We have a strong admiration for turbine-driven automobiles here at The Drive, thus you can envision our excitement upon discovering an authentic Chrysler Turbine Car being offered for sale seemingly unexpectedly. Indeed, this vehicle is legitimate, one of merely a couple of privately possessed specimens globally, with the other one belonging to Jay Leno (as expected).
Update: March 11th, 11:14 a.m. ET: This Chrysler Turbine Car has sold since the listing was posted. The original link has been updated below.
What’s the hitch? Well, there’s no price specified in its Hemmings listing, and considering it is the lone
Hemmings
Out of the 55 turbine-powered cars fabricated, a mere nine managed to survive. Seven are housed within museums and this unit, identified by chassis number 991231, constitutes half of the privately owned examples. Currently under the ownership of the Kleptz Collection, the listing in Hemmings mentions this vehicle likely spent most of its existence on the West Coast carrying out “VIP Duties.” Essentially, it was utilized as a plaything by executives and lent out to individuals chosen by Chrysler to experience such a vehicle.
Following the discontinuation of the program by Chrysler and with a few vehicles left idle, the car—along with a spare engine—was presented to Hotel and Real Estate tycoon William Harrah for his automobile museum upon his request. It remained there until Harrah’s passing in 1978, when a significant portion of his collection was liquidated, including the Turbine Car. Subsequently, it was purchased by Domino’s Pizza founder and automobile aficionado Tom Monaghan before ultimately finding its way to the Kleptz Collection.
Even though it was non-operational upon acquisition by the collection, additional engines were included with the vehicle as part of the agreement. Using these spares and with assistance from General Electric—a renowned manufacturer of gas turbine engines—the automobile was restored to a functional state during the early 2000s. The description mentions that while it has had limited usage over the last two decades, it has recently been test-fired and is still in working order. An additional engine and transmission will be provided as a bonus if you decide to purchase it.
And in the case that you are affluent and planning to acquire this item, kindly drive it in a manner akin to Jay Leno’s style.
The turbine engine itself has only 130 horsepower, a deliberate choice to optimize for 425 pound-feet of torque at the output shaft through internal gearing. Operating at idling speeds between 18,000 and 22,000 RPM, this engine runs smoothly and quietly, propelling the Chrysler-designed, Ghia-bodied vehicles to speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. At this velocity, the engine will be spinning at 60,000 RPM.
If the power output seems somewhat underwhelming for an engine operating on principles akin to those used in jet aircraft, it’s because vehicle turbine engines were never intended for sheer power. Their advantages lay in their simplified design with fewer moving components, theoretically boosting reliability, and their ability to run on any combustible liquid. Nevertheless, these advantages ultimately couldn’t outweigh the drawbacks of the powerplant, particularly for automotive use. Producing these engines was costly and they generated substantial heat as well as significant emissions.
Following the decline of the concept for passenger cars in the 1970s, we are left with the current scenario; just nine Chrysler Turbine Cars, and a few related remnants scattered from the major automakers. However, this is not meant to be disheartening. The chance to possess a Chrysler Turbine Car is truly exceptional, and if you’re an automobile enthusiast perusing this with ample funds at your disposal, here’s an opportunity to own a piece of automotive history.
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