GM geniuses turned their auto dreams into realities

摘要

Chevrolet's small-block V-8 grew from the dreams of Ed Cole and Harry Barr. Oldsmobile's high-compression Rocket V-8 evolved from studies by Charles "Boss" Kettering. Chevrolet's Powerglide, the first automatic transmission for a low-priced car, traced some of its roots to Buick's work on the M18 tank destroyer in World War II. In other words, General Motors' major postwar technological innovations came from an array of sources - business friends kicking around ideas and small groups working on specific projects.