Editing Powerglide (section)

{{Short description|Motor vehicle transmission}}
{{Other uses}}
{{transmission types}}
{{Infobox automobile
|name=Powerglide
|manufacturer=[[Chevrolet]]
|production=1950–1973
|class=2-speed [[automatic transmission|automatic]]
|predecessor=
|successor=
}}
The '''Powerglide''' is a two-speed [[automatic transmission]] designed by [[General Motors]]. It was available primarily on [[Chevrolet]] from January 1950<ref>{{cite book|last=Flory, Jr.|first=J. "Kelly"|title=American Cars, 1946–1959 Every Model Every Year|year=2008|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|isbn=978-0-7864-3229-5}}</ref> through 1973, although some [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] models also used this automatic transmission after the fire at the [[Hydramatic|Hydra-Matic]] factory in 1953. Powerglides were used extensively on Pontiacs produced for the [[Canada|Canadian]] market with Chevrolet powertrains. They were also used with Nova engines in the [[Jeep DJ|DJ-5A Jeeps]] produced 1968-1970 by Kaiser-Jeep and widely used as delivery vehicles by the United States Post Office. When introduced on upper-level Chevrolet models in 1950, the Powerglide represented the first automatic transmission offered in a low-priced automobile; in contrast, [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] did not offer their automatic transmission until 1951, while [[Plymouth automobile|Plymouth]] car buyers had to wait until 1954. The transmission was simple and very durable, which satisfied customers.