Turboglide,produced by Jam Handy in

Year Published: 1957

Creator: Jam Handy Organization

Format: 16mm

Description: Chevrolet’s short film, "Turboglide," produced by Jam Handy in 1957 or 1958, explains how Chevrolet’s new and innovative Turboglide transmission works. Using animation and featuring the character "Mr. T" (Mr. Transmission), the film shows how the Turboglide eliminates gear shifting altogether and uses three turbines to transfer power to the rear wheels as well as boost acceleration. The Turboglide is a Chevrolet constant torque 3-speed automatic transmission that made its debut as an optional transmission on Chevrolet V8 passenger cars for 1957. It consisted of a concurrently geared (as opposed to sequentially geared) planetary gearbox with a 'switch pitch' dual-pitch torque converter stator. Turboglide utilized a die-cast aluminum transmission case, following Packard's Ultramatic of 1956. It was designed to help showcase the engineering features of the '57 Chevy, and was often ordered with the Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injection system on the 283 V8. Turboglide cost about $50 more than Powerglide, and was available in all 1957-1961 V8 engine models except the Corvette. Turboglide was designed under the supervision of Frank Winchell, Ed Cole and Robert P Benzinger at Chevrolet engineering. Although Turboglide offered remarkable performance and smoothness, the execution of the first 1957 units led to substantial customer complaints and the unit was continuously upgraded to improve its durability until it was discontinued in 1961. The 1959 Turboglide incorporated very significant changes intended to improve its durability, some of which were possible to retrofit to earlier versions. Some enthusiasts reported that Turboglide had better reliability when coupled with the smaller 283 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8, than with the big-block 348 Turbo-Thrust engine.

Complete Record:

Transcription

e [Music] when I first saw this new Chevrolet transmission from the outside it looked like any other transmission I had operated in the past but I was in for a big surprise cuz little did I suspect that inside it was not only completely new and different but something even beyond my wildest dreams I was speechless wow I don't believe it now I've seen everything man this is Sensational especially when you consider what I've had to put up with in the past for example back in the early days drivers were on their own left to shift for themselves so to speak then Along Came automatic transmissions with gear shifting simplified for the driver driver and this is when I took over shifting gears like crazy down below while the driver sat up there complaining that my gear shifting wasn't smooth enough well brother I was doing the best I could with what I had to work with believe me then Chevrolet bless him came along with Powerglide if the driver wanted smooth performance this was it true I still have gears to shift but with Powerglide it's a pleasure the smoothest of them all so far but in this great new turboglide transmission Chevrolet has eliminated gear shifting all together absolutely no gear shifting at all automatic or otherwise boy I never had it so good and neither of you in fact I have a new name Mr TTT Mr Triple T here's why in real simple terms this is a turbine a simplified version of course but the turbine is the key element in all automatic transmissions an engine driven pump it's simplified here to look like a hose nozzle drives the turbine by forcing oil against the turbine blades this power is then trans transmitted through gears back to the rear wheels till now Transmissions have had only one turbon two at the most to take care of all driving conditions so I've had gears to shift in order to get top performance but not so with turboglide no sir in this new transmission gear shifting is no longer necessary because Chevrolet has now provided not one not two but three turbines for the last word in uninterrupted power transfer to the rear wheels now here's how it works starting from a standstill when you depress the accelerator oil from the pump is forced onto the Husky starting turbine to provide a quick getaway then as speed increases the oil is directed to the next turban changing the ratio show of power smoothly and without interruption and as car speed continues to increase oil from the pump continues to change direction and acts on the direct drive turbine for economical cruising speed with the engine loafing providing a smooth uninterrupted shift free shock free transmission of power it's triple turban takeoff with with more power for hill climbing and a new kind of power for Hill breaking a unique grade retarder links the rear axle to the engine through the Husky starting turbine the turbine instead of being driven by oil is now by oil thus providing the resistance of oil as an added braking Factor this gives you more than just engine braking it's another new feature that surpasses anything ever offered before and that's not all Chevrolet's new transmission also gives you an extra power boost for safe passing watch inside the transmission here's what happens when you push the accelerator to the floor you unleash resered ve power and also bring the next more powerful turbine into operation and from a standstill when this boost is applied to the starting turban The increased oil velocity gives you any degree of extra getaway power you need in fact you've got this extra power for any driving condition yes this new Chevrolet transmission gives you the power to go and the power to stop smooth power extra power power to keep Chevrolet out in front it's Chevrolet turbo Glide with the triple turban takeoff be sure you try it first chance you get [Music]


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