Did Bristols modify the Torqueflight

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by dwomby

FWIW, my 408 has a 1962 Torqueflite that was fitted here in the USA. I don't know if it was modified from standard at any time but it definitely has a kickdown function.

David

David, I'm puzzled by your comment. Why was a 1962 Torqueflite fitted to your 408 in the USA? What transmission did it have beforehand?

The 408 (Mk1) for the UK market left the factory with a Torqueflite (A-466), which incidentally had kickdown in 2nd and D (3rd), just like the later A-727.

[dwomby]

Originally Posted by Kevin H

David, I'm puzzled by your comment. Why was a 1962 Torqueflite fitted to your 408 in the USA? What transmission did it have beforehand?

The 408 (Mk1) for the UK market left the factory with a Torqueflite (A-466), which incidentally had kickdown in 2nd and D (3rd), just like the later A-727.

Hi Kevin, my car was exported to USA in 1992 after body restoration in UK but without an engine or transmission. I have spoken to the then owner who said Tony Crook found that car for him and it had no engine or transmission when he bought it for restoration. He left it that way as he reasoned import duties to US would be less and the engines and transmissions would be plentiful and cheaper here.

After arrival here, the car was fitted with an appropriate '62 pushbutton TorqueFlite (donor unknown) but with a 1978 360 from Dodge Monaco (modified with a performance camshaft and intake manifold).

David

[Connoisseur]

There was another TorqueFlite modification, which was a locking device to prevent the wrong gears being selected on the push buttons. I think that was a Chrysler development adopted by Bristol. But it is possible that they also developed their own system.