We chose to look at the 1940s Oldsmobile because not only because its Hydra-Matic was the first automatic transmission to be popularized, but also because it is much easier to understand than today’s newer models that utilize computerized components. Although encountering the Oldsmobile’s automatic transmission today is rare, GM’s design laid the foundations that allowed for future innovations such as, electric cars, microcars, and driverless cars.
