The Cord! I think the model was the 812? I know they referred to it as a "coffin nose" As far as the year, I would say mid 30's. Maybe someone else can pinpoint it better
It wasn't even the first FWD Cord. The Cord L-29 was also FWD and it came out in 1929. I visited a shop in Ohio last Christmas that had 3 810's or 812's (I don't remember which) and an L-29 being worked on. Was it the first American FWD car? I don't know, but I'm guessing someone would have at least tried it out before then.
It's kind of a tie between the L-29 and the Ruxton. There were some earlier FWD cars, but not actual production models. Ever see the shifting mechanism on an 810 / 812 Cord? It's a Rube Goldberg affair with electric solenoids and vacuum switches. You actually select the gear first, (on a stalk off the steering column) and it won't shift into that gear until you push and release the clutch. It's very odd to drive at first. It's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time until you get used to it.
That type of shifting mechanism - I think some of them were electromagnetic - were somewhat common with the more expensive European cars in the 1940s. I also don't know if the Ruxton could be considered "regular production" as the Cord L-29 was, but you are correct to bring it up. I kinda recall one with multiple shades of purple.
I think it's called the "electric hand" and it was sort of an early attempt at an automatic transmission. My grandfather had one in his '35 Hudson. Apparently, it was an add-on to the standard transmission and not a complete system. He told me about how it stopped working sometime during WW2 and he just unbolted about 200 pounds worth of mechanism from the bottom of the car, removed a small plate from the floor and mounted the shift lever that had been in the trunk since he bought the car. The car ran fine without it and weighed 200 pounds less!
GNXs came with Stewart-Warner speedo and gauges. Not available in metric readings and GM did not want to cover costs to do so. Meaning a GNX could not be sold in Canada.
Here's the answers to mine: 1. 1968-69 2. Imperial (I think 1969) 3. 1970 (This was a trick question - anyone know why?)
You're on the right track, but what you're talking about has been dispelled to be a Superbird without the nose . . .
I wasn't aware that others had used a somewhat similar means of shifting as the Cord. I'm just more familiar with the Cord since Dad had restored one. :Comp:
It seemed unlikely that two companies would independently come up with the same wacky system, so I did a bit of research and found this: Auburn was working on a column shift for the Cords way-out-front transmission, but ran out of time. Instead, they incorporated an electric-vacuum pre-selective gearshifting device made by Bendix and known as the Electric Hand when offered on Hudsons and Terraplanes the year previous. The shifter on the steering column, which resembled those of the European Cotal and Wilson gearboxes, added yet another futuristic detail to the Cord. Behind the scenes, however, lay many complex switches, multiple vacuum solenoids, and nearly one hundred feet of wire. Its a wonder that it shifts at all. I've never actually seen one work. My grandfather's Hudson was probably in a junk yard 20 years before I was born. Having been closer to one, is the story that I mentioned possible? My grandfather had a bit of a reputation for embellishing his stories...
Well, Superbirds were Road Runners, and therefore were the first ones to get the 440-4. This engine on "regular" Road Runners wasn't available till 1972 as part of the GTX package, which was a substitute for the demise of the GTX model from 1971.
I would imagine on a RWD car like the Hudson, it would be easier to change the shifter to a traditional one. Dang! I was over at my Mother's today, and was going to look through Dad's photos and materials from the resto of that car, but forgot. ou:
Here's a quick trivia question. While on my rounds today for work (there's a clue, it's in this country) I snapped this famous piece of real estate. From which car movie? And what's the building called?
Good work gentlemen! Usually I only see it from the nearby bridge, but my route yesterday took me right past it.
