ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Chrysler's Turbine Car: The Rise and Fall of Detroit's Coolest Creation

2012

Purchase on Amazon

Synopsis

In 1964, Chrysler gave the world a glimpse of the future. The automaker built a fleet of turbine cars—automobiles with jet engines—and lent them out to members of the public. The fleet logged over a million miles; the exercise was a raging success.

These turbine engines would run on any flammable liquid—diesel, heating oil, kerosene, tequila, even Chanel No. 5. If the cars had been mass produced, today we might have cars that do not require petroleum-derived fuels. The engine was also much simpler than the piston engine—it contained far fewer moving parts and required much less maintenance. The cars had no radiators or fan belts and never needed oil changes.

Yet Chrysler crushed and burned most of the cars two years later; the jet car’s brief glory was over. Where did it all go wrong?

Steve Lehto has interviewed all the surviving members of the turbine car program, from the metallurgist who created the exotic metals for the interior of the engine to the test driver who drove it at Chrysler’s proving grounds for days on end. Lehto takes these firsthand accounts and weaves them into a fascinating story about the coolest car Detroit has ever produced.

Suggested Reading

Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow

After World War II, the American automobile industry was reeling. Having spent years building tanks and airplanes for the army, the car companies would need years more to retool their production to meet the demands of the American public, for whom they had not made any cars since 1942. And then i...

View Details

The Legend of American Motors: The Full History of America's Most Innovative Automaker

American Motors was the little automotive company that made a big impact. Makers of the Rambler family car, Kenosha offered an antidote to the excess of Detroit's Big 3. But when America decided it wanted sporty, rather than econocars, AMC got groovy with the Javelin, AMX, Scrambler and Rebel Machin...

View Details

Latest News

October 28th, 2026

GM Isn’t Done Developing New Engines

August 5th, 2024

What Advantages Do Radial Engines Have And Why Aren't They Used Much Anymore?

June 9th, 2024

What Happened To The Chrysler Turbine Car? (And Why Cars Don't Have Jet Engines Today)

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.