Classic cars are unique, varied and gorgeous. In pursuit of fashion, modern cars produced in multi-million copies are similar to each other and are only suitable as a means of transportation. Retro cars are collectibles, some of them are now very, very rare, many of them, and at the time of release, were an unrealizable dream, produced in thousands or even dozens.
American retro cars
Chrysler Turbine Car (1963 1964)
Chrysler engineers have been developing an automobile gas turbine engine (GTE) since 1954, they even assembled prototypes from a GTE, and by the beginning of the 60s there were already the fourth generation of such power plants. Everything was ready for production, all that remained was to test them on production cars.
A gas turbine engine with rotating waste heat recuperators was installed on the new Turbo Chrysler, which made it possible to obtain an exhaust temperature of only 245 degrees Celsius. The compact unit weighed 190 kg and docked with a 3-speed Torque Flite automatic machine (without a torque converter, which was no longer needed due to the 2-shaft turbine design).
About power
The declared maximum power of the unit (SAE “net”) is 130 hp. at 3600 revolutions of the output shaft. The traction turbine reached its maximum power at 44,600 rpm, however, the rpm was reduced by the integrated reduction gear to the level usual in the passenger car industry (the cutoff occurred at 4680 rpm).
The turbo engine did not differ in high power, but it developed a very strong torque (on the output shaft) 575 Nm. Moreover, it was achieved already from the first revolutions, so no one complained about the accelerating dynamics of the Chrysler Turbine. True, the power turbine unit lagged behind in response to gas, which was a technical feature of this type of engine, but then it accelerated smoothly and confidently.
The maximum speed was limited within 195 km h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km h occurred in less than 10 seconds. The characteristic whine of the turbine attracted the attention of everyone within a radius of 30 meters. During the movement, an expressive noise of hot air escaping under pressure was heard.
The engine ran in a temperature range of 680-1100 degrees Celsius, but the special design of the exhaust nozzles distributed hot air over a large surface. The turbine itself, idling, with its imperceptible vibration, resembled a large dandelion on a hot summer day. Power was transmitted to the “continuous” rear axle, fixed on longitudinal leaf springs.
The front suspension was mounted on double wishbones, which was the usual pattern for the chassis of American cars of those years. The steering gear “screw-ball nut” with hydraulic booster everything is like many cars of the early 60s. So the Chrysler Turbine was a mixture of advanced and traditional (sometimes somewhat outdated) technical solutions.
The design of the TurboCrysler was overseen by Elwood Angel, who joined Chrysler from Ford Motor in 1961. And of course, he brought the appropriate stylistic ideas. “Turbine” was a coupe of a classic layout: length – 5121 mm, width – 1852, height – 1359 mm. The car weighed about 1770 kg and fully corresponded to the then American idea of a “mid-size” passenger car.
About unique programm
In 1963, Chrysler Corporation launched a unique program under the slogan “dream car to life”. According to the concept, the model was intended for distribution to American motorists throughout the country. They were just given to ordinary American families, Hollywood for filming, the President of Mexico, who ran Turbine with tequila.
Yes, the operating manual allowed you to drive almost everything that burned: unleaded gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, alcohol, vegetable oil, and no engine tuning was required to change the fuel. Only leaded gasoline (just the most widespread fuel at that time) was destructive and contraindicated for him.
A significant problem was high fuel consumption – at best, the car burned 20 liters per 100 kilometers. It was this fact that predetermined the further fate of the project. Under the terms of the program, each of the participants operated the car for three months, and then passed it onto the next.
In total, 200 motorists took part in the experiment. Chrysler hoped to obtain valuable statistics on the performance of a “turbine” passenger car, as well as to determine the attitude of potential buyers to an unusual vehicle and assess its market potential. The program ended safely by the beginning of 1965, after which fifty “turbine” cars were scrapped. Only a few copies have survived – museum and collection ones, one or two of them are still on the move.
Body type 2-door coupe Front engine layout Gas turbine engine type Max. power, h.p. 130 Max. moment, Nm 575 Drive type rear Transmission without gearbox Front suspension with double transverse links Rear suspension continuous axle with leaf springs Dimensions (LxWxH), mm 5121x1852x1359 Wheelbase, mm 2794 Curb weight, kg 1770 Max. speed, km / h 195 Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s 10 Fuel consumption for internal combustion engines, l / 100 km 16 – 24