indeed in-control of the car.

In 1962 I pulled a u-haul from Nebraska to Washington with a New Yorker. It had a Hemi v8 and this transmission. Got along fine. Had the car several years (wish I still had it) and don't think I ever used low range.

@johnmaki3046

3 жыл бұрын

In low range, these cars COULD DRAG A HOUSE!

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

You only needed Lo for going down steep hills.

As a young kid very much into cars of all kinds - in the late 50's-1960s, I remember seeing 1948-53 Chrysler products (Dodge, DeSoto etc) that were still in regular use and used to wonder what a "Safety Clutch" was.. and some of the new cars like your 1953 Chrysler had the gear selector like a regular automatic and a little clutch... really weird. My dad would just say it was "fluid drive" but didn't know how it worked. I recall that some of the Chrysler cars of that same period had regular standard 3 on the column. Fluid drive was probably an option. Chrysler got a fully automatic trans a little later than GM and Ford. Thank you for your video. It sort of solved a 60 year mystery as to how it worked.

That dash looks as new as brand new! Wow so clean

Next door neighbor was a Chrysler Plymouth dealer, had a son my age, we were best buddies. So kind of grew up with these things. Adding that gear display was new, but actually starting off with the 1946 units was called a tip toe shift. Reverse was like any conventional gear shift up from neutral to the top, and also putting the gearshift lever on the steering wheel column was a brand new thing, well some 40's and 41 cars had this feature. 2nd gear in a conventional was 1 and 2nd gear, needed to step on the clutch for any shifting. but after in gear could release it with the fluid coupling. Step on the gas, release it, would shift into 2nd gears. Conventional 3rd gear was 3rd and 4th, same deal. Could speed shift, hit the clutch, jam in conventional 2nd gear, floor it, hit the clutch jam into neutral would be installing in 2nd, jam the clutch again, instant in 3rd, again, from conventional to neutral back to 3rd would be in fourth gear. Fluid clutch also gave about a three times multiplier. Ha, even with a 1948, we left a rich kid driving his old man's 54 Buick in the dust. Price? In 1957 purchased a beautiful 1948 Chrysler in Lake Forest for only $65.00, was in the military, gave me 6 cents a mile for my next base 1000 miles away. That was 60 bucks, plus had another 20 bucks, but needed 15 bucks for gas. I really loved these cars. I did pick up a 49 Olds for 30 bucks, no clutch with a four speed hydramatic, no clutches in these, Chrysler was behind. Chevy, believe this was in 1951 came out with a 2 speed powerglide transmission, we called these turtle torque. Buick had four holes in the front fender, that is where dyna flowed.

Dad had one back then. It was the talk of the town GREAT CAR. (RIP DAD)

I had a 53 Chrysler in about 1963 which I bought from a friend for $250. It was a V8, not a six - which would have been an early Hemi from what I see on Wikipedia. The transmission began slipping and it was diagnosed with a bad converter and I managed to replace it with one from a wrecking yard, but it soon slipped again and I gave it away. In retrospect it might well have been the clutch that was slipping but I wasn't savvy enough at the time to consider it. The worst thing about the driving experience was the braking. They were hydraulic but there was no power assist and that was a massively heavy car. It took all of my youthful strength to force it to a halt. Even in those days of overconfidence it repeatedly surprised me how hard it was to stop. I later owned a 55 De Soto which did have a Hemi in it for sure and a fully automatic transmission and it had perfectly acceptable brakes. The view of the dash sure brought back the memories.

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

It was a slipping clutch, and most 53 Chryslers had power brakes. You booster wasn't working. My booster on my 54 Wagon doesn't work either, and you have to press hard, but I used to drive big rigs, so it doesn't really bother me.

My uncle had a '53 Chrysler with a hemi and this transmission. Hemi was brute horsepower and the semi auto trans functioned flawlessly. I got to drive it quite often after I got my driver's license in the spring of 1963. The car by then was a spare road car for the insurance company uncle owned and I ran errands with the Chrysler after school.

Nice video. I watched out out curiosity and to learn something. Also, your car is nice. Its quiet and runs smooth. Four door cars of the 50's are highly underrated. Thanks for sharing.

My Father had a 1951 Dodge Diplomat 2 dr hardtop with Gyromatic, the same transmission described her. At least in 1954 they began to provide Poerflyte a true automatic with only 2 speeds. No Park. Chyrsler had industry leading 3 speed Torqueflyte fomrm 1957, but still no park. You had to rely on a driveshaft mounted parking brake..

My dad had a ‘53 New Yorker. It had a semi-automatic transmission like this. I remember the scratchy cloth interior; I believe it was called mohair but could be wrong. Nice video and brought back memories of the car’s interior.

Very cool video. Thanks for showing it. When I was 15 years old and had my learners permit about 1 month, I was visiting my great grandfather and he had me drive him from the farm into town in a car just like this one. I was familiar driving both a stick or auto trans but I really didn't understand this one. He tried to explain it but he was about 85 years old by then and we had a bit of a communication gap. I just remember getting it out on the highway up to about 65 mph and he laughed and said "she still goes pretty good doesn't she". I'll never forget that time.

@keithsgarage5831

5 жыл бұрын

Cool story. Great memories Richard. How long ago was this drive with your Great Grandfather?

Dad bought a new 53 Desoto - my first memory! I drove it in high school. We took many family vacations in it, drove in all weather. Dad took meticulous care of all his cars, the only problem I remember was with the heater - probably just a hose. I had forgotten it was a 6 volt system. Dad sold it to a cousin in 69 for $100. Thanks for the video!

My parents bought a 1953 Windsor convertible new and that was the car I grew up in until they traded it in on a 1964 Chrysler station wagon. It had the same motor and transmission. They loved it.

Thank you for explaining Chrysler's Fluid Drive transmission. So many have tried but my thick skull just couldn't comprehend. Your explanation was clear and perfectly understandable. I feel as if I could sit in that car and operate it perfectly now.

Thank you for this explanation. I'm toying with the idea of buying a collectible post-war MOPAR. After some research, I've learned of several different transmissions over the years from right after WWII until the true automatic was introduced. I appreciate your clear and concise lesson.

My Dad had a 1953 Chrysler as his daily driver for te first few years of my life. I seem to remember it being a Fluid Drive like yours. I believe his was a V-8 engine, though. The longtime babysitter that came to sit my sister and me back in the day drove an old 1949 Plymouth with a straight 6 and thee-speed shift. Her mother, who she lived with, drove a 1948 Chrysler. I'd walk from my piano lessons up on the hill above my hometown. My sitter and her mother lived a few blocks down the street I'd walk to get downtown. That Chrysler had a very distinct roar when it was pulling up that hill; a very aggressive exhaust note.

My father told me about owning one of these, and how it worked. Until today, I didn't know what the car looked like. Thank you.

@12053mike

4 жыл бұрын

My dad told me the same thing. Yes, thanks for posting how it worked.

Pretty car and apparently pleasant to drive. There were a lot of these still around when I was a kid but I never got to drive one. Thanks for the ride.

What a beauty……thanks for the look and the correct info.

My dad had a 1953 DeSoto with this transmission arrangement, it still confounds me to this very day.

I recently bought a '50 Windsor and had no idea how the transmission worked. Also there was no car manual and the 50 has no gear indicator on the column like yours does so it was that much harder. The guy I met with with was selling it for someone else and they had driven it, he didn't even know there was a 1st and 2nd just thought it was kinda gutless ha ha. I watched this video a week or so before buying the car. It really was helpfull, thank you very much

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. So glad to hear that the info helped you out.

Best demonstration of Fluid Drive I've seen. Thanks very much for clearing up that mystery!

My father had a 1952 Dodge Coupe Coronet. Flathead 6 cylinder 160 hp with the Fluid Drive semi automatic. She dropped into 1st automatically when you stopped. Then you shifted into 2nd and 3rd. Really nice looking car. Long hood with a big ol ram's head on it, split windshield and a cowl vent that you opened by pushing down a lever under the dash. I learned to drive in that car at 14.

This was interesting to watch. Had heard about Fluid Drive but never understood until now how it worked. Thank you for demonstrating.

@keithsgarage5831

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I have been studying the mechanics of how this semi-auto transmission works. Its unique, very interesting, and a well engineered design.

Very nice, probably the best explanation of this product and procedure for use that I’ve ever heard. My dad dragged home a 50 Desoto with this transmission. Someone had put a rod out through the block from not letting it shift and pushing it hard. We started a restoration but someone came by with an offer we couldn’t refuse. So, I never got the chance to drive one. Yours is a great example. Thanks for sharing. 😎👍👏

Fascinating! Have heard about fluid torque drive for years, never saw it in action until now! Excellent video!

@dondesnoo1771

4 жыл бұрын

When a chrysler 300 raced at the drags everyone laughed had to let off wait for click then it shifted .😘was 50yrs ago .Buick had a variable pitch trans 57 century got you many trophies.

I appreciate your content thanks 👍

Great video..

Thanks Keith! I just bought a 1952 Dodge Diplomat with the fluid drive and was a little confused. This explains it. Great video and thanks for sharing!

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

Giant Gnome awesome. Welcome to the club!

@tomfrazier1103

4 жыл бұрын

Are you in Hawaii? Mopar sent some strange stuff here, De Soto & Fargo trucks. Our De Soto Diplomats were Plymouth bodies with De Soto grilles. I've learned Mopar had a disparate & varied export line as Toyota ever did!

Thank you that was great, I love how much you have to work the steering wheel in the old cars. Car is definitely a beauty.

Thank you Keith for the excellent demonstration. Yes, GM did offer a similar transmission in 1938, but I don't know for how many years. Oldsmobile had it under the name of Automatic Safety Transmission and Buick sold it as the Self-Shifter. It operated the same way: it had a foot operated clutch for start and stop and a RNLH shifter. Clutching was not required to shift from Low to High, but manual shift was necessary. Both L and H had two gears (1&2 and 3&4 respectively). It did not have a torque converter.

Thank you so much for sharing! I just picked up my 53 ny in a baby blue with a white top! This is the first time I've driven a classic car with this type of system in her!

I want this car mister! I remember these cars in Sydney when I was a kid. Here's a bit of trivia: not just Chrysler, but also the GM and Ford cars imported into Australia in those days were the Canadian models. Might be because Canada produced the right-hand drive models for the big three? Major markets would have presumably been UK, Aus, New Zealand and South Africa. Not sure. The Europeans were never big on "American" cars. Even in Australia they were derided as "Yank Tanks" (not by me, of course). I had lots of them (later models), including a candy-apple red pillarless 4 door sports Belvedere which I transplanted a 440 CID into back in '74. Souped 'er up a little. It was a "Christine" way before the movie. It also appeared in an Australian movie called "Shout", which was a telemovie about Aus rock & roll singer Johnny O'Keefe. For something a little different, check out Chrysler Royal (Australia) on Wikipedia. They ran from '57 to '63, biggest donk being the 313 CID. They came in Station Wagons and "Utes" - which you might know as "pick-ups". An era gone by. But I really want that car mister! You'd better lock 'er up... . .

@robertdaniels1269

2 жыл бұрын

Canada and all the countries you mention were all part of the Commonwealth, so there were no tariffs or duties involved with cars from Canada.

Has a friend swap a early Chrysler hemi into a 53 Mercury. Used the fluid drive clutch and converter with a Plymouth 3 speed manual transmission. He could drive it like a stick shift or automatic. Drive train was all bolt together, just had to fab a floor shifter.

My family inherited a 1952 or ‘53 De Soto from relatives around 1960. I was around nine or ten but I remember being so fascinated by that weird transmission. Seems we didn’t keep it very long. What a collector it would be today.

Sweet n smooth, thanks for taking us along for this ride. Almost like being there! Don't sell here. Enjoyed vid very much :)

Thanks for this. Neighbors inherited an immaculate 1948 upscale Chrysler, I seem to remember it was a New Yorker. This was in the late 1960s - clock worked, radio worked with the face changing colors depending on the tone and volume. I believe the speedometer changed colors too depending on the speed. 3 speed Fluid Drive but an earlier setup without the indicator. Still wonder what happened to it after all of these years. Great memories.

Love the Chrysler products of 49-53. Especially the Chrysler like this one

I heard of these transmissions and always wondered for how they were operated. Thanks!

Beautiful condition

@keithsgarage5831

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, thanks

This car,m Chrysler six with Fluid Torque must be one of a kind these days. Beautiful car. (Green with envy!)

@keithsgarage5831

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I don't see any of them in my travels around here. A rare hen indeed.

To my understanding Hudson had a similar system called the Drive Master. It had a clutch pedal and a normal three on the tree shift pattern but it also had a switch with three drive modes: conventional manual, clutchless manual and "fully automatic". If you selected the automatic mode you had to move the gearshift lever where third would be then it worked like the Chryslers. The car would start in second and after you speeded up and let off the accelerator, it shifted to third. Slow down and it shifts back to second.

Excellent explanation! I have a 1948 version that is the same but the shift quadrant is a little different. There are a number of incorrect youtube tutorials on this so it was great to hear and watch your accurate description. Beautiful car too!!!

Beautiful car. I got my grandfather's 49 Dodge Coronet in 1964 when I was 17. Loved it. Same transmission but called Gyromatic in Dodges. 230 engine I believe. Yours may be larger. No power steering. Built up your muscles parking it.

@keithsgarage5831

5 жыл бұрын

Hi David. Thanks. My Chrylser has a 265 C.I. engine in it. Yes, it is larger. Manual steering too.

@tomfrazier1103

4 жыл бұрын

@@keithsgarage5831 I had a 236 cid. in my De Soto Deluxe.

Absolutely beautiful car sir.

I had a 1951½ DeSoto with what my dad called a "fluid clutch automatic". It did not have the automatic-type of display on the column. I drove it for many years here in Manitoba and its gearshift arrangement was similar to a true three-on-the-tree standard. It had the throttle/gas, brake and clutch pedals just like your Chrysler. Left-Up on the tree was reverse of course. Left-Down was Low, only used for steep hills and pulling heavy loads. When starting in Low, one could shift through the positions manually, with the clutch, just like a full standard, but we rarely did that. Right-Up was First and also rarely used. Right-Down was the standard drive mode with the release of the gas pedal clicking into a higher gear. As I remember, there were two release-and-clicks to get to highway speed. I think all positions required the clutch...it's a bit foggy to me now, though. Your 53 Windsor looks like an upgrade to that system, bridging the gap further toward fully automatic transmissions. It's a beautiful car and thanks for the nice reminder of the memories!

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

You only need to clutch to select a range from Neutral, or to change to Lo or Reverse. Normal driving is indeed clutchless.

@andreamills5852

Жыл бұрын

My 50 Dodge Coronet is like that

The engine sound is so pure !

Instead of offering the advantages of both manual and automatic transmissions, it gave you the disadvantages of both.

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

Disagree. The semi-auto tranny in use here is very robust and still works reliably 67 years later and on. It's easy to use and adequate for the power the engine makes, and the weight of the car.

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

Different strokes for different folks.

Thanks for showing us how it works.

Similar to the Wilson pre-selector and fluid flywheel used by Daimler from the mid 30s until late 1950. The 'gear change pedal' changed between the 4 gears and the fluid flywheel meant there was no gearbox to crash through so it was very smooth for the day and simple to drive.

In 1953, you already had Hydramatic, Dynaflow, and Powerglide all from GM. I think Fordomatic came out that year. Borg Warner had the DG series automatic, and Packard had Ultramatic. Chrysler didn’t offer an automatic until 1955 with Torqueflight with those awesome push button shifters.

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

Chrysler started offering the 2 speed Powerflite in mid 53, but with a conventional gear shift. The 55 had it on the dash, instead of the column. 56 was with the push buttons.

Interesting design, reminds me of my grandfather ( The Elderly man look).

Your car has some pretty lines. So nice. My brother in law had a 50's Mercedes Benz that had a semi automatic transmission. I'm not sure if it had a clutch or not. Thanks for posting this bit of history.

It is a bit to get used to, my 1947 Dodge has the Fluid Drive. I have to constantly remind myself I don't need the clutch every time I stop.

That was very interesting, I always wondered how it was to drive one of these. And it's a lovely old car too. Cheers.

a guy at an auto show had a 39 Olds with a semi-automatic, drove smooooth, he pointed to a gizmo under the hood right behind the radiator fan, it looked like a small paddle and bet me I couldn't figure out what it did...won that bet, I guessed it controls the radio volume, as engine rpm increases or speed the air flow moves the paddle and increases the volume on the radio

Automatics were fairly cheap, but Chrysler felt that they took too much control away from the driver. Their answer was Fluid Drive with the Vacamatic transmission on the Chrysler 6 and DeSoto, replaced with the hydraulic M6 after the war on both 6 and 8 cylinder. Dodges had just the fluid couple with a 3 speed manual until 1949, although earlier models have been found with the semi automatic.

Grew up with older, cheaper used MoPars from the late '40s-mid "50s (Plymouth, Dodge DeSoto, Chrysler) AWESOME VEHICLES! This was back when "American Exceptionalism" WAS EARNED...NOT A STUPID POLITICAL SLOGAN!

My 1948 Dodge Coupe 218.7 has the 3rd gear fluid drive. Basically while in 3rd gear. U don't have to downshift at a stop! Green light go or take off slowly! Not a lot of power during takeoff! Thanks for find! Very rare where did u get detailed info? I did get a set of Dykas! By the way Dodge wad way ahead with brake light mounted on the center of the trunk! Turn signals on fenders! Richard from Pasadena California 91107 There is guy in Murietta California who has quite a selection of Chrysler Dodge Mopar parts n stuff ! Pricey but available!

@davidcoles9775

8 ай бұрын

What are Dyka's?

What a beautiful car!!

I had a 1954 Plymouth.You could just put it in high with the clutch and stay there or you could work the clutch through 1st,2nd and high.I loved that car.

@That_AMC_Guy

3 жыл бұрын

That's the standard Fluid Drive. Fluid Drive was nothing more than a fluid coupling between the engine and clutch. It was mated to a 3-speed gearbox. This was your basic powertrain in both Plymouths and Dodges. But in Chryslers and Desotos, they got the more complicated "Gyro-Matic" (one of it's many names) which was a 2-speed manual transmission with an auxiliary planetary gearbox with under and direct ratios exactly like what's in this Chrysler here. It's the auxiliary box that's doing the shifting here. It was an ingenious device but, far too late if you ask me. Heck, even Studebaker and Packard had developed their own automatics by 1950. Well, Studebaker bought autos from Borg-Warner and Packard had developed their own 2-speed UltraMatic. Chrysler was caught with their pants down and didn't debut the PowerFlite until 1954!

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

Plymouth called that Hy Drive. That came out in 53, but I have seen at least 2 different 55s with it.

that's great dude, those things are awesome

I had the opportunity to drive one of these recently. For a car without power steering or power brakes it was sure easy to drive.

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

I agree! It is a pleasure to drive.

REAL NICE CAR AND VIDEO ENJOYED IT

We had a '52 DeSoto Firedome Fluid Drive in 1965 when I was 12.

In the late 70s / early 80s Honda Civics were available with a dual-range automatic transmission. Low was for stop-and-go traffic around town and High was for higher speeds out on the highway.

Thanks for this video, always wondered how it worked.

@keithsgarage5831

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Nice car. We have a ‘48 Dodge. Also fluid drive, but it’s a three speed. Just a little earlier in the evolution of the fully automatic transmission Nice job on the video .

@discerningmind

6 жыл бұрын

I believe your Dodge has the three-speed manual with fluid drive. That's a nice and somewhat rare set up.

The fluid drive was used in 2 speed Westinghouse centrifugal hi speed air conditioning compressors….taken over McKay…now Diaken…great compressors……great machines…..glad I’m retired and living Panama

Ok now I want one Keith. Love your car!

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

I think we know where to find an exact twin. ;)

My sister had a Chrysler that had one of these...was great in NY, on hills, you could just sit and not have to worry about rolling backwards and the clutch, of course, if it was a steep hill, you did have to downshift. So odd that Chrysler a more upscale car, would have this...my Dad's 51 Studebaker Commander had a fully automatic, started off in 2nd, anti-creep, anti-roll back, and full lock out torque converter ..I think it was a Detroit Gear automatic...But when Chrysler came out with the Torquflite...wow...but this 'fluid drive' was a very cool concept...

@discerningmind

6 жыл бұрын

Chrysler had obligations that ran longer after WWII than did Ford or GM. Since they had a rock solid transmission it wouldn't have made sense to change it until need be.

@SBCBears

4 жыл бұрын

The Studebakers had a feature the company called "Hill Holder".

Fluid Drive was one of the first automatic transmissions, in 1939. They were used in Chrysler DeSoto and Dodge cars until 1953. So this is one of the last ones. Starting in 1954 they got the Powerflite, a conventional automatic. The Fluid Drive plus self shifting M6 transmission was one of the simplest most trouble free automatics ever made. But they still had a clutch pedal, called the Safety Clutch. I believe Chrysler's engineers could have eliminated the clutch pedal. But since all drivers back then were used to a clutch pedal, they may have been afraid drivers would hit the clutch by reflex action in an emergency or maybe they thought their customers would not accept too radical a change all at once. The transmission is a 4 speed. You have a choice of 2 speed ranges, High for all normal driving, Low for starting off on a steep hill, pulling a heavy load of passengers and baggage, or driving in sand snow or mud. Normally you would start off in High range, lift your foot off the gas at any speed over 14 MPH and it shifts into high gear with a soft *click-clack* from under the floor boards. If you want to go in Low range do likewise, except it will shift into high gear (of low range) at any speed over 6 MPH. A lot like driving any automatic except you need the clutch to shift into gear.

@robertbaratheon9289

6 жыл бұрын

From what I've heard they were hard to stall and quite popular among women as well as cab drivers.

@keithb7

6 жыл бұрын

I think it would not be possible to stall the engine in my Chrysler. I have not found a way to stall it. The fluid torque drive eliminates any chance of stalling.

@mrdanforth3744

6 жыл бұрын

That's right. My favorite technique is to shift into gear with the hand brake on and release the clutch fully. Then release the brake and drive like an automatic. Once it is in gear you don't need the clutch unless you want to shift into reverse.

@4406bbldb

6 жыл бұрын

Mr Danforth 374 hydromatic was in my 52 hudson. Ford had a auto behind the flathead in 50, my car to. I can't remember more right now.

@dehoedisc7247

6 жыл бұрын

When the term "semi-automatic" is a perfectly well defined word, then Use it. Fluid Drive was a useful transmission that was appreciated after many years of grinding gears in conventional gearboxes. It was not an automatic. Ask the designers of the PowerFlite and Torqueflite.

My first car that licenced for the road was a 1952 Chrysler Windsor coupe with fluid drive at age 15 it was a fun car always started even at -35

Knew very little about these. Thanks!

very cool..thanks for the tour

I always wondered how those things worked!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the dash its sleek and simple.

Mafia 2 looking good

I always said that the semi-automatic transmissions Mopar went to in 1941 had all the liabilities of both automatics and standards with none of the advantages of either. One advantage of a standard is being able to lock it in gear when stopped--this is impossible with a semi-auto. Another advantage of a standard is a direct hook-up to the transmission with no slippage--this is impossible with a semi-auto. And to think Chrysler had overdrive available with their standard transmissions from the mid-30's to the 1940. When they went to the semi-auto, they lost overdrive and added much higher axle ratios in the process. Chrysler wouldn't offer overdrive again until 1952. GM had by far the best full automatic right out of the door in 1940 with four forward gears with very little slippage and positive shifts.

I see you have the Air conditioning window turned on there. I have a 1953 Yale forklift with the Chrysler flat 6 and a fluid coupling. 2 forward and 2 reverse, no auto shifting. It does work NICE!

Powerflyte was excellent

I had one of these cars! Talk about a beauty! Fluid torque drive transmission. They only made it for one year. Maybe even a half a year. I think it was the middle of 52 to the middle of 53 and then they changed it over.

@keithsgarage5831

5 жыл бұрын

The M6 Presto-Matic was a Chrysler Corporation transmission produced from 1946-1953. It was a special manual transmission with a fluid coupling. The Presto-Matic name was only used on Chrysler-brand cars. DeSoto called the transmission the Tip-Toe Shift, while Dodge used Gyro-Matic, Fluid-Matic, Fluidtorque, or Gyro-Torque. Chrysler and DeSoto sold the unit from 1946-1953, while Dodge did not introduce it until 1948. Plymouth introduced their Hy-Drive semi-automatic in 1953, but all were replaced by the PowerFlite automatic in 1954.

@mrdanforth3744

5 жыл бұрын

They made a self shifting Fluid Drive transmission from 1939 on. The refinement of the torque converter was offered as an option starting in 1951. They never did stop making the torque converter as it is used in practically all automatics, even today.

I like the old Chrysler.

@34Packardphaeton

5 жыл бұрын

..... and it's got VENT windows in the BACK doors! Hooray!!

My Family had two of them

In 1953 I was 6, just getting ready to start first grade in school. Now I’m 72, starting to think of retirement, and this transmission system seems so complicated to me! No wonder it did not catch on!

@keithsgarage5831

4 жыл бұрын

03Venture lol. No, Its easy!

@michaelbenardo5695

2 жыл бұрын

It lasted in this form for 1946 through 53, with a few 54s and 55s assembled.

Awesome video!

@keithsgarage5831

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I try to be synthetic. I'm Italian from Milan, I'm 53 years old. At the age of 12 I have a passion for automatic transmissions, here in Italy they are a rarity. I can get the workshop manuals and study them. In the 80s in Italy the automatic transmission was a rarity and there was a lot of ignorance. Unfortunately, there is no meritocracy like in the United States, I would have liked to work in this area. In any case, the Hydraulic coupling has made us understand the qualities of the 'stator' inserted in the torque converter. The first were manual gearboxes supported by a torque converter; interesting and imaginative the acronyms on the time selectors. Here in Italy there are many cars with the converter but it is the dual clutch system (lighter) that is giving excellent results: DSG. It works in the same way as a hydraulic automatic, but it is much faster and lighter. Fuel costs are a problem here. Thank you for your videos and for the interesting channel.

@crist67mustang

Ай бұрын

Wow, me too. I write from Santiago de Chile, and I remember in 1977 first automatic japanese cars available, Hondamatic on Accord and Civic, Mazda 323, Subaru 4WD automatic. In 1980 arrived Italian Fiat 132 (woof, pretty nice car) automatic transmission, (kick down system sticker on rear glass), and American Dodge Aspen assambled in Chrysler of Chile with automatic gear box. My passion was/is automatic cars. My first auto was an Oldsmobile 88 1952 hydramatic. 😊

W😎 W what a friggin wonderful ride 👍‼️ My 53 had a 2 speed PTO rear end gear with Fluid drive, 100 mpg on the freeway, in 3rd ,p the technology for less emissions is through the gearing up/ down p on engine RPMs Via the transfer case, posting an honorable memories of Karen Dodge, Palm Beach FL ♥️🙏♥️‼️

Wonderful car!

Dodge had this. They called it the Gyro-matic

Gorgeous car 🚙!