Ok, so it's not the Batmobile, but if you thought turbine transport was never a thing – you'd be wrong. Most turbine cars were concepts only, and spanned in the era where Thunderbirds set aero-motive design trends.
But this one, the Chrysler Turbine Car (couldn't think of a better name guys?), actually went into production from 1962 through to 1964, making 5 prototypes and 50 production models. Unfortunately by the time Chrysler ditched the T-power project in '77, most were sent to scrap. Under ten remain in the hands of private owners like Jay Leno and museums.
Unlike the Jetsons bubble prototype designs, this thing actually looked civil… enter the Italians from Ghia who made this look like a Monte Carlo bikini model's weekender. The Turin styled bodies then got shipped to Detroit for the rest of the fit.
So why didn't it make the grade? At the time it would have been the equivalent of between a quarter to half a million bucks in todays money, just to make one car. I'm thinking, that might have been the exit.
Body Type: 2-door coupe
Engine: Chrysler A831 gas turbine
Transmission: 3 speed Auto
Power: 97 kW / 130 hp
Torque: 576 Nm / 425 lb-ft
Acceleration: 0- 100 kmh, 12.5 seconds
Top speed: all theory
The beauty of this car was that it immediately disavowed use of leaded fuel. It ran on bio diesel, unleaded gas, kero, vegie and peanut oil, even perfume or a bottle of vodka… ok, some not too practical choices but you get it. All this progress without sacrifice on performance and an engine which didn't suffer great durability issues when you gave it the beans… and you got groovy seats, power windows, brakes and steering, plus an interior which had you feeling like you were sitting in the Green Hornet's love child – who cares if it sounded like your mum's hoover, right?
