why only powerglide
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Monroe Twp, NJ
why only powerglide
Why would chevrolet only offer the Powerglide in the 53 to late 55 Corvette. They had a standard transmission for years? It makes no sense. Sports cars were standard shifts. Even Fords 1st PERSONAL car had a standard shift option?
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From: Washington Michigan
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Introduced only a few of years before the Corvette, Powerglide was a HOT option on the Chevy passenger cars. And it proved to be the most trouble-free early automatic in the industry.
The more money buyers spent on ANY American car in the early fifties, the more likely they would specify an automatic trans.
As the top-of-the-line Chevy, it made sense to the product planners to make Powerglide standard. They called it a sports car but did not expect owners to race them. Thus, like the tri-five T-Birds, relatively few would have been expected to specify a stick if it was available.
The more money buyers spent on ANY American car in the early fifties, the more likely they would specify an automatic trans.
As the top-of-the-line Chevy, it made sense to the product planners to make Powerglide standard. They called it a sports car but did not expect owners to race them. Thus, like the tri-five T-Birds, relatively few would have been expected to specify a stick if it was available.
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C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
In his groundbreaking book, Corvette America's Star Spangled Sports Car, Karl Ludvigsen wrote almost 40 years ago:
"Apparent logic at various levels impelled the Chevy engineers toward one of the most controversial decisions made on the original Corvette: to offer it only with the Powerglide automatic transmission. The basic engine was the Powerglide unit, so it was easiest to build it for use with that transmission. It was also simple to equip it with a floor mounted shift range control which was indispensable because the extra shaft needed by a column shift would have interfered with the rearmost of the three carburetors."
"Apparent logic at various levels impelled the Chevy engineers toward one of the most controversial decisions made on the original Corvette: to offer it only with the Powerglide automatic transmission. The basic engine was the Powerglide unit, so it was easiest to build it for use with that transmission. It was also simple to equip it with a floor mounted shift range control which was indispensable because the extra shaft needed by a column shift would have interfered with the rearmost of the three carburetors."
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From: Huntsville AL
I seem to recall reading somewhere that the standard transmission was not rated to handle the additional horsepower being generated by the Corvette 6 cylinder engine, but the Powerglide was.
I'll see if I can dig that reference up; it is in my library somewhere.
I'll see if I can dig that reference up; it is in my library somewhere.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
In his groundbreaking book, Corvette America's Star Spangled Sports Car, Karl Ludvigsen wrote almost 40 years ago:
"Apparent logic at various levels impelled the Chevy engineers toward one of the most controversial decisions made on the original Corvette: to offer it only with the Powerglide automatic transmission. The basic engine was the Powerglide unit, so it was easiest to build it for use with that transmission. It was also simple to equip it with a floor mounted shift range control which was indispensable because the extra shaft needed by a column shift would have interfered with the rearmost of the three carburetors."
"Apparent logic at various levels impelled the Chevy engineers toward one of the most controversial decisions made on the original Corvette: to offer it only with the Powerglide automatic transmission. The basic engine was the Powerglide unit, so it was easiest to build it for use with that transmission. It was also simple to equip it with a floor mounted shift range control which was indispensable because the extra shaft needed by a column shift would have interfered with the rearmost of the three carburetors."
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From: Greenville, Indiana
PS, I see you have an internet connection there during your internment.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Monroe Twp, NJ
Because I know that answer. Its called GM rivalry. If you were old enough you would understand. Had a uncle who worked for Buick and a Dad who worked for Chevrolet. The wars never ceased.
Drifting
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From: Cloud 10, Pangea
Yep, the 53 was designed as a sleek boulevarder and not necessarily as a race car... and being a high-end car it would have been offered with the latest innovations, like power-glide.
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From: Huntsville AL
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My hunch is that, for the Motorama car the Powerglide was simply convenient. For those early production cars, time was of the essence and there wasn't enough of it to develop a shifter for a manual transmission (at least not until 1955).
Ludvigsen's book is, in my opinion, what started the Corvette collecting hobby. Prior to its publication, early Corvettes were just interesting used cars. Subsequent to its publication, Corvette values began taking off. It's as if his book gave the Corvette the legitimacy that it needed but lacked.
Jim
Ludvigsen's book is, in my opinion, what started the Corvette collecting hobby. Prior to its publication, early Corvettes were just interesting used cars. Subsequent to its publication, Corvette values began taking off. It's as if his book gave the Corvette the legitimacy that it needed but lacked.
Jim
Safety Car
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
That is the exact reason given in a 1982 book, "Corvette, Past Present and Future" about why the Powerglide was used.
Team Owner
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From: Greenville, Indiana
There was even a HD version of the pass car three speed back then as used in light truck. Later versions of the standard transmissions were used even in the SHP 348 engines.
See Jim's post, again.
Team Owner
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From: Huntsville AL
We are not saying that this is a valid reason, only that there is a reference stating that this was the reason.
It stuck in my mind because it seemed like such a rediculous statement.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
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From: Huntsville AL
