55 fordomatic
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
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From: Rockingham, VA
"On March 13, 1953, the Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission became an option." This according to Wikipedia, which is never wrong... 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_F...ond_generation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_F...ond_generation
Tuned
Joined: May 2012
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From: Seguin
I went into Hemmings and found this on Fordomatic...
Ford-O-Matic Transmission
Introduced in the early 1950s, parts of this transmission's basic design are still used in today's models
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Tips from Hemmings Motor News
April, 2013 - Jim O'Clair
Ford's first automatic transmission, which appeared in its 1951 models, was referred to as the Ford-O-Matic. This basic unit was designed by Borg-Warner and would become the platform from which many later model automatic transmissions would evolve.
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<!-- end island --> Developed as a three-speed automatic, the Ford-O-Matic used a cast-iron case and would normally be started in second gear. For this reason, you often see the Ford-O-Matic referred to as a two-speed, although the only actual two-speed units were produced from 1959-'64, and they had aluminum cases.
A sprag was added to the planetary assembly in 1958 so that you could select whether to start out in first gear or second, and the Ford-O-Matic name was changed to Cruise-O-Matic. They were later upgraded to the FX and MX series Cruise-O-Matics, then the single FMX transmission, and eventually, they evolved into the overdrive AOD transmissions used in the 1980s and 1990s Ford cars and trucks.
The Ford-O-Matic was manufactured in three different case sizes. It was initially offered in both small-case from 1951-'60 and medium-case from 1951-'68 (often referred to as the Merc-O-Matic); large-case versions were also used in 1958-'65 Lincolns.
The 1951-'60 three-speed models can be identified by an oval aluminum tag mounted on the left side of the transmission case just above the oil pan; 1961 and newer units have a tag on one of the oil pan bolts.
Transmission ID numbers were three digits long from 1951-'54 and started with "1P"; 1955 and newer Ford-O-Matic ID numbers were four letters and started with "P." The ID number will tell you if you have the small, 97⁄8-inch case or the medium, 107⁄32-inch Merc-O-Matic case.
Large-case units were 107⁄8 inches from 1958-'60 and 115⁄8 inches long from 1961 to 1965. They can be found in 1958 Edsels; 1958-'60 Mercurys and Lincolns; 430 V-8 equipped Thunderbirds, and 1961-'65 Lincolns.
Some Fords listed here used the Merc-O-Matic medium case, but Mercury, Edsel and Lincoln interchanges are not shown with these Ford interchanges, because most transmissions Ford produced after 1956 were built based on each manufacturer's engine displacement and performance options. Ford model interchanges are as follows:
This article originally appeared in the April, 2013 issue of Hemmings Motor News.
Ford-O-Matic Transmission
Introduced in the early 1950s, parts of this transmission's basic design are still used in today's models
<!-- ADDITIONAL IMAGES --> <!-- 1 Additional Images From This Story--> <!-- 1 Additional Images From This Story
-->
PreviousNext
<!-- END ADDITIONAL IMAGES -->
Tips from Hemmings Motor News
April, 2013 - Jim O'Clair
Ford's first automatic transmission, which appeared in its 1951 models, was referred to as the Ford-O-Matic. This basic unit was designed by Borg-Warner and would become the platform from which many later model automatic transmissions would evolve.
<!-- island --> <style> .island_ad { float:right; width:300px; text-align:center; margin-left:10px; } @media (max-width: 767px) { .island_ad { float:none; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-bottom:15px; } } </style> Article continues after advertisement <iframe name="google_ads_iframe_/5361/spn.hemmings/hmn_articles_1" width="300" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/5361/spn.hemmings/hmn_articles_1" src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border: 0px currentColor; border-image: none; vertical-align: bottom;"></iframe>
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<!-- end island --> Developed as a three-speed automatic, the Ford-O-Matic used a cast-iron case and would normally be started in second gear. For this reason, you often see the Ford-O-Matic referred to as a two-speed, although the only actual two-speed units were produced from 1959-'64, and they had aluminum cases.
A sprag was added to the planetary assembly in 1958 so that you could select whether to start out in first gear or second, and the Ford-O-Matic name was changed to Cruise-O-Matic. They were later upgraded to the FX and MX series Cruise-O-Matics, then the single FMX transmission, and eventually, they evolved into the overdrive AOD transmissions used in the 1980s and 1990s Ford cars and trucks.
The Ford-O-Matic was manufactured in three different case sizes. It was initially offered in both small-case from 1951-'60 and medium-case from 1951-'68 (often referred to as the Merc-O-Matic); large-case versions were also used in 1958-'65 Lincolns.
The 1951-'60 three-speed models can be identified by an oval aluminum tag mounted on the left side of the transmission case just above the oil pan; 1961 and newer units have a tag on one of the oil pan bolts.
Transmission ID numbers were three digits long from 1951-'54 and started with "1P"; 1955 and newer Ford-O-Matic ID numbers were four letters and started with "P." The ID number will tell you if you have the small, 97⁄8-inch case or the medium, 107⁄32-inch Merc-O-Matic case.
Large-case units were 107⁄8 inches from 1958-'60 and 115⁄8 inches long from 1961 to 1965. They can be found in 1958 Edsels; 1958-'60 Mercurys and Lincolns; 430 V-8 equipped Thunderbirds, and 1961-'65 Lincolns.
Some Fords listed here used the Merc-O-Matic medium case, but Mercury, Edsel and Lincoln interchanges are not shown with these Ford interchanges, because most transmissions Ford produced after 1956 were built based on each manufacturer's engine displacement and performance options. Ford model interchanges are as follows:
- 1951-'54 units will interchange; however, the tail shafts used in 1951 units are shorter than those used in 1952-'54. The driveshaft would have to be lengthened or the tail shafts swapped. The 1953-'54 units are more desirable because they have a fluid fill tube that extends up into the engine compartment.
- 1955-'56 six-cylinder; 272 and 292 V-8 engines, except Thunderbird, Fairlane, station wagon and police.
- 1955 Thunderbird with 292 four-barrel and 1956-'57 Fairlane and police with 312 V-8 (medium case).
- 1957-'59 six-cylinder, 272 and 292 V-8 engines, except Thunderbird.
- 1957 312 w/supercharger or dual four-barrels, except Thunderbird
- 1957 Thunderbird
- 1958-'60 six-cylinder, 292 and 332 V-8 engines, except Thunderbird
- 1958-'59 352 engines
- 1959-'60 Thunderbird w/390 V-8 (medium case)
- 1961-'64 six-cylinder
- 1961-'62 292 V-8
- 1961-'62 352 V-8 (medium case)
- 1961 390 V-8 (medium case)
- 1963 260 and 289 V-8
- 1964 289
- 1964 390
This article originally appeared in the April, 2013 issue of Hemmings Motor News.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 21
From: HUDSON, FL
I know that in 1951 ford had their first automatic transmission in the cars because i had 2 1951 ford hard tops and both of them were automatics,the only automatic that i had ever seen in a ford truck was in a 1955 f 100
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: NC
No,1951 was the first year for the FOM's in cars,and they were even optional for use with the flat 6.
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