Some ‘Muscle Car’ enthusiasts think of the Corvettes, Chevelles or GTOs of their youth and seek to restore their prized car to its showroom floor look and performance. Other drivers dream of what they represented, the most powerful machines Detroit could build and tuners could modify; these cheerfully tap half-a-century of automotive progress and install engines, induction systems, and suspensions Zora-Duntov and Delorean could only dream of but certainly would have used if they were available.
To service the beloved four-speed transmissions installed as original equipment or to harness the power now available, both groups, we’ll call the first ‘restorers’, the second ‘tuners’, need parts and, sometimes, complete new gearboxes. Fifty years ago, ‘restorers’ were just ‘drivers’. They drew from common sources and chose original equipment for quality or aftermarket for price. Today, the original equipment is long gone, but the aftermarket options are greater and the choices more difficult. There is now a third group, ‘racers’, who push the limits even farther; they need parts and gearboxes, too.
We support them all. How do we do it?
For us, the most challenging to service are the restorers. Their cars don’t have monster motors, they don’t shift aggressively or at high revs, and they frequently accept the lower levels of performance or durability offered at lower price points. However, their Corvette or GTO is a member of the family (their ‘baby’), and nothing is too good for family. So, we will demonstrate the differences between our parts and those of our competitors and explain why this matters.
Tuners are easier to satisfy. Engines with outputs unheard of when muscle cars ruled the road are now available with a mouse click and a credit card. What we call ‘legacy’ parts, parts designed and manufactured to original equipment designs and for original equipment performance and durability, the parts restorers want, won’t meet their needs. They need stronger gears, stronger housings to support them, the ability to shift at higher revs, and gearsets with ratios for everything from interstate driving to autocross and drag racing. This is where AutoGear shines with its creativity, quality and knowledge; we are in our element.
Then there are the racers and, no question, they are demanding. Winning, contrary to common opinion, isn’t everything. ‘Everything’ for us is doing whatever it takes to assure a driver and Team that their AutoGear equipped car will cross the line with a fully functional, safe and competitive gearbox. For racers, we’ve pushed the envelope on strength, shifting speed, and rev handling, but never at the expense of safety or reliability. Our success can be seen in every racer who crosses the finish line, sets a personal best lap time or is greeted by the checkered flag.
Different cars, different drivers, different parts, each to its own market. We do not change designs casually. There is always a reason for change and change is inevitable as we produce the industry’s best, most reliable, and highest performing product. Somewhere, someone will be disappointed because we went too far, or because we didn’t go far enough. When we do disappoint, let us know. We’re all in this together.
George
