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Curbside Classics Archives
tech Archive
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![Back in 1961, Mercedes-Benz belatedly introduced its first in-house automatic transmission, known by the prosaic designation K4A 025 and offered in the company’s new W112 Mercedes 300SE flagship sedan. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1962-Mercedes-Benz-300SE-sedan-Bordeaux-Lutziger-Classic-Cars-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1961 Mercedes-Benz K4A Automatic Transmission – “Mercedes Builds A Brain Box”")
CC Tech: 1961 Mercedes-Benz K4A Automatic Transmission – “Mercedes Builds A Brain Box”
Posted on May 2, 2025 | 16 CommentsBack in 1961, Mercedes-Benz belatedly introduced its first in-house automatic transmission, known by the prosaic designation K4A 025 and offered in the company’s new W112 Mercedes 300SE flagship sedan. […] -
![The auction listing for this attractive Tampico Red 1961 Buick Electra 225 convertible claims that it has a “column-shifted two-speed automatic transmission.” As you may already know if you’re […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1961-Buick-Electra-225-convertible-RM-Sothebys-front-3q.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: Inside Buick’s Turbine Drive (Twin Turbine) Automatic Transmission")
CC Tech: Inside Buick’s Turbine Drive (Twin Turbine) Automatic Transmission
Posted on April 7, 2025 | 31 CommentsThe auction listing for this attractive Tampico Red 1961 Buick Electra 225 convertible claims that it has a “column-shifted two-speed automatic transmission.” As you may already know if you’re […] -
![Back in the spring of 1963, GM’s now-defunct Oldsmobile division introduced a new version of its F-85 compact sedan called Jetfire, which added a turbocharger to its lightweight aluminum V-8 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1962-Oldsmobile-Jetfire-featured-MT-1962-09.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1962–1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire – How Powerful (And How Fast) Was This Early Turbocharged Car?")
1962–1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire – How Powerful (And How Fast) Was This Early Turbocharged Car?
Posted on March 5, 2025 | 9 CommentsBack in the spring of 1963, GM’s now-defunct Oldsmobile division introduced a new version of its F-85 compact sedan called Jetfire, which added a turbocharger to its lightweight aluminum V-8 […] -
![Introduced in 1962, the 90-degree Buick Fireball V-6 engine was basically three-fourths of Buick’s small aluminum V-8, cast in iron rather than in light alloy to create a cheaper base […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1962-Buick-Fireball-V-6-cutaway.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1978 Buick Even-Fire V6 – Buick Evens The Odds")
CC Tech: 1978 Buick Even-Fire V6 – Buick Evens The Odds
Posted on January 29, 2025 | 42 CommentsIntroduced in 1962, the 90-degree Buick Fireball V-6 engine was basically three-fourths of Buick’s small aluminum V-8, cast in iron rather than in light alloy to create a cheaper base […] -
![The Volvo 200 Series ran for 19 years and 2.8 million cars, and many still consider it the definitive Volvo for its brick-like styling and sensible-shoes dependability. However, its […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1979_volvo_242_coupe_15531297296de3ef250D8O6286.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1979 Volvo 242DL Lambda Sond – Volvo And Bosch Revolutionize Engine Technology")
CC Tech: 1979 Volvo 242DL Lambda Sond – Volvo And Bosch Revolutionize Engine Technology
Posted on January 26, 2025 | 10 CommentsThe Volvo 200 Series ran for 19 years and 2.8 million cars, and many still consider it the definitive Volvo for its brick-like styling and sensible-shoes dependability. However, its […] -
![Most fans of the Pontiac GTO have heard of the legendary Royal Bobcat tuning kit for Pontiac 389 and 421 engines. In the June 1963 Car Life, automotive writer […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1964-Pontiac-Tempest-GTO-coupe-Royal-Bobcat-decal-Mecum.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: Pontiac Royal Bobcat Kit – “The Screwdriver Tune-Up” For Hot 389s And 421s")
CC Tech: Pontiac Royal Bobcat Kit – “The Screwdriver Tune-Up” For Hot 389s And 421s
Posted on January 22, 2025 | 21 CommentsMost fans of the Pontiac GTO have heard of the legendary Royal Bobcat tuning kit for Pontiac 389 and 421 engines. In the June 1963 Car Life, automotive writer […] -
![Chrysler claimed many advantages for its vaunted 1957 “Torsion-Aire” suspension, which featured torsion bar springs rather than coil springs in front. Over the years, the success of this suspension has […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1957-Plymouth-Torsion-Aire-brochure-excerpt.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: Riding On Torsion-Aire – Chrysler’s Famous 1957 Torsion Bar Suspension")
CC Tech: Riding On Torsion-Aire – Chrysler’s Famous 1957 Torsion Bar Suspension
Posted on January 13, 2025 | 32 CommentsChrysler claimed many advantages for its vaunted 1957 “Torsion-Aire” suspension, which featured torsion bar springs rather than coil springs in front. Over the years, the success of this suspension has […] -
![In the early ’60s, Detroit had a brief flirtation with aluminum engines, but high costs, manufacturing problems, and warranty headaches soon drove automakers back to cast iron, taking advantage of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1962-02_MT_Iron_Parts_Can_Be_Lighter.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: Thinwall Iron Castings For Engines – Why Detroit Turned Away From Aluminum")
CC Tech: Thinwall Iron Castings For Engines – Why Detroit Turned Away From Aluminum
Posted on January 6, 2025 | 48 CommentsIn the early ’60s, Detroit had a brief flirtation with aluminum engines, but high costs, manufacturing problems, and warranty headaches soon drove automakers back to cast iron, taking advantage of […] -
![I previously talked about how the unusual 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive automatic went backwards. Here’s the rest of the story of this remarkable, short-lived transmission, including the question […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1961-Buick-Skylark-Dual-Path-Turbine-Drive-AACA-Forums.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: More on the Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Asking “Why” As Well As “How”")
CC Tech: More on the Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Asking “Why” As Well As “How”
Posted on December 23, 2024 | 18 CommentsI previously talked about how the unusual 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive automatic went backwards. Here’s the rest of the story of this remarkable, short-lived transmission, including the question […] -
![GM’s Y-body “senior compacts” — the Buick Special/Skylark, Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass, and Pontiac Tempest/Le Mans — boasted many interesting engineering features, from their lightweight aluminum V-8 engines to the Tempest’s flexible […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1961-Buick-Dual-Path-Turbine-Drive-cutaway.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Forward Thinking About Going Backwards")
CC Tech: 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Forward Thinking About Going Backwards
Posted on December 7, 2024 | 21 CommentsGM’s Y-body “senior compacts” — the Buick Special/Skylark, Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass, and Pontiac Tempest/Le Mans — boasted many interesting engineering features, from their lightweight aluminum V-8 engines to the Tempest’s flexible […] -
![While the illustration above might look a lot like Chevrolet’s ubiquitous aluminum Powerglide, it’s actually a completely different transmission: the Buick-built two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic transmission, which went into […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Buick-Super-Turbine-300-automatic-transmission-640099-F05.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: The Buick Super Turbine 300 Automatic Transmission — Not a Powerglide")
CC Tech: The Buick Super Turbine 300 Automatic Transmission — Not a Powerglide
Posted on December 3, 2024 | 28 CommentsWhile the illustration above might look a lot like Chevrolet’s ubiquitous aluminum Powerglide, it’s actually a completely different transmission: the Buick-built two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic transmission, which went into […] -
![(first posted 9/21/2017) I’ve long had a fixation on the lack of four speed transmissions being available on American compacts in the 1960s. The standard three […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Slant-6-4-speed-64-dart-br.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Factory Four Speed Transmission Behind a Slant Six? Yup, For a Couple of Years Anyway")
Automotive History: Factory Four Speed Transmission Behind a Slant Six? Yup, For a Couple of Years Anyway
Posted on September 21, 2023 | 81 Comments(first posted 9/21/2017) I’ve long had a fixation on the lack of four speed transmissions being available on American compacts in the 1960s. The standard three […] -
![To me, this is a new car. My parents have owned it since 1990, and they even permitted me to drive it to school once a week when I turned […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PXL_20230814_182220683a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1988 Ford Mustang GT – Plastic, A Better Idea In Quarter Windows")
CC Tech: 1988 Ford Mustang GT – Plastic, A Better Idea In Quarter Windows
Posted on August 17, 2023 | 40 CommentsTo me, this is a new car. My parents have owned it since 1990, and they even permitted me to drive it to school once a week when I turned […] -
![(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/CC-328-033.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders")
Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders
Posted on June 23, 2023 | 57 Comments(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […] -
![(first posted 6/3/2017) After seeing the explosion of the aftermarket air conditioning sales in the early 1950’s, Detroit decided to get back into the factory air conditioning business […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1007-01-automotive-air-conditioning-chevrolet.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 3 – Post-World War II")
Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 3 – Post-World War II
Posted on June 3, 2023 | 108 Comments(first posted 6/3/2017) After seeing the explosion of the aftermarket air conditioning sales in the early 1950’s, Detroit decided to get back into the factory air conditioning business […]
