Chrysler Turbine Car tested by families

Between 1963 and 1966, 203 American families tested the Chrysler Turbine Car, a vehicle with a unique turbine engine that could run on various liquid fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and even vegetable oil. Chrysler built 55 units for the test program, with 50 intended for public use and 5 as prototypes.

Design and construction details

The Turbine Car’s body was designed by Carrozzeria Ghia in Turin, Italy, and assembled in Detroit, Michigan. The vehicle featured a 130-horsepower turbine engine, which was simpler in design than traditional piston engines, with only 60 moving parts compared to the 300 typical in conventional engines.

Test program and results

During the test program, drivers in 133 American cities drove the cars for over a million miles between October 1963 and January 1966. Chrysler aimed to gather real-world feedback before deciding on mass production. However, after the program ended, Chrysler recovered all the cars and destroyed most of them.

Destruction of most units

Of the 55 units built, 46 were destroyed, with 45 crushed in a scrap yard near Detroit and one demolished at Chrysler’s Chelsea Proving Grounds. The destruction was filmed by Chrysler staff, though the reasons remain unclear. Some sources suggest it was due to customs duties, legal concerns, or to protect trade secrets.

Surviving cars and restoration

Only nine of the 55 Turbine Cars survived. Two are in Chrysler’s archives, six are in American museums, and the ninth belongs to car collector Jay Leno. Leno’s car was restored using modern techniques like 3D printing and was unveiled in 2024 at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Each original car cost about $55,000, with a significant portion going to the Ghia bodywork.