How Many Speeds Is a Ford Cruise O Matic?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a car enthusiast, you might be wondering how many speeds a Ford Cruise-O-Matic transmission has. The answer may surprise you!

The Ford Cruise-O-Matic was an automatic transmission option for Ford vehicles starting in 1958. It was designed to provide smooth shifting and improved fuel economy compared to earlier automatic transmissions.

Now, let’s answer the burning question: how many speeds does it have? Well, technically, the Cruise-O-Matic is a three-speed automatic transmission. However, it’s important to note that the term “three-speed” is a bit of a misnomer.

The Cruise-O-Matic actually has two forward gears and one reverse gear. The first forward gear is used for normal driving conditions, while the second (or “Cruising”) gear is used for highway driving at steady speeds.

So why isn’t it called a two-speed transmission? That’s because the Cruise-O-Matic also has a feature called “Low Range.” This essentially locks the transmission into first gear and provides maximum torque for situations such as towing or climbing steep hills.

In summary, while the Ford Cruise-O-Matic technically has three speeds (two forward gears and one reverse), it’s really more accurately described as having two forward gears and a special low range function.

If you’re interested in learning more about transmissions or other automotive topics, be sure to check out our other articles on this site!