Automotive Products: Automatic Transmission Systems

The introduction of an automatic gearbox as an optional extra for the British Motor Corporation’s (BMC) (from 1968 the British Leyland Motor Corporation’s (BLMC)) 850cc Mini enabled Automotive Products (AP) to gain the Queen’s Award in 1966. AP produced the gearbox after a joint development programme with the BLMC, and the close supplier-customer relationship which emerged has been a strong element in shaping the path of post-innovation developments. Minor modifications to the gearbox enabled BLMC to offer automatic versions of their 1100 and 1300 ranges, which like the Mini used the company’s A-series engines. Moreover, a direct descendant of the original award-winning gearbox is still produced for the Mini Metro. In 1972 a further strand of post-innovation development was established with the launch of a new design of the original gearbox, which was suitable for larger capacity engines of between 1300 and 2500cc. In addition to applications in BLMC cars, AP have also supplied this uprated gearbox for use in Lancia’s Beta, Gamma and Delta models.