[Rich Biebel]

The automatic transmissions and converter or fluid coupling issues were a very big deal back then and why manuals were preferred. "Slush Box" was a popular term...I had a '58 Pontiac with an automatic trans and raced it a little. It was my Street car and I also used it as a tow car. Trans went and I had it rebuilt by a racing buddie. Shifted to hard after the rebuild. Those transmissions failed often if raced.