Turboglide 3-speeds in Stockers???

[bill dedman]

Food for thought, and a question:

For the model year 1960 (and others, but for the sake of this discussion, we'll just say "1960") Chevy V8s with automatic transmissions could be ordered with Powerglide (2-speeds forward) and Turboglide (3-speeds forward.)

A short explanation of the Turboglide concept and gear systems:
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From "Wikipedia.org"

The Turboglide is a Chevrolet three-speed automatic transmission that made its debut as an optional transmission on Chevrolet V8 passenger cars for 1957. Turboglide cost about $50 more than Powerglide, and was available in all 1957-1961 V8 engine models except the Corvette.

OPERATION:

As the car starts from rest, the "Low" turbine, which has the greatest gear reduction ratio is relatively easy to bring up to match pump (engine) speed and the car starts from rest easily and accelerates quickly. While this occurs, the Intermediate turbine receives an ever increasing share of the energy from the pump, as the Low (1st gear) turbine moves faster and oil passes more freely through it. Eventually, the Low turbine matches pump speed, and the Low turbine freewheels on a one way 'sprag-clutch' much like on a bicycle. At this point the Intermediate (or, 2nd-gear) turbine is carrying the majority of the drive force, and some energy is being sent to the Direct ("high gear") turbine from the oil passing through the Intermediate turbine as it also begins to match pump speed. Eventually, the Intermediate turbine also matches pump speed, and the oil passes freely through Low and Intermediate turbines to drive the Direct turbine alone, in direct drive (1:1 ratio). Because of the overlapping power input in different ratios, there is no 'shift' or sequential gearing, rather there is a concurrent geared drive, in effect the car starts out in 1-2-3, eventually drops 1 to be in 2-3 and eventually drops 2 to be in 3 alone.
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The Turboglide transmissions contain a "first-gear" planetary unit with an approximate 2.5:1 ratio, and an Intermediate, or "second gear" planetary of approximately 1.5:1, with a 1:1 final ratio pulling the car at speeds too great for the 1st and 2nd gear planetaries to effectively drive the car.

There is no gear-shifting in a conventional band/clutch manner going on, but the effect is the same; three separate planetary gearsets are employed to accelerate the car from a stop.

Is there any legitimate reason that the option of this (Turboglide) 3-speed automatic transmission in 1960 Chevy V8s would not serve as an "OEM 3-speed automatic" transmission to allow any other Chevy 3-speed automatic transmission "swap" ( just as, say, 1971 Mopar 340 cars are allowed to use a smaler, lighter 904 Torqueflite instead of the original 727 transmission?

Or, is this already in practice, and I just haven't seen it?

Thanks foir any information!

Bill