1963 Chrysler Turbine Car At The Chrysler Proving Grounds

Step back in time a quarter of a century to the 1982 Chrysler Car Club Convention held at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan. Check out one of the 1963 Chrysler Turbine Cars as it accelerates away from the camera at the Proving Grounds.

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Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1963
• Chrysler
• Turbine
• Car
• Mopar
• Dodge
• Plymouth
• Road
• Runner
• Satellite
• Belvedere
• GTX
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[Corollaboi]

What's the top speed? I can't imagine that thing being able to get out of the way of people in a rush. I'm about to install oil slick dispensers on the back of my 72 Beetle to get people off my back when the light turns green.

[OneBadSuperbird]

I don't remember what the top speed on them is but it's really not too bad. I rode in the one that is at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation a few years back at the Monster Mopar Weekend and they really ain't all that slow off the line. I was thoroughly impressed.

[vcval]

i thought they were all crushed ???

[OneBadSuperbird]

Most all of the 50-60 1963 Turbine Cars were indeed crushed but about a dozen survived. Many are non-running examples but there are still a few running and driving cars. The ones owned by the Museum of Transportation and at least one of the ones still owned by Chrysler (the one in this video) are two that run and drive.

[CarHunter]

the sound of the turbine is SOO incredible!

but two questions: is the turbine (very) loud, especially when accelerating? and - if not - how did they manage to quiet the sound down? you know that?

thanks in advance, jonas

[OneBadSuperbird]

I'm not exactly sure what all the exhaust consisted of but the car really isn't that loud. There's a little bit of a muffled turbine roar as the car accelerates away from you. It really is amazing. This was over 40 years ago that these cars were built. It's a shame that the technology wasn't developed further.

[loufalce]

Front end looks like the back of a 1961-1963 T Bird, but thats not bad.

[greasemonkey981]

Novel idea that Chrysler had, but I'm glad it never "took off". The gas mileage and maintenance costs would economically cripple most people. It is still nice to see a piece of history that still runs.

[BaddaBigBoom]

Why do Americans pronounce it "turban" ? (rather than turb*i*ne)

[MainVuper]

@OneBadSuperbird

why were they crushed :(?

[52111centrumcz]

@OneBadSuperbird

It consumes fuel like a helicopter - which means several gallons an hour, no matter how much you drive. Which means especially in cities you would get atrocious mileage. With todays gas prices, unless you're very rich you coudln't afford it.

[malcauskas7]

Yes! This is history.

[GooglFascists]

@CarHunter In those days everyone automatically knew if a car said "Chrysler"

on it, it was going to be NOISY.

"Q U I E T" wasn't even in Chrysler engineers' vocabulary.

Chryslers had power and handling, but I never drove one, (including brand new),

that you didn't hear engine, wind and road noise from idle getting progressively

worse up to turnpike speeds.

At 80mph, (in those days the speed limit), you almost needed EAR PLUGS.

So a roaring, whining turbine might have masked some rattles!

[Oldbmwr100rs]

@loufalce I believe the same person did the styling for both, then the bodies were built in Italy by Ghia in I believe Turin. One of my auto instructors took one for a shoert drive in the late '60s at a chrysler open house back when he worked for them. He said it was nice..

[BrentAudi]

Great looking and sounding car!

[197022007]

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