A Short History of The Automatic Transmission

Automatic transmissions are the default now - with efficiency approaching or surpassing that of manual transmissions, and automatics with 8 or 10 electronically controlled gears, it’s no surprise they’ve gained so much popularity over the past few decades. But where did it all start? A1 Automotive Center in Eustis, FL has the answers.

The automatic transmission has its roots in the distant past - the first transmission that resembled an automatic transmission in concept was implemented in 1904 before the Model T even hit the market. Unfortunately, it was prone to spontaneously falling apart and didn’t make much sense at the time. In the 1940s, Oldsmobile pioneered the first automatics that evolved into the transmission of today, complete with an entire two gears that shifted based on throttle input, rpm, speed, and so on.

Since then, technology has improved vastly and continues to do so. Modern automatics are truly a marvel of engineering and complexity, allowing for multiple gear ratios that shift nearly instantly and seamlessly. They’ve certainly come a long way since in the past century.

Whether your transmission is brand new or has seen a few decades come and go, our technicians have you covered, no matter your repair or maintenance needs. For the best transmission service shop in Eustis, FL, call or stop by A1 Automotive Center today.