Brand History | 4 Minute Read | Shop All B&M Products
If you have spent any time in the performance automotive world, you already know the name B&M. Few brands carry the same level of respect on the street and the drag strip as B&M Racing & Performance. Since the early 1950s, B&M has engineered high-performance transmission components that have helped racers win championships, break records, and push American muscle cars to their limits.
At First Place Auto Parts, we proudly carry a wide selection of B&M performance products, including shifters, torque converters, shift kits, flexplates, and overhaul kits. Here is the story behind one of the most influential names in the performance automotive industry.
B&M Racing & Performance — built by racers, for racers since the early 1950s
The Beginning of B&M Racing & Performance
The B&M story began during the early days of organized drag racing in Southern California. A small group of racers and engineers started experimenting with automatic transmission modifications to unlock more performance both on the street and at the track.
During postwar America, hot rodding culture was exploding in popularity. At the time, most serious racers dismissed automatic transmissions as something meant only for daily drivers. B&M saw the potential long before most competitors, developing innovative transmission accessories, performance fluid formulas, and race-ready components designed specifically for high-horsepower applications.
The 1961 Hydro Stick Revolution
One of the biggest milestones in B&M history came in 1961 with the introduction of the Hydro Stick — the only patented four-speed automatic racing transmission ever produced.
For the first time, drivers could manually control shift points with the precision of a manual transmission while still benefiting from the consistency of an automatic. In an era dominated by manual gearboxes, the Hydro Stick completely changed the game for drag racers running automatic transmissions.
The Hydro Stick was not just innovative — it was built to survive repeated hard launches and extreme racing conditions. It quickly proved that automatic transmission cars could compete at the highest level of motorsports.
Breaking the 200 MPH Barrier
By 1965, B&M reached a historic achievement that cemented the brand’s legacy in drag racing history. Driver Frank Cannon recorded the first-ever 200 MPH Top Fuel run using a B&M TorkMaster transmission.
That record-setting pass established B&M as a true leader in performance transmission engineering. If you were serious about drag racing and running an automatic transmission, you ran B&M.
Today, that same racing heritage continues through products like the B&M TorkMaster Torque Converter , available right here at First Place Auto Parts.
B&M as a Founding Member of SEMA
In 1963, B&M became one of the thirteen original founding members of SEMA — the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
Today, SEMA represents thousands of companies and billions of dollars in the automotive aftermarket industry. Being part of the original founding group places B&M among the brands that helped build the modern performance parts industry from the ground up.
Decades of Performance Innovation
Following the success of the Hydro Stick and TorkMaster programs, B&M expanded far beyond transmission accessories. Over the decades, the company developed a full catalog of performance products for GM, Ford, and Mopar applications.
B&M products became staples in the muscle car and racing communities thanks to their durability, engineering, and race-proven performance.
Shop Popular B&M Products at First Place Auto Parts
Why Buy B&M from First Place Auto Parts?
At First Place Auto Parts, we carry B&M because their products represent exactly what performance enthusiasts demand: proven engineering, race-tested durability, and decades of American motorsports history.
Whether you are building a dedicated drag car, restoring a classic muscle car, or upgrading your street machine with a B&M Megashifter , you can trust that every B&M product is backed by generations of racing innovation.
Browse our complete selection of B&M Racing & Performance products and put that legendary performance heritage to work on your next build.
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