Abstract: A control apparatus for the automatic clutch of an automotive vehicle includes a pressure regulating valve for selectively connecting clutch actuating pressure to line pressure and a drain, and a control unit for controlling the pressure regulating valve. The control unit senses and/or calculates vehicle inclination, braking torque and engine drive torque. If the braking torque is smaller than a directionally adverse torque which attempts to move the vehicle in the adverse direction when the vehicle is propelled in the desired direction from rest on a grade, the control unit is operative to displace the pressure regulating valve in a direction which will connect the line pressure to the clutch, thereby increasing the clutch pressure to enlarge the clutch transfer torque. Therefore, even if the accelerator pedal is not being depressed when the vehicle is on the grade, there is no time lag between depression of the accelerator pedal when this done and the start of torque transfer by the clutch.