The Chrysler Turbine Car was part of a decades long effort by the Chrysler Corporation to develop a mass market gas turbine powered automobile. Building on work that began in the early 1950s, Chrysler launched a nationwide user experiment program with 50 hand-built Ghia bodied turbine cars in 1963. The cars were powered by a 130 hp regenerative gas turbine engine that ran on anything from kerosene to tequila and fed power to the rear wheels through a TorqueFlite transmission. Over the course of two years, 203 users around the country received one of these “Turbine Bronze” jet-age cars for a three-month evaluation. This is one of just nine remaining vehicles from that program and is one of the few that still runs. After the program, most of the vehicles were destroyed, and those that were saved, went to museums. This car was recently acquired by the Stahls Automotive Collection where it is displayed to the public in their wide-ranging collection.

NHVR No. 32 HAER No. MI-434

The car features its original Turbine Bronze paint and is unrestored. All 50 of the user program cars were finished in this unique color.

This vehicle’s interior is mostly unrestored featuring the original finishes and upholstery from when it was built by Chrysler and Ghia.

The Chrysler Turbine Cars all featured regenerative gas turbine engines. Operating at over 18,000 – 45,000 rpms, the turbine engine produced 130 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque with 80% fewer reciprocating parts than a conventional piston engine.

This vehicle was originally used as an experimental car within Chrysler’s Turbine program in the mid-1960s. It is now owned and exhibited by The Stahls Automotive Collection.

The car features 14 inch steel wheels with 7.50-14 bias ply tires specially made for the Chrysler Turbine cars. Hydraulic drum brakes with an air-powered brake booster providing power assist.

Hydraulic drum brakes with an air-powered brake booster providing power assist.

Modified 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission featuring no torque converter as the independent turbine wheels within the engine do not require a slip mechanism for transferring power to the rear wheels.