Chrysler Turbine Program
#2862210
12/19/20 04:44 PM
12/19/20 04:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269 Slantytown
DUFFMAN
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We all know about the 1963 Chrysler Turbine cars, but the program started in the 1950s and lasted until the mid 1970s. From Wiki here's the list of cars that were built with turbine power during that time. I was trying to find information on others, but all I can find was info on the 1963. I wonder what happened to the rest? Were they all crushed or did some make it to museums?
1956 Plymouth Belvedere 1957 Plymouth Fury 1960 Plymouth Fury 1962 Plymouth Fury (2) 1962 Dodge Dart (2) 1961 Dodge 2½ ton stake 1963 Chrysler Turbine Cars (50) 1964 Plymouth Furys (2) Prototype Dodge Charger 1966 Dodge Coronet 1973 B-Body sedans (3) 1976 4-door Dodge Aspen (3) Concept F-body 79 Mirada Concept 1980 Chrysler Lebaron
Where are they now?
No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: topside]
#2862442
12/20/20 07:50 AM
12/20/20 07:50 AM
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RWG75
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RWG75
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The rumor on the 63s is that Chrysler had a hard time getting some of them back. Seems reasonable. All but a couple were crushed by the bean counters. Bodies hand built by Ghia, imported on some sort of limited use waiver to avoid paying taxes and actually cheaper to cut up than keep. Hard to watch footage exists.
Oddly enough, youtube has a decent archive on the turbine program. Chrysler did a coast to coast road trip, stopping at a Dealer near you, in one of the 50s mules. There's a good vid on that. There's also a short one that mentions the mules from the 70s and oddly, a small fleet given to the EPA for evaluation. I say oddly because because part of the death of the turbine program was their "gasoline only" emissions test rule. There's a couple interesting ones about the world tour they took the 63 on.
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
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#2862450
12/20/20 08:31 AM
12/20/20 08:31 AM
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RWG75
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RWG75
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: ]
#2862454
12/20/20 08:47 AM
12/20/20 08:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,079 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
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I am sure most know this But Jay Leno has one of the 63 Turbine cars he bought from Chrysler. He does one of his "Jay Leno's Garage" you tube shows about it and it is very interesting, he takes it for a drive etc. https://youtu.be/b2A5ijU3IvsI am fairly sure I saw one of the 63 Cars at a Mopar Event at Heartland Park Topeka in the late 90s. I don't know why that is something I remember I just remember it driving through the pits. I was 18 or 19 at the time and had zero interest in anything but drag racing so I didn't pay it much attention. Today I would have been much more interested lol.
Last edited by Bad340fish; 12/20/20 08:48 AM.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: Bad340fish]
#2862459
12/20/20 09:13 AM
12/20/20 09:13 AM
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ruderunner
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Mopar Action did a 3 part series about 10 years ago.
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: DUFFMAN]
#2862902
12/21/20 12:01 PM
12/21/20 12:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,141 East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
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In 1963, a friend of mine wen tot see the turbine car when he was a kid. His parents were on the list to get a car to try out. They didn't get one, but received some literature.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project 69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed. 70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project 2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: RoadRunner]
#2863275
12/22/20 10:50 AM
12/22/20 10:50 AM
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RWG75
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RWG75
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In 1963, a friend of mine wen tot see the turbine car when he was a kid. His parents were on the list to get a car to try out. They didn't get one, but received some literature. Now that's cool and why am I not surprised they dropped one in a truck?
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: ]
#2863362
12/22/20 01:42 PM
12/22/20 01:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,141 East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
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The book covers several turbine vehicles. First was a 54 Plymouth followed up with a 55 Plymouth. A 56 Plymouth four door was added to test reliability and the car ventured on a cross country trip. The car also was used to test fuel mileage, and required repair. Next car was a 59 Plymouth for road testing, driving from Detroit to NY. Power was up from the 130 range to 200hp with material change and improved recuporator. Third generation engine technology made its way to a 61 concept car and a 60 Plymouth 4 door and the 60 truck I pictured. Another coast to coast turbine car was made, a 62 Dodge "turbo dart" that was joined by a 62 Plymouth Fury for evaluation in the LA area between December 61 through April 62. Another pair of the same cars were made and the four toured the US major cities as demonstrators of the turbine technology. In February of 62, announcement was made to build 50-75 cars (the 63 turbine cars we are all familiar with). Another truck, a 62 box truck was also made. The Dart, Fury and truck were on display at the February 62 Chicago Auto Show. The book I have ends at the 63 Ghia Turbine cars, though I know the technology was evaluated well into the 70s. That should give you the list of cars someone was asking about.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project 69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed. 70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project 2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: ]
#2863415
12/22/20 03:44 PM
12/22/20 03:44 PM
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Posts: 28,096 Irving, TX
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In 1963, a friend of mine wen tot see the turbine car when he was a kid. His parents were on the list to get a car to try out. They didn't get one, but received some literature. Now that's cool and why am I not surprised they dropped one in a truck? Most people have forgotten that Chrysler had a turbine truck program. I'd hate to see the fuel a loaded medium truck would consume.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
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Re: Chrysler Turbine Program
[Re: DUFFMAN]
#2863488
12/22/20 06:10 PM
12/22/20 06:10 PM
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In 1977 I was at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, MI with what is now known as the Winged Warriors/ National B-Body Owners Association. We were gathered on the oval when the Chrysler exec who was hosting us directed our action up the track & urged us to be quiet. Suddenly a white sedan, a Coronet I think, “whooshed” past, only the noise of it cutting through the air giving a hint that it was there. I noticed there weren’t any turbine cars of that vintage on the above list, but it really seems that it was the ‘77 mid-size body. But that was a long time ago so maybe it was ‘73-74 style. But it was the current turbine technology that they were developing at the time.
Unfortunately, once it was gone, that was it, they didn’t display it for us to see.
"Gentlemen, we must all hang together, or surely, we shall all hang seperately."--Benjamin Franklin
www.wwnboa.org if you're interested in '62-'74 B-Bodies
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