GM firsts
 

GM gets and deserves a lot of barbs, but I read an interesting piece done 20 years ago about GM and some of the first in the world things it gave us. In chronological order (including companies that became part of GM later:

1901 mass produced car, Olds
1912 starter motor, Cad
1915 V8, Cad
1917 low-high beam system, Cad
1924 proving grounds
1927 electric wipers, Cad
1928 syncro transmission, Cad
1929 radio, Cad (Lasalle)
1932 metallic paint, Chev
1934 crash testing
1938 column shifter, Pon
1939 auto trans, Olds
1939 turn signal, Buick
1952 automatic lamp dimmer, Olds
1957 air ride, Cad
1962 turbocharger, Olds
1964 automatic temp AC, Cad
1965 tilt wheel
1966 heated seats, Cad
1971 high mount brake light, Olds
1971 traction control, Buick
1973 airbag
1975 catalytic converter
1976 trip computer, Cad
1981 cylinder deactivation, Cad
1988 heads up display, Olds
1996 auto wipers, Cad
2000 night vision, Cad
2001 satellite radio, Cad

Pretty impressive list, I guess despite all the idiocy that went on there were some sharpies too!

Missed several dramatic Automotive firsts:

Air-to-Sea Torpedos 1940
Overhead Valves 1954
Rocker Arms on Ball/Stud 1954
Overhead Cam 1966?
Reverb; 1967
Hoodtach 1967?
Body-Color Rubber/Steel Bumper 1968

As far as 1966 OHC 6;
 

First US Production 6 with OHC design.
First Belt Driven Camshaft on an American engine.

The Jeep Tornado overhead cam six was introduced in 1962, although it wasn't belt driven. Of course, OHC engines have been around in various configurations since 1910 or earlier.
I think several of the OEMs had reverbs as well as the aftermarket. I don't know who was first, but reverb was an available accessory for the 1965 Imperial.
I'm not sure air to sea torpedos qualify as an automotive first. ;)

Saginaw tilt was available in '63. Fascinating stuff.

1st concept car: Buick Y job

1st industrial design/styling center: The GM Art and Color Studio

1st hidden windshield wiper system - '69 GP?

1st windshield hidden radio antenna

K

My '65 GTO has the reverb -

K

Yea, i threw those out on a wag. Cast iron V8 crankshaft circa 1960 was another gem.

Keith, 67 B body had hidden wipers, (depressed park), Pontiac made a big deal about it in their advertising that year.

No one mentioned the 66 Toranado FWD, then the Eldorado soon after. Not the first cars with FWD, but it was a big deal at the time since Cord I believe last tried it in 1929ish, through 1937?

To be clear PMD didn't state First OHC, they stated it was the First US production "CAR" to use it.
They were splitting hairs for sure ;) :D

1st Production Turbochaged V-8 in the USA 1980 PONTIAC
1st 4 speed automatic overdrive ( GM/Cad) 1943 ( IIRC these were put into Tanks)
1st and Only US Company to use "Rocket fuel" ,1962 OLDSMOBILE ( refill tank under hood)
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...3&d=1667258402

The 1962 Olds Jetfire was the first production turbocharged V8. That fluid was a 50:50 mix of methanol and distilled water, under boost it was injected into the intake to cool the charge.

My '64 GTO was equipped with the tilt wheel option from the factory, so '65 was not the first year of the tilt wheel.

Also, the '64 GTO was the first car to have red line tires available and a Hurst shifter...

Buicks were OHV from the start in 1908.

. I did not know that.

The OP initial list has a number of mistakes, but not going to nit pick. GM had an impressive list of real great innovations. Surprisingly, Chrysler had a similar list of first's as well and Ford. They weren't called the big 3 for nothing!

The list of shame could be good too:

Cardboard door panels (Chevette)
Plastic cam gears
Plastic intake manifolds
Soy based wiring insulation (if we make it taste like food, mice wouldnt eat it, would they?)
2.14 rear gears
etc

This could get interesting....

The vega/astre, I can't think of any good things about that car..........:D

Aztec.....:confused:

1st built-in tent?

Maybe not...lol

IIRC.. My '64 Grand Prix had reverb.

MY 64 GTO HAS REVERB, FROM THE FACTORY.

Tom V

Pioneers in badge engineering.

Not sure about the first V-8.

There were quite a few early V-8 engines (Regal had one in 1916, with one of my favorite carburetors - a brass 2-barrel updraft).

But I don't care enough either way about it to do the research.

Jon

They make great little drag cars with the addition of a V8 -

K

As long as you save the sheet metal and replace everything else.

Had a friend that tried to race one with the unibody, after every wheel stand he was pulling the frame back into alignment. The K member collapsed in road cars, and had to be spread apart so they wouldn't tear the inside of the tires off, so race car duty didn't work out too well.

The 1914 Cadillac is generally considered to be the first mass production V8 car. There were a couple other brands with V8s prior to Cadillac, but they were only built in very small numbers.

What's wrong with the Aztec?

My daughter leased a first year Aztec and liked it so much she bought her second one - which she still owns.

Stuart - when you add "mass produced" to the description, I have no argument; however the list stated first V-8 without the disclaimer.

Jon

GM does not use the Soy based insulated wire. It does not meet GM's temperature specs. That was the foreign manufacturers that stared using it. Look up the class action lawsuits, I think against Honda and Toyota. They have lots of complaints about it. I believe the artificial heart was developed by GM Research; I don't remember the date. I will have to look for a book that was given out at a GM open house, it had lots of things GM developed. My dad worked at GMR for 49 years and I have been at GM for 33 years so far.

I think the Aztec was ahead of its time. When it came out it was totally weird looking, but ten years later on it mostly blended in with the styling of other cars. From what I understand, once you get past their looks they're pretty reliable cars and Aztec owners tend to be really enthusiastic about them.

I think GM also were the first to mass produce refrigerators?

GM owned Frigidaire from from 1919 until 1979 as part of their Delco division.

If we're talking GM, the 68 Corvette had hidden wipers

Cosworth Vega - 1st DOHC 4-Valve Head American production engine with stainless steel headers as well.

I did my co-op at the Lordstown plant while attending General Motors Institute. During one work segment, I was responsible for designing all the small hand tool assembly aids used to "dress" the Cosworth short block on the engine line.

Who was the first to use Fiber optics? Corvettes got it in 1968.

What about the heated rear window defogger grid on the 69 Grand Prix?

I will throw a few in for Charles Kettering, DELCO, (Dayton Electric Co.), Division of GM. Electric self starter, Point distributor ignition system, Leaded premium gasoline, first sold at a SOHIO station, downtown Dayton, Freon refrigerant, DUCO lacquer based fast dry paint. (He was a little tough on the environment)

68 Pontiac did too. Cigarette lighter, IIRC.

67-68 LeMans has fiber optic to the Lighter & ashtray. 68 had it to the IGN switch.

Think Caddy or Buick had tail lamp indicators in the package tray fro Driver to see.

The Corvettes used it for light bulb monitors mounted on the consoles.

Aside from being "different" looking. The Aztec was a pretty good car and idea. It was so good that Honda copied the concept by producing the Element.

It should be unlawful to sell vehicles with hidden wipers where the ambient dips below 32 degrees F.! :p :mad:

Jon

On the periodic table, its Uglium.

When I used to work for a vendor that rented aerial lift equipment to contractors at the Marysville Honda plant, I was inside that plant quite a lot. One time I saw the prototype for the Element sitting outside, and I noticed the lower panels weren't painted the body color (flat black). I chalked it up to that they weren't painted because it was a prototype. Nope, that was how they were going to be produced.....:D

I always wondered if they painted them body color, how much more would they tack on to the price of complete paint job. A few years later they did start painting the whole car.

We always joked that the Aztek was just a Montana Van with the ugly kit installed and a higher price. The Element is a CRV with a similar ugly kit installed. So yes, some similarity.