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If you read the automotive history of the USA there are so many automotive engineering ideas that were done by the independent auto makers. Some of the ideas that the independent auto makers came up with still have a profound effect on us today. Over the next couple of nights I am going to try and list a few of these.

Once this list is started anybody wanting to add to it is more than welcome.

One of the first that comes to mind is the modern hypoid gears of the rear assembly introduced to the public by Packard back in 1925.

John F. Shireman

If I recall correctly, wasn't Packard the company that introduced the H-pattern gearshift?

the first lockup torque converter!

Cord L-29 had the first front wheel drive

How 'bout the SBC which has found it's way into at least one of every model, make and year of vehicle ever built including Boss Hog m/c's. GUFAW !!!!

Quote:

WRONG!!

The first car with front wheel drive was the Christie, around 1912. Harry Miller had front wheel drive in '27 and '28, and helped Cord develop their front wheel drive system. Cord's version was better, since the transmission wasn't on the output side of the differential like Miller's was. Which of course, made it more dependable and less prone to breakage since it's on the low torque side of the differential, instead of the high torque output side. Make sense?

Wasn't Harry Miller associated with Preston Tucker in some way?

Yes they were, they raced cars together. Preston did the promotions IIRC.

One of Christie's less-publicized ventures that I've always thought clever and timely was the motor-powered single axle used to replace the horses, harness and front wheels on horse-drawn fire engines about the turn of the century. Whether he actually produced and sold them, or just sold the technology I don't know but it would be an interesting fact to uncover. That conversion of course made these vehicles early front-wheel drive.

In 1930 Studebaker introduced the modern thin wall steel strip insert bearing for automotive use. This bearing was engineered and developed by Studebaker and Cleveland Graphite Company. This engineering principle is still used today.

Another important engineering development not engineered by the big three of the time.

John F. Shireman