-=> Quoting John Demott to Tim Campbell <=-
 JD> Hello Tim!
 JD> 25 Nov 96 16:43, Tim Campbell wrote to All:
 
 TC> Does anyone know if the 1940 Cad La Salle originally came with an
 TC> automatic transmission?  I have one with an automatic and it appears to
 TC> have been installed after the original delivery.  It does look like an
 TC> excelent job was done and probably done by the dealer.  Anybody have any
 TC> ideas?
 JD> Doubtful; but to the untrained eye, LaSalle 1937 thru 1940, and
 JD> Cadillac 1937 thru 1948, used the same engines and running gear.
 JD> Hydra-Matic drive was developed around 1938 and was made and option for
 JD> Cadillac 1941 thru 1948. You should check to see whether you have the
 JD> original 322 cid LaSalle engine or a Cadillac 346 cid with the optional
 JD> automatic transmission. It also may have been possible to "bolt right
 JD> up" an automatic to the original engine, but I'm not sure.
        Surely someone will note that the first successful automatic
transmission, the HydraMatic, was initially available on Oldsmobile in
1937.  (My grandmother had a HydraMatic 1939 or 1940 Oldsmobile.)
        It became available soon after on La Salle and Cadillac.
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
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