Talk:Vauxhall Motors/Archives/2021

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Hydramatic gearboxes

About 1960 the biggest Vauxhalls began to fit GM's Hydramatic transmission. Opels too? Eddaido (talk) 06:59, 1 April 2021 (UTC)

Look what I found! "Vauxhall changes chiefly concerned the six-cylinder Velox/Cresta models, which now have a larger engine of 2.6 litres. Subsequently it was announced at the Paris Motor Show that these cars would be available with a new form of Hydramatic automatic transmission that is being manufactured by General Motors in the United States for the new Oldsmobile compact car and the medium-sized saloons made by subsidiary companies of the corporation abroad, including the Vauxhall Velox/ Cresta, the Opel, and the Holden." My copy and paste from The Times. New Models Inevitably Fewer this Year. Author: From Our Motoring Correspondent. Date: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1960. Publication: The Times (London, England). Issue: 54905

There is indeed reference in the relevant wiki-entries to "two speed powerglide automoatic transmission" being fitted to the 6-cyl and V8 (ie Chevy engined) Opels Kapitaen/Admiral/Diplomat in the mid 60s - 1964-68 model - as for the Vauxhalls PB and PC 6-cyl Cresta in the mid to late 60s. Sounds suspiciously like the same magic box. Or? I imagine it worked fine with a torquely 5.4 V8, but I dimly remember Autocar/Motor testers in the 60s found it a tad leisurely in the 6-cylinder Crestas when set beside the manual box version. Be well. Charles01 (talk) 12:13, 1 April 2021 (UTC)

No no, Hydramatic had no slush pump. Much more sophisticated. I often borrowed a car just like the one in the photo and it dashed away very smartly with its low first (4 forward speeds when pushed) and in this case the 179 c.i. engine and I would say it was a very active little machine. More technical stuff here which I hadn't thought to look for. I don't think the Vauxhall Velox and Cresta articles are quite correct on this point. Good to hear from you. Happy Easter! Eddaido (talk) 12:48, 1 April 2021 (UTC)