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American Brands: GM 
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tech Archive
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![In late 1959, Ford introduced a new lightweight unit-body compact called Falcon. As Paul has previously chronicled, the Ford Falcon “platform” survived in the U.S. through 1980, and spawned some […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ford-Falcon-Comet-Fairlane-Mustang-Classic-Auto-Mall-front-composite.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "CC Tech: Ford Falcon, Comet, and Fairlane – How These Unit-Body Fords Were Alike (And Different)")
CC Tech: Ford Falcon, Comet, and Fairlane – How These Unit-Body Fords Were Alike (And Different)
Posted on November 23, 2025 | 1 CommentIn late 1959, Ford introduced a new lightweight unit-body compact called Falcon. As Paul has previously chronicled, the Ford Falcon “platform” survived in the U.S. through 1980, and spawned some […] -
![If you’re a fan of unit-bodied Ford or Mercury cars of the ’60s or ’70s — Mustang, Cougar, Falcon, Comet, Fairlane, Montego/Cyclone, or Maverick — you’ve probably heard of a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1966-Ford-Fairlane-torque-boxes-arrows.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "CC Tech: What Is A Torque Box? What They Do – And What They Don’t")
CC Tech: What Is A Torque Box? What They Do – And What They Don’t
Posted on November 22, 2025 | 18 CommentsIf you’re a fan of unit-bodied Ford or Mercury cars of the ’60s or ’70s — Mustang, Cougar, Falcon, Comet, Fairlane, Montego/Cyclone, or Maverick — you’ve probably heard of a […] -
![If you ask the seasoned Mopar fan when Chrysler first offered disc brakes, there’s a good chance they’ll tell you 1966, which was when caliper discs became optional for many […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1954-Chrysler-Crown-Imperial-8-passenger-sedan-Everglades-Green-bnicetwo-via-Hemmings-front-3q-right-brake-overlays-1.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "Chrysler’s Unusual 1949–1955 Four-Wheel Disc Brakes: A Very Different Kind of Disc")
Chrysler’s Unusual 1949–1955 Four-Wheel Disc Brakes: A Very Different Kind of Disc
Posted on November 2, 2025 | 33 CommentsIf you ask the seasoned Mopar fan when Chrysler first offered disc brakes, there’s a good chance they’ll tell you 1966, which was when caliper discs became optional for many […] -
![It may not come as a surprise that owning 11 cars and having worked on cars for others has given me a broad education in the world of automotive engineering. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/PXL_20240701_150044068-scaled.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1 "My 1963 Ford Thunderbird: Calling On The Experts—Removing An FE Intake Manifold And Living To Tell About It")
My 1963 Ford Thunderbird: Calling On The Experts—Removing An FE Intake Manifold And Living To Tell About It
Posted on September 28, 2025 | 33 CommentsIt may not come as a surprise that owning 11 cars and having worked on cars for others has given me a broad education in the world of automotive engineering. […] -
![In mid-1949, Crosley cars and trucks like this diminutive Crosley Hotshot roadster became the first American production models equipped with disc brakes, months ahead of Chrysler (and years before Studebaker, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1949-Crosley-Hot-Shot-Ocean-Foam-Green-Mecum-Auctions-S9-front-3q-left-Hydradisc.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "1949–1950 Crosley Hydradisc Brakes: The First Disc Brakes On An American Car")
1949–1950 Crosley Hydradisc Brakes: The First Disc Brakes On An American Car
Posted on September 27, 2025 | 12 CommentsIn mid-1949, Crosley cars and trucks like this diminutive Crosley Hotshot roadster became the first American production models equipped with disc brakes, months ahead of Chrysler (and years before Studebaker, […] -
![When most people think of GM triple-carburetor engines, they mostly think of the legendary Pontiac Tri-Power setup, but Oldsmobile actually beat Pontiac to the punch with its short-lived J-2 Rocket […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1957-Oldsmobile-Starfire-98-Sapphire-Mist-Victoria-White-RM-Auctions-Darin-Schnabel-left-front-3q-with-brochure-comp.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "1957–1958 Oldsmobile J-2 Engine: Similar To Pontiac Tri-Power, It Was Developed First")
1957–1958 Oldsmobile J-2 Engine: Similar To Pontiac Tri-Power, It Was Developed First
Posted on September 6, 2025 | 16 CommentsWhen most people think of GM triple-carburetor engines, they mostly think of the legendary Pontiac Tri-Power setup, but Oldsmobile actually beat Pontiac to the punch with its short-lived J-2 Rocket […] -
![By 1953, Chrysler was starting to pay the price for not having a real automatic transmission. The two-speed PowerFlite became available for senior models late in the ’53 model year, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1953-Plymouth-Cranbrook-4SD-Sonora-Bronze-Basil-Classics-front-3q-with-banner.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "1953–1954 Plymouth Hy-Drive Transmission – What Plymouth Buyers Got Instead Of A Real Automatic")
1953–1954 Plymouth Hy-Drive Transmission – What Plymouth Buyers Got Instead Of A Real Automatic
Posted on August 31, 2025 | 30 CommentsBy 1953, Chrysler was starting to pay the price for not having a real automatic transmission. The two-speed PowerFlite became available for senior models late in the ’53 model year, […] -
![One of the great joys of hoarding collecting a wide variety of old cars is that you invariably learn their quirks, whether you want to or not. Early on, I […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PXL_20250708_232844857.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1 "Shouldn’t A Buick Be Quiet? Silencing The Wind Noise By Replacing The Vent Windows In A 1963 Riviera")
Shouldn’t A Buick Be Quiet? Silencing The Wind Noise By Replacing The Vent Windows In A 1963 Riviera
Posted on August 8, 2025 | 28 CommentsOne of the great joys of hoarding collecting a wide variety of old cars is that you invariably learn their quirks, whether you want to or not. Early on, I […] -
![Aaron Severson has brought a whole new level of thoroughly-researched in-depth coverage of automotive history to Curbside Classic. It has been an immense pleasure to have him sharing his […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/a-Closed_PCV_Type4_EPA-Nov-1977-PD.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1 "Science, Skullduggery, and Bad Faith: How the U.S. Auto Industry Adopted Positive Crankcase Ventilation — Now At Ate Up With Motor")
Science, Skullduggery, and Bad Faith: How the U.S. Auto Industry Adopted Positive Crankcase Ventilation — Now At Ate Up With Motor
Posted on August 3, 2025 | 16 CommentsAaron Severson has brought a whole new level of thoroughly-researched in-depth coverage of automotive history to Curbside Classic. It has been an immense pleasure to have him sharing his […] -
![Before about 1930, most cars used unsynchronized sliding-gear manual transmissions, which were aptly nicknamed “crash boxes” because shifting without clashing gears took real skill. In 1929, however, Cadillac and LaSalle […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1929-Cadillac-341B-convertible-coupe-tan-Mecum-Auctions-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "1929 Cadillac/LaSalle Synchro-Mesh Transmission – “Shifting Is Made Simple And Clashing Of Gears Is Ended”")
1929 Cadillac/LaSalle Synchro-Mesh Transmission – “Shifting Is Made Simple And Clashing Of Gears Is Ended”
Posted on July 13, 2025 | 13 CommentsBefore about 1930, most cars used unsynchronized sliding-gear manual transmissions, which were aptly nicknamed “crash boxes” because shifting without clashing gears took real skill. In 1929, however, Cadillac and LaSalle […] -
![What was the first gasoline-powered automobile with fully automatic transmission? It wasn’t built by GM (which hadn’t even been incorporated yet!), but by the Sturtevant Mill Company in Boston, about […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1907-Sturtevant-Automatic-Touring-Car-brochure-litho-front-3q.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "The World’s First Automatic Transmission – The 1904-1907 Sturtevant Automatic Automobile")
The World’s First Automatic Transmission – The 1904-1907 Sturtevant Automatic Automobile
Posted on July 2, 2025 | 11 CommentsWhat was the first gasoline-powered automobile with fully automatic transmission? It wasn’t built by GM (which hadn’t even been incorporated yet!), but by the Sturtevant Mill Company in Boston, about […] -
![Engineer Earle MacPherson devised an early version of his now-famous strut suspension for an abortive GM small car project, the Chevrolet Cadet, but it wasn’t until he went to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1951-Ford-Consul-blue-Car-and-Classic-front-3q-right.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "The Origins Of The MacPherson Strut Suspension")
The Origins Of The MacPherson Strut Suspension
Posted on June 26, 2025 | 24 CommentsEngineer Earle MacPherson devised an early version of his now-famous strut suspension for an abortive GM small car project, the Chevrolet Cadet, but it wasn’t until he went to […] -
![Although Hydra-Matic Drive was developed and manufactured by General Motors, GM’s Detroit Transmission Division also sold Hydra-Matic transmissions to outside automakers, including most of the U.S. independents and even […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1940-Oldsmobile-Series-90-blue-Barrett-Jackson-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "Early Hydra-Matic Users: Many Non-GM Automakers Bought This Pioneering Automatic Transmission")
Early Hydra-Matic Users: Many Non-GM Automakers Bought This Pioneering Automatic Transmission
Posted on June 22, 2025 | 17 CommentsAlthough Hydra-Matic Drive was developed and manufactured by General Motors, GM’s Detroit Transmission Division also sold Hydra-Matic transmissions to outside automakers, including most of the U.S. independents and even […] -
![Who doesn’t love an oil thread? I found myself looking at my various containers of oil in the garage and thinking about my habits in that regard. Nowadays I do […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_7259.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1 "Curbside Tech QOTD: Oil – What’s Your Pleasure?")
Curbside Tech QOTD: Oil – What’s Your Pleasure?
Posted on June 16, 2025 | 68 CommentsWho doesn’t love an oil thread? I found myself looking at my various containers of oil in the garage and thinking about my habits in that regard. Nowadays I do […] -
![I have long been fascinated with the many stops and starts that eventually led to the automatic transmission as we know it today. We are likely all familiar with the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1942-Lincoln-Liquamatic-cutaway.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1 "Lincoln’s Liquamatic Drive – Failure To Upshift")
Lincoln’s Liquamatic Drive – Failure To Upshift
Posted on June 15, 2025 | 13 CommentsI have long been fascinated with the many stops and starts that eventually led to the automatic transmission as we know it today. We are likely all familiar with the […]
