consolejockey

While watching a show about cars on the History Channel I learned about a “jet” powered car Chrysler developed in the mid 1960’s. Apparently Chrysler had tried for a number of years to produce a viable turbine powered car, and in 1963 they finally found a solution that worked. The car had 80% fewer moving parts than it’s contemporaries and could run on any combustible liquid, including vegetable oil. From a Barracuda Magazine article:

Although the recommended fuel was diesel, the Turbine Car would run on ANY flammable liquid. At one point or another, Turbine Cars were run, without adjustments, on unleaded gas, kerosene, jet fuel, home heating oil, peanut oil, tequila and even Chanel No. 5.

For a variety of reasons, such as the odd sounding engine, which apparently sounded like a vacuum cleaner, sluggish acceleration and tightening EPA emission restrictions, Chrysler did not have the confidence to put the turbine car into production. It’s too bad really. I could see an evolution of this car being just as green (if not more green) as the diesel cars on the road today running on bio-diesel or vegetable oil.

Some links for ya:
Wikipedia: Chrysler Turbine Car
Barracuda Magazine: The 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car