Turbine Dreams: The Chrysler That Whispered Like a Jet

In the early 1960s, Chrysler dared to do something no other American automaker had the guts to try: build a car that ran on a jet engine. The result was the Chrysler Turbine Car, an experimental vehicle that looked like it belonged on a sci-fi movie set and sounded like it was ready for takeoff. It was bold, beautiful, and way ahead of its time. And even though only 55 were ever built, its legacy still burns bright today.

A Radical Powertrain: Jet Power for the Open Road – 

At the heart of the Chrysler Turbine Car was the A-831 turbine engine, the fourth generation of Chrysler’s ongoing gas turbine program that started way back in the late 1930s. The appeal? Fewer moving parts, less maintenance, the ability to run on nearly any combustible fuel—including diesel, kerosene, home heating oil, and even tequila—and a silky smooth ride thanks to the engine’s constant spinning motion.

Chrysler claimed the A-831 could burn everything from peanut oil to perfume, and users did just that during testing. One car reportedly ran on Mexican tequila during a demonstration. The turbine engine produced 130 horsepower and a whopping 425 lb-ft of torque, all with fewer emissions and a distinct jet-like whine.

But it wasn’t just about performance. The turbine engine didn’t need antifreeze, a radiator, or spark plugs, and it could start in sub-zero weather. That made it sound like the perfect engine for the American family car of the future.

Handbuilt Italian Style Meets Detroit Innovation – 

While the powertrain came from Chrysler’s advanced engineering team, the body was crafted by Carrozzeria Ghia in Italy. The sleek two-door hardtop coupe featured clean, modern lines with jet-age cues: turbine-like tail lamps, pod-style backup lights, and a signature Turbine Bronze metallic paint job that shimmered like root beer in the sun.

Inside, it was just as stylish. The cabin came with bronze leather seats, deep-pile carpeting, and a center console inspired by turbine blades. The dash had three oversized gauges: a speedometer, a tachometer, and a pyrometer—the latter used to measure extreme temperatures inside the turbine engine, something piston cars never needed.

Each car had power brakes, power steering, and Chrysler’s dependable TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Beneath the skin was a blend of old and new: independent front suspension, rear leaf springs, and power drum brakes all around.

A Million Miles of Real-World Testing – 

In one of the most ambitious consumer test programs in automotive history, Chrysler lent 50 of the Turbine Cars to ordinary Americans across 133 U.S. cities from 1963 to 1966. Over 1 million miles were logged by 203 drivers, who were allowed to keep the car for three months at a time—free of charge.

Drivers loved the smoothness and futuristic sound. But not everything was perfect. The eight-step starting procedure confused many, fuel economy wasn’t great, and acceleration was underwhelming. Some had trouble at high altitudes. And while turbine engines were durable, they were extremely expensive to build—Chrysler never specified the cost, but estimates suggest that it was upwards of $55,000 per car (equivalent to more than half a million dollars today).

Why Most of Them Were Destroyed – 

Once the program ended in 1966, Chrysler destroyed 46 of the 55 cars. Most were burned and crushed, reportedly to avoid import taxes on the Ghia-built bodies and to prevent the cars from falling into private hands. Some said Chrysler didn’t want the PR nightmare of turbine cars breaking down and being misunderstood.

Only nine Chrysler Turbine Cars are known to have survived. 

A Program That Almost Changed Everything – 

Chrysler didn’t give up right away. They continued to refine their turbine technology well into the 1970s, testing later versions of the engine in Dodge pickup trucks, Dodge Aspen, and even a few Chrysler LeBarons. However, rising gas prices, tougher emissions standards, and the conditions of the 1979 federal loan guarantee ultimately led to the program’s halt.

The last gasp came in 1980, when a Dodge Mirada became the final vehicle to be fitted with a Chrysler turbine engine—this time, an upgraded version of the seventh-generation powerplant. However, by 1981, the program had officially come to an end. One project insider later revealed that an eighth-generation turbine, ironically designed for Chrysler’s new front-wheel-drive K-car compacts, never made it past the drawing board.

Still, what Chrysler achieved remains nothing short of extraordinary. The Turbine Car was the first and only turbine-powered vehicle ever tested on a mass scale by real drivers, and it remains today as one of the boldest and most imaginative experiments in American automotive history.

Chrysler Turbine Car Image Gallery: