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The Hy-Drive was a Chrysler Corporation transmission
Transmission (mechanics)

Using the principle of mechanical advantage, transmissions provide a speed-torque conversion from a higher speed motor to a slower but more forceful output or vice-versa....
 produced in 1953. It was a hybrid manual transmission
Manual transmission

A manual transmission is a type of Transmission used in automotive applications. It generally utilizes a driver-operated clutch operated by a pedal or lever, for regulating torque transfer from the engine to the transmission, and a gear-shift either operated by hand or by foot ....
 with a torque converter
Torque converter

A torque converter is a modified form of fluid coupling that is used to transfer rotating power from a Wiktionary:prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load....
 like an automatic. Although Hy-Drive cars had a clutch pedal like a traditional manual transmission, it was only used put the car in gear. Once underway, the driver could upshift and downshift using the gear shift without using the clutch or even lifting off the accelerator.

The industry was caught by surprise by the advent of the automatic transmission in the early 1950s.






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The Hy-Drive was a Chrysler Corporation transmission
Transmission (mechanics)

Using the principle of mechanical advantage, transmissions provide a speed-torque conversion from a higher speed motor to a slower but more forceful output or vice-versa....
 produced in 1953. It was a hybrid manual transmission
Manual transmission

A manual transmission is a type of Transmission used in automotive applications. It generally utilizes a driver-operated clutch operated by a pedal or lever, for regulating torque transfer from the engine to the transmission, and a gear-shift either operated by hand or by foot ....
 with a torque converter
Torque converter

A torque converter is a modified form of fluid coupling that is used to transfer rotating power from a Wiktionary:prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load....
 like an automatic. Although Hy-Drive cars had a clutch pedal like a traditional manual transmission, it was only used put the car in gear. Once underway, the driver could upshift and downshift using the gear shift without using the clutch or even lifting off the accelerator.

The industry was caught by surprise by the advent of the automatic transmission in the early 1950s. General Motors' 1948 Hydra-Matic was a smash hit with the public, accounting for 80% of Pontiac
Pontiac

Pontiac is a brand of automobiles, produced by General Motors Corporation that has been sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico since 1926....
 division's sales by 1950. Chrysler had previously offered a Fluid Drive
Fluid Drive

Fluid Drive is the trademarked name that Chrysler Corporation assigned to a transmission driveline combination offered from 1939 through 1953 in Chryslers and DeSoto , and from 1939 through 1954 in Dodge models....
 torque converter on their manual transmissions, and the Hy-Drive was an evolution of this. It was sold by Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)

Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler....
 until the fully automatic PowerFlite
PowerFlite

PowerFlite was the name of a two speed automatic transmission produced by the Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler was the last of Detroit's Big Three automobile manufacturers automakers to introduce a fully automatic transmission, some 14 years after General Motors Corporation had introduced Oldsmobile's Hydramatic automatic transmission and nearl...
 was available in 1954. About 75,000 cars came equipped with this transmission.

Trivia

  • The Hy-Drive was so large that it required a complete reengineering of the engine compartment and transmission tunnel
  • Export Dodge
    Dodge

    Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and trucks, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
     and DeSoto
    DeSoto

    DeSoto is the name of several places in the United States of America:*DeSoto, Indiana*DeSoto, Kansas*DeSoto, Missouri*DeSoto, Texas*DeSoto, Wisconsin...
     cars could also be ordered with the Hy-Drive, and these used a Plymouth dashboard
  • Hy-Drive transmissions shared the engine's lubricating oil, requiring 11 quarts (10.4 L) for an oil change


See also