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Hi
everyone,
There was a very
good (and long) article on Turbine cars in Collectible Automobiles a
few years back. The Turbine project started in the early 50's, based on all the
work that had been done for newly developped jet fighters, at the end and after
WWII. The scientists figured that such an engine could be a real competitor to
the old combustion engine.
The turbine
principle is simple : the pressured combustion gases force a turbine wheel
to turn, which gives the necessary power to move the car and drives a
compressor which compresses the air to make it ready for combustion.
Their is also a heat exchanger to better the global efficiency of the engine
(that particular part was a nigthmare to develop in the early
designs).
The Turbine engine
at Chrysler (there was also other projects by other car manufacturer) went
through seven different designs from 1954 till around 1980, when the project was
killed. The first designs were installed in Plymouths, every other year or so,
so there was a 1954 Plymouth turbine, a 1955 (or 1956) Plymouth Turbine and a
1958 Plymouth Turbine.
The main advantages
of the turbine engine were : fewer moving parts, less wear, and an ability
to run on whatever would burn (as a joke they say it would even run on melted
butter ...) even with very low octane rating. The main disadvantages were : very
high consumption, very high operational heat, and no braking power. The last two
disadvantages were worked out in the last designs, so only the high consumption
remained a problem.
In the end, the
crisis at Chrysler in the early 80's, the lack of federal financing and the high
consumption killed the project.
Vincent
Van Humbeeck
'58 Plymouth Belvedere 2-door hardtop
Ok. I will plead to ignorance and
ask. How did the Turbine engine work and what was the
advantage?
Greg in WI
1956 Dodge Royal Lancer
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 8:10
PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Turbine Cars
Hi to all,
I seen that Chrysler put a Turbine
engine in a 1955 Plymouth and then in a 1963 Chrysler. Does any one know
how it worked out in the Plymouth and why Chrysler did not keep up the turbine
concept. Also I did see the 1963 Chrysler Turbine car drive past my
spots at Chryslers @ Carlisle a few years ago and was able to meet the owner
and take a few photos. Again why did Chrysler not keep this going.
I also was told by my friend who is a car salesman at the oldest Chrysler
Dealership in the country (that is stilled owned by the original owners) that
the 1963 Chrysler Turbine came to this dealership in 1963 and he got to ride
in it. He still is a salesman there. The owner still comes
in every day and when in town, I stop by and see him. He is 89 years
old.
Any way back to the turbine
cars. Any one know why Chrysler didn't pursue this more and produce
these for the public?
Jack in snowy Shinglehouse, Pa
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