Two (2) Auto Manuals - Chrysler Turbine Car - by Engineering Dept. - 1963-64

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

Seller's tip: Comedian Jay Leno owns one of only two (2) Chrysler Turbine cars outside of a museum. One wonders if even he has these booklets. There are only three (3) of the first booklet listed for sale on the used book market and they ship from Germany. There is only one (1) copy for sale of the second booklet. These were purchased at an estate auction in Neapolis, Ohio, outside of Toledo.1. The Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car / Engineering Staff - Technical Information Section / Dated April 5, 1963 / Softcover / 41 pages."With the introduction of its turbine-powered car, Chrysler Corporation reaches a milestone in automobile design. The appearance of turbine cars on the public roads signifies an important point - possibly a turning point - in automobile evolution...This publication presents the styling and engineering features of the Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car and a description of the first automotive gas turbine engine to be put into limited production and made available to the man-on-the-street." - excerpt from the Introduction.Sample contents: Power Plant / Engine / Multifuel Capability / Central Hydraulic System / Operating Information / Exterior Styling / Interior Styling / Suspension / Steering / Drive Line, Wheels, Brakes / Safety and Convenience Features / General Features and Standard Equipment / Specifications. Some interesting facts culled from the book: The power plant of the Turbine Car comprises a new gas turbine engine coupled to a modified TourqueFlite 3-Speed automatic transmission / The two turbine wheels are not interconnected mechanically, and thus one may rotate while the other is stationary. / Engine exhaust gases, after leaving the regenerators, pass out to the rear of the car through two rectangular aluminum exhaust ducts, emerging at a temperature of about 500 degrees F at full power...and only about 190 degrees F when the engine is idling. / Hood and deck inner and outer panels are constructed of aluminum...Condition: The front and back covers are smudged and scuffed, soiled and stained, especially the front. The interior pages are very very good, with the exception of light soiling along the outer edge of the first page.2. History of Chrysler Corporation Gas Turbine Vehicles / March 1954-January 1964 / A review of gas turbine-powered vehicles shown publicly by Chrysler Corporation / Engineering Staff, Technical Information Section / January, 1964 / 30 pages.Sample contents: Early Investigation and Research / Survey before World War II / Navy contract for aircraft engines / The first turbine car - 1954 Plymouth / 1956 Plymouth test from New York City to Los Angeles / The second generation turbine - 1959 Plymouth / Two-and-a-half-ton Dodge truck with a turbine engine / 1962 Dodge Turbo Dart / A turbine car for public evaluation."At Chrysler Corporation, the earliest work on gas turbine engines dates back to before World War II, when an exploratory engineering survey was conducted. These studies show that, although the gas turbine engine had strong possibololit8ies of being a n ideal automobile engine, neither materials nor techniques had advanced to the point where the cost and time of intensive research would be warranted." - excerpt from the first chapter.Condition: Good overall. The softcovers are a little worn and scuffed. The interior pages are in very good condition.Thank you for taking your time to review this listing.Check out my other items !http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Turbine_Car - Chrysler Turbine Cars are automobiles powered by gas turbine engines that the Chrysler Corporation made from 1962-1964. Bodies for the Chrysler Turbine were made by Ghia in Turin, Italy, with final assembly taking place in a small plant in Detroit, Michigan , USA . After a period of testing, the vehicles were reclaimed by Chrysler; all but nine were destroyed. Three functioning examples remain, all in museums, and six more non-functioning examples in other museums.The Chrysler Turbine Car was the first and only consumer test ever conducted of gas turbine-powered cars. Of the total 55 units built (5 prototypes and 50 "production" cars), most were scrapped at the end of a trial period, with only nine remaining in museums and private collections. Though Chrysler's turbine engine project was terminated in 1977, the Turbine Car was the high point of a three decade project to perfect the engine for practical use...Only two Chrysler Turbine Cars are in the hands of private collectors: One was purchased by private automobile collector Frank Kleptz of Terre Haute, Indiana and is functional. Kleptz's Turbine Car was originally donated to the former Harrah museum in Nevada. The second one is owned by comedian and television host Jay Leno , who purchased one of the three Chrysler Turbine Cars which had been originally retained by Chrysler. [ 13 ] Leno wrote thatMost were destroyed by Chrysler for tax and liability reasons, which is a shame, because to this day everyone who rides in a Turbine says, "Whoa, this feels like the future!" You turn the key and there's a big woosh and a complete absence of vibration... I think it's the most collectible American car--it was so different. Most of all, the Chrysler Turbine is a reminder that all the cool stuff used to be made in the U.S. I hope it will be again. [ 14 ] read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.