Engines Exposed: 1963 Chrysler Turbine

Written by
Matt Anderson
Published3/13/2015
The Chrysler turbine engine could run on just about anything--gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and even peanut oil! Peek under the hood of our 1963 Chrysler Turbine.

Engines Exposed: 1963 Chrysler Turbine

Written by
Matt Anderson
Published3/13/2015

turbine-engine

1963 Chrysler Turbine

Regenerative gas turbine engine, 130 horsepower.

turbine

Chrysler experimented with turbine engines for some 25 years. The Turbine could run on almost anything – gasoline, diesel, kerosene, even peanut oil (with exhaust that smelled like baking cookies)! While the fuel flexibility was terrific, the fuel economy was less than stellar. Chrysler ended the Turbine program in 1979. Note the huge air filter housing in front of the engine. The Turbine gulped about four times more air than a piston engine.

Matt Anderson is Curator of Transportation at The Henry Ford.