General Motors is an innovator of automatic transmissions, introducing the Hydra-Matic in 1940. [1] This list includes some GM transmissions.
The GM Hydra-Matic was a success and installed in the majority of GM models by 1950. Through the 1950s, all makers were working on their own automatic transmission, with four more developed inside GM alone. All of GM's early automatic transmissions were replaced by variants of the Turbo-Hydramatic by the 1970s.
The Turbo-Hydramatic was used by all GM divisions, and formed the basis for the company's modern Hydramatic line. The basic rear-wheel drive Turbo-Hydramatic spawned two front-wheel drive variants, the transverse Turbo-Hydramatic 125, and the longitudinal Turbo-Hydramatic 425. A third variant was the light-duty rear wheel drive Turbo-Hydramatic 180 used in many European models. In Argentina, the Turbo Hydra-Matic was available on some models of the 1969-1978 Chevrolet "Chevy," essentially the 1968 U.S. Nova, but was marketed as the "Chevromatic."
The next-generation transmissions, introduced in the early 1990s, were the electronic Hydra-Matics based on the Turbo-Hydramatic design. Most early electronic transmissions use the "-E" designator to differentiate them from their non-electronic cousins, but this has been dropped on transmissions with no mechanical version like the new GM 6L transmission.
Today, GM uses a simple naming scheme for their transmissions, with the "Hydra-Matic" name used on most automatics across all divisions.
3/4/5/6 | L/T | ## | -Elll |
---|---|---|---|
Number of forward gears | L=Longitudinal T=Transverse |
GVWR rating | "E" for Electronic "HD" for Heavy Duty |
General Motors is an innovator of automatic transmissions, introducing the Hydra-Matic in 1940. [1] This list includes some GM transmissions.
The GM Hydra-Matic was a success and installed in the majority of GM models by 1950. Through the 1950s, all makers were working on their own automatic transmission, with four more developed inside GM alone. All of GM's early automatic transmissions were replaced by variants of the Turbo-Hydramatic by the 1970s.
The Turbo-Hydramatic was used by all GM divisions, and formed the basis for the company's modern Hydramatic line. The basic rear-wheel drive Turbo-Hydramatic spawned two front-wheel drive variants, the transverse Turbo-Hydramatic 125, and the longitudinal Turbo-Hydramatic 425. A third variant was the light-duty rear wheel drive Turbo-Hydramatic 180 used in many European models. In Argentina, the Turbo Hydra-Matic was available on some models of the 1969-1978 Chevrolet "Chevy," essentially the 1968 U.S. Nova, but was marketed as the "Chevromatic."
The next-generation transmissions, introduced in the early 1990s, were the electronic Hydra-Matics based on the Turbo-Hydramatic design. Most early electronic transmissions use the "-E" designator to differentiate them from their non-electronic cousins, but this has been dropped on transmissions with no mechanical version like the new GM 6L transmission.
Today, GM uses a simple naming scheme for their transmissions, with the "Hydra-Matic" name used on most automatics across all divisions.
3/4/5/6 | L/T | ## | -Elll |
---|---|---|---|
Number of forward gears | L=Longitudinal T=Transverse |
GVWR rating | "E" for Electronic "HD" for Heavy Duty |