1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk Stock Engine Road Test

Take a ride in a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk with the Packard Ultramatic transmission.

One of the more outstanding features of this transmission is what might be called a "dual" forward driving range. This permits the driver to select the range most desirable to satisfy individual driving tastes. One range offers the advantages of torque converter drive plus a planetary gear train for rapid acceleration with a smooth "upshift" to direct drive as the car gains momentum. The other range provides the ultimate in smoothness of torque converter drive with less rapid acceleration.

The direct drive clutch is incorporated within the Packard Torque Converter assembly. This clutch, when engaged, provides a direct driving connection between the engine flywheel and the transmission input shaft eliminating slippage at all speeds.

Just to keep the video simple, I refer to the torque converter drive as a shift.

There are probably many different values shown in various publications, but:
According to statistics from American Cars 1946-1975, the top seven in power/weight ratio:
Make Model HP Wt lbs per 1 hp hp per lb Rank
DeSoto Adventurer 320 3870 12.09375000 0.08268730 1
Studebaker Golden Hawk 275 3360 12.21818182 0.08184524 2
Chrysler 300-B (10:1 Compression Ratio)
355 4360 12.28169014 0.08142202 3
Pontiac Strato Streak Powerpack 285 3561 12.49473684 0.08003370 4
Chevrolet Corvette Powerpack 225 2870 12.75555556 0.07839721 5
Chrysler 300-B 340 4360 12.82352941 0.07798165 6
Ford Thunderbird Powerpack 225 3038 13.50222222 0.07406188 7
See the complete chart at: http://1956goldenhawk.com/hpperlb.htm