Editing Ultramatic (section)

==1935–1948: Development==
Packard's Ultramatic transmission was the creation of the company's chief engineer [[Forest McFarland]] and his engineering team. The magnitude of this accomplishment is illustrated by the fact that it was the only automatic transmission developed and produced solely by an independent automaker, with no outside help. Devices like the Ultramatic were being tested and designed by Packard from 1935 on, but none satisfied the perfectionist engineer. The Ultramatic's development was halted, as was all automotive work during [[World War II]], but resumed in earnest during 1946.

After World War II, Packard's range had contracted to variants of the mid-priced Clipper line. It was during this period that Packard began to suffer in competition with General Motors' Cadillac Division, thanks in part to their popular self-shifting [[Hydra-Matic]]. The Hydra-Matic was available starting in 1941 and became very popular during the 1946–1948 time-frame, pushing along Packard's release of its new automatic drive. Packard at that time (1946–1949) offered only an Electromatic Vacuum Clutch option, which required manual shifting otherwise. As with most vacuum powered shifting and clutching devices, Electromatic was overall generally unreliable.

Finally, in mid 1949, Packard's 50th Anniversary, McFarland's Ultramatic Drive became available as a $199 option (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|199|1949}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}}). It was first offered only on the top-line Packard Customs, following in 1950 by the entire lineup.