B&M Racing

B&M Short Throw Shifters

B&M Automotive Products was founded by Bob Spar and Mort Schuman (B&M). B&M began in 1953 as an automotive repair shop in Van Nuys, California. In 1955, Bob's brother Don went to work for B&M. In off hours, the founders experimented in modifying the General Motors HydraMatic automatic transmission for drag racing applications. In 1958 Don bought out Mort's interest in the company and the new partners created the first racing transmission business in the US. Soon after, B&M produced the only patented 4-speed automatic racing transmission in the industry's history, known as the famous B&M Hydro Stick. Through the 60's B&M became the dominant force in racing automatic transmissions where B&M enjoyed 100% coverage of the qualifying fields at national events in Funny Car. In 1965 Frank Cannon made the first 200 MPH Top Fuel run in history using a B&M TorkMaster at Long Beach, California. Don Prudhomme's first solo effort was in the B&M owned and sponsored TorkMaster car. Prudhomme and B&M gained incredible visibility due to wins nationwide and the company continued to grow. In 1969 B&M teamed up with Andy Granatelli and Plymouth on what was known as the "P-69" program and developed the only automatic transmission ever for Indy car type racing. B&M also teamed up with Chrysler and developed the torque converter for the Hemi that dominated Super Stock racing in the late 60's. The company was the first to create what is known now as a high stall speed racing torque converter as well as the first to develop the forerunner of today's racing automatic shifters. By 1970, B&M was very well respected in the aftermarket and by the car companies. By then B&M had done development work and research programs for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Ford, Plymouth, Dodge, AMC and Ferrari, and established itself as the market leader in R&D as well as product quality in the area of racing transmission technology. B&M's deep-rooted involvement in racing is what has helped B&M improve the breed in street erformance products. The company isn't resting on its past achievements. The company has introduced hundreds of new shifter and transmission related products in the last five years and is constantly developing new technology.