· The Chrysler Turbine car was produced in the early 1960s by an Italian design studio, and assembly was completed in Detroit. There were only 55 produced, and the Turbine Car at The National Museum of Transportation (TNMOT) is the only operational turbine car on public display. The turbine car is notable because it has, you guessed it, a turbine engine. There are reports of the car running on everything from tequila and perfume, to peanut and soybean oils.
· Chrysler planned to disperse 50 cars to 203 households, in which the families would drive them, take notes about their thoughts of the car, and then pass it onto the next family.
· After the trial test-runs were finished, the cars were returned to Chrysler, and ultimately, most of them were destroyed. Chrysler decided not to move forward with widespread production due to manufacturing costs and difficulty with emissions regulations.
· TNMOT starts the Turbine Car every six to eight weeks to check on its operability. If you want to hear the sound of a smooth jet engine coming out of a sleek copper-colored 1960s car, let us know and we will tune you into the schedule.
· Here is an interesting video of the Turbine Car being tested by Chrysler!
