I always knew that Chrysler had to destroy nearly all their Turbine "test" cars simply for tax reasons.
But even after all these years, seeing a short video of the "massacre can still make me angry. What a waste.
It was always one of my favorite cars, and colors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKumq...eature=related

 

Yeap, I rather watch this one, less depressing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1U_SSXkges&NR=1

 

Or maybe something like this.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWbhk1NxeME

 

JM, thanks for that video, it cheered me up.
I got to go for a ride in one of the 50 Turbine cars they loaned out to the lucky few who were chosen to drive em for awhile back in the early 60's.
They had a Turbine car for a day at the dealer my Dad managed. I remember it sounded like a jet plane, (but Chrysler made it louder than it needed to be just for the the extra attention) and there was absolutely no vibration at all.
It wasn't very quick though, my Dads 318 "Demo" would walk all over it.
I think it's the only car with "fender skirts" I ever liked. (Not counting the 2 seater Birds)

 

sad video indeed and I was not familiar with the car. Amazing how much it looked like the early 60's tbird. To me, Chrysler ruled in the 60's..really exotic stuff...

 

You guys have to come to the Woodward cruise a day early and go to the Chrysler Museum.........I bet you'll find one there. (probably on a pedestal as soon as you walk in the door!)

 

Go to the www.allpar.com website for a bunch of info on the whole turbine car program. It continued on until the 80s through about 5 or 6 generations of automotive turbine car prototypes. The government DOT got involved and the whole thing came to an ignominious end. Too bad really. With recent advances in metallurgy and ceramics the costs of small turbine engines keep coming down. Small personal jets planes are soon to become a reality. A car powered by a turbine could run 500K easily without problems and could burn just about anything from natural gas, hydrogen or bio diesel with super low emissions!

Why the heck we don't pursue this technology rather than far-out stuff like fuel cells is totally beyond me...makes too much sense I suppose

Slim

 

i wonder if the same designer worked on the rocket birds like mine and the Chrysler turbine? Roofline and peak moldings are practically identical.

 

That would be Chuck Mashigan 62 T Bird.
I spoke about him before.
He got his start with Ford, then went to Chrysler, and then American Motors.
Just Google "Chuck Mashigan", there is lots written about him.
He was driving a dump truck when he applied for a job at Ford, and they hired him on the spot as a designer because they liked his sketches.
I wish I could have met him, everybody said he was a great guy.
Coincidentally, some of my all time favorite cars had his design input, and I never knew it until just a few years ago.
2 seat T Birds, Chrysler Turbine car, early Dodge Dart, Dodge A-100 pick up & Van, and the AMX.

 

my first collector car was a 63 tbird roadster (not an m) and it was in very fine condition- white/white with a red interior. The problem was that the performance was totally 1963- and it was a misery to drive (amazing what brakes were like back then) though great to just look at in the garage- but alas that was not what I was looking for so I didn't keep it long...I don't remember hearing the name Chuck Mashigan though.

 

Steve you're right but it's up a little higher

 

Mike
Cool, I hope someone took pictures
What do you think of these "Jimmy Jones" fender skirts? (well known metal beater around Detroit in the 50's)


For more pics of my friend's 56 Chevy go to:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/36Chevy

 

Beautiful '56 Is that what I think it is parked in front of it?

 

I actually got to drive one of the turbine cars. The Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, MO has one on display and I worked there for about 6 years. The guy who rebuilt it comes and picks it up every once in a while to take to Mopar shows. I was talking to him once when he came to pick it up and he let me drive it around the parking lot a few times... it was quite an experience (I was only about 17 or 18 at the time).

 

Thanks Rick, my friend is really proud of it and that picture doesn't do justice to the bubble fender skirts.
I just checked my original high definition photo and I believe that it is what you think it is. I just don't remember, they were so many nice cars at Autorama (2005) and I didn't get pictures of every single car. Maybe Mike can I have a look at it and give us a ruling

 

Sorry JM, if there are "skirts" involved, then there should be a pair of "high heels" included. I just never cared for cars that covered up their wheels.

That looks like a Big Bad Orange 69 AMX, parked in front of your friends car. One of 284 produced in that color for 69.

 

Got it, so I think this would be more appropriate, sorry I couldn't find one with heels, Happy Late Birthday and many more...............................

 

Thanks JM for the BD wish, and yes she'll work. But I'm a little "pissed" about her leaning on that $1500 hood. My Daughter knew better by the time she was 3 years old.