Clutchflite

The Clutchflite was an automatic transmission developed by B&M in the 60s specifically for drag racing, usually in a Mopar with a Hemi. It was a 727 Torqueflite that had the bellhousing sawn off. In place of a torque converter, the Clutchflite utilized a heavy flywheel and clutch. There was a spider assembly to drive the transmission pump. The idea was that you could leave as hard as a stick car and gain the consistency and speed of an automatic. It was used in the 60s because torque converter technology was still pretty primitive, and it was thought that the Clutchflite would be a good compromise of hard launches, quick shifts most drivers couldn't make, and not have the lack of efficiency of a torque converter (Drive-Through) at the top end.

The Clutchflite proved to be both unreliable and a safety issue.

The first NHRA Pro Stock car to try a Clutchflite was the Motown Missile.