Transcript of The Chrysler Turbine Car: Engineering a Revolution | Full Documentary
Hagerty Drivers Foundation
0:14if you look at the history of the0:15automobile in Detroit there appears to0:17be pretty much just a straight line of0:19cars evolving over time and the turban0:21car was just a gigantic deviation from0:24the norm the First new automotive power0:26plant in more than 50 years here was a0:29car that had a total new type of0:30propulsion system no one had tried0:32before the whole concept of a gasb power0:35card was fairly radical I mean the Warr0:37I the tremendous potential of the turban0:40opens the possibility of an exciting new0:42chapter of Motoring and gives the0:44automobile a running start in the jet if0:47youve heard one run there's no question0:50there's something different going on in0:51that car it sounds like the future when0:58again I am always thought it was the1:01coolest post-war car ever The Styling1:04was fantastic the body was built by1:06Craftsman in Italy but the engineering1:08that went into it is just as beautiful a1:12group of committed Engineers were able1:14to accomplish something that is almost1:17unaccomplished there has never been1:19another car just like it the turban1:21program was bold it was daring price for1:24we think that we can actually make a1:26product here that we can sell to1:27Consumers sell more cars get a Bigg1:29chunk of the car Market that's what they1:30were all about the highlight of the1:32program was the fleet of these cars they1:34put on the road they lent to the public1:36the most unusual consumer test program1:39ever launched in the automotive industry1:41they chose 203 families sent the cars1:45out if you think about it it was insane1:48that Chrysler did this people were1:50driving experimental cars on the road it1:52turned out to be one of the greatest1:54marketing campaigns in Automotive1:55History intense public interest that's1:58putting it mildly2:00this came out at a time when the idea of2:02a car for the common man still had not2:04reached a large part of the earth and2:07here was Americans driv grounded jet2:09powered cars with five cigarette2:11lighters in them you know I mean just2:13crazy everything about the turban car is2:15cool everything it stood up against the2:18naysayers you know we'll never have a2:20turbine car well we had one and it still2:23exists there were 55 made there's only2:26nine that are left it's become an icon2:29in Automotive world it's a symbol of2:31engineering excellence and also the2:34future of what could2:37[Music]2:45[Music]2:48be here it is in the precise language of2:52the engineer it's called the jet2:53propulsion gas turbine to you and me2:56it's the jet engine the idea of a2:58turbine engine it's actually very simple3:00a turbine is a highly Advanced use of3:02one of man's oldest means for creating3:05power to do work well a pin wheel I mean3:08you pick up a pin wheel K you blow on it3:11and it turns you know that's what a3:13turbine does you blast air through a3:15wing rotor then you can do a lot of3:17things with that rotor a turbine engine3:20basically is you have a tube with fan3:23blades inside of it and air comes in one3:25end and it goes into combustion chamber3:28which creates fire and heat with which3:30blasts out the back past another set of3:32fan blades these fan blades are on a3:34shaft connected to the first set of fan3:36blades it causes the ones the front to3:38spin and suck in more air and it creates3:40constant combustion blasting the air out3:42the3:45back if you look at how fast aircraft3:48design accelerated during World War I or3:50World War II it seems that a lot of3:52technology is driven by military3:54applications people want to find what's3:56best or fastest or strongest and also3:58usually because there's an unlimited4:00budget behind it military jet powered4:03airplanes they started to appear just at4:05the end of World War II you'd see them4:07fly over or hear them they made a4:08different kind of4:11noise and they could go like hell I mean4:13they were much faster than the propell4:15this is the turban jet the power that is4:18driving the fighters of today through4:20the Sonic4:22barrier you get a much smaller lighter4:25engine poting out much more power that's4:28what a jet engine could do in in4:30aviation that was a terribly attractive4:34characteristic they had completely taken4:36over the military high performance4:38airplanes and they were starting to take4:40over the commercial airliner business at4:42that point near Sonic Speed but inside4:46one of the most stunning discoveries4:48there is no feeling of movement at all A4:51New Concept in air4:54transportation Chrysler's turban4:56development really started in late 1930s4:58picked up a lot during World War II with5:00the development of a turbo prop engine5:02it was a Navy contract the a86 was the5:06gas turban aircraft program the engine5:08was successful but by then the war had5:13ended but the turbine itself had sparked5:16interest some of the people who worked5:18on that program naturally thought we5:19work at a car company could we take that5:22engine and instead of turning a prop5:23turn a drive shaft is not anything more5:26insurmountable than we've done with5:27piston engines it's just no nobody's5:30ever done it some competitive Automotive5:32Engineers see no practical future for5:34the turban engine but Chrysler5:36Corporation Engineers could see5:38something worth striving for you have to5:40think about what was going on in the5:42country in the 50s and 60s realization5:45of the American GED the Envy of the5:48entire world everything was kind of5:51upbeat because we had come out of this5:53horrible World War and we were heading5:55into a time of economic Prosperity we5:58just were the leaders right we were the6:00best you know we that was our our role6:03in the world to lead you had spotnick6:05you had the space race America's6:07farthest stride into outer space you had6:10jet travel coming into Vogue the whole6:12jet age thing it just sort of caught6:15up a lot of times the Styles and the6:18Fashions are shaped by the technology of6:20the times and vice versa we all knew the6:22finned cars in the ' 50s starting with6:24Cadillac Harley Earl had copied the look6:27of the P38 with the tail fins very6:30obvious big fins on the back of the car6:32and then Chrysler got into enormous ones6:35but that was all I think a reflection of6:37that sense of aerodynamic styling no6:39wonder that amid such promise of6:41Adventure the rising generation should6:43crane its next Skyward to the streaking6:46silver that bespeaks tomorrow a lot of6:48people started believing that technology6:51was advancing much much faster than it6:53had been previously everyone thought6:55someday down the road we'll have flying6:57cars jetpacks so it didn't seem that far7:00out of line that somebody said oh by the7:01way we can make jet powered cars putting7:05the same smooth power into family cars7:08has long been an engineering dream but7:10the challenge to the automotive engineer7:12is much more difficult they did a7:14comparison of jet engines and Automotive7:18turbine requirements and nothing could7:20have been farther apart I mean jet7:23engines gobble fuel like a a line in a7:25herd of gazel its flaming breath is7:28White Hot Gas fed by drafts of liquid7:30fuel watch that gallon go they don't7:34idle very well and they just aren't7:36built for automobiles so it meant a7:38whole rethinking of the turbine concept7:43an aircraft with a jet engine on it is7:45pushed simply by the hot air coming out7:47the back in an automotive setting it's7:50much different there are really two7:52major steps to powering a gas turbine7:55automotive engine the first stage7:57turbine does nothing but drive the7:58compressor with wheel and whatever8:00accessories there are like generator and8:02oil pump behind that is a second stage8:06turbine also running at high speed 408:0950,000 and obviously that's too high for8:12the rear wheel axle so there's about a8:1310 to1 set of reduction gears that8:16drives the car a turbine would be8:18considered the bleeding edge the very8:21height of an automobile and that's the8:23way most people looked at it well wow8:24this is a jet car even though it really8:26wasn't a jet car jet engine just took8:29all had gas and blew it out the back we8:31made use of it in a mechanical sense to8:34propel the8:36wheels there was logic to it I mean the8:39engine has a lot of attractive8:41characteristics that if they could be8:43adapted to the automobile engine make8:45them very very popular the turbine8:47engine looks different on the outside8:49because it's definitely different on the8:51inside the parts inside the turbine are8:53spinning whereas the parts inside of a8:55piston engine are reciprocating going8:57back and forth they shake they vibrate8:59they make noise something that spins can9:01be smoother you've got an engine unlike9:03any other engine in an automobile that9:05put out absolutely no9:09vibration the driver felt that9:12smoothness which you don't feel in a9:13piston engine9:19car and the fewer moving Parts there9:22were no piston no crankshaft no Rod no9:26valve train the turban engine is like9:28one quarter the part it was about 200 lb9:30lighter than a standard combustion9:32engine that's the interesting part low9:35maintenance one spark plug maybe once9:38every 50,000 Mi put a new spark plug in9:41in it but never change the9:46oil and then also it'll run on any9:49liquid that burns you can run on unlet9:52gasoline jp4 jet fuel kerosene diesel9:55home heating oil V5 hairspray we've9:58heard stories that one that was in10:01France that ran on Chanel Number Five10:03perfume I went down to Dothan Alabama10:06for The Peanut Festival and we ran the10:09vehicle on peanut oil and it smelled10:12like a Chinese restaurant it people were10:15amazed in South Africa they wouldn't10:17believe us when we said this car would10:19run on cognac so we gave it a10:23[Applause]10:25try it worked of course this is all10:29interesting but why would you need to do10:31that I mean what what was cheaper than10:33fuel when the car came out in many10:35places fuel was 19 cents a gallon and10:37the multifuel aspect of it was lat or10:40something people said oh my gosh we10:41could have cashed in on that but people10:43weren't thinking about the cost of10:44gasoline just yet the world's most10:46exciting car which will run on any10:49fuel now other car companies toyed with10:51the technology and turbines weren't10:53invented by Chrysler actually the10:55English did it first Rover had a gas10:57turb the first in the world to be11:00powered by a gas turbine engine on these11:02test runs a speed of 90 mph was easily11:07attained Chrysler was the company that11:09actually decided to put the big11:10investment into11:12it for years and years Chrysler was11:14known as the engineering company in11:16Chrysler Corporation Laboratories as11:18many as 1,500 different research tests11:21are usually proceeding at the same time11:24so you will have a more dependable and11:26efficient vehicle it started with Mr11:28Chrysler he was the one that really11:30stressed that we should be bringing out11:32Innovations yearly several of the11:34inventions that are common in11:35automobiles were started at Chrysler11:37because they would go along with the11:40weird idea you know we're the company11:41brought out power steering cruise11:43control downdraft11:46carburators to really give these11:48Engineers free reign to really develop11:51and innovate something was pretty11:52remarkable in Detroit at the time11:54everything that is done in this town11:57between companies is on a competitive11:58basis especially 1950s and 1960s the12:02other manufacturers all had turban12:04programs General Motors did a couple12:07Ford did a couple when it came to the12:08turban engines there was definitely one12:11upmanship going on big red is an12:14experimental gas turbine powered super12:16truck for the 1970s we kept very close12:19track of whatever was published of our12:22competitors activities and some of the12:25stuff they did was pretty darn good it12:27was a gas Turing fraternity12:29we all kind of got together whenever the12:32opportunity presented itself and12:34although we were careful not to divulge12:37anything that was secret we still did a12:40lot of talking a little bit of beer12:43drinking a milstone in automotive12:46engineering is marked by the completion12:48of General Motors Firebird12:50II General Motors has the Firebirds12:53which looked like a landbased12:57jet there's no way they're going to12:59build this this is really just a fantasy13:02thing hey you want some ice cream or a13:04cool drink orange juice please for me13:07too beautiful incredible vehicles but13:10they weren't intended to go13:17production from the beginning Chrysler13:20was focused on a high production car13:23let's start working on Automotive13:25turbines not as show cars but as cars13:28that we can actually sell to people we13:31foresaw a brilliant future for this13:33turban car and we had a guy like George13:37hubner to promote13:40it George hubner was the director of13:43research for the corporation and he was13:46a Believer for a high- techy kind of guy13:49he was very persuasive plus an13:52enormously capable engineer so it's good13:54combination he wasn't somebody that you13:56pump up for a few minutes and send him13:59out to face the cameras he knew what he14:02was doing and he was always there part14:04of the discussion asking good questions14:07and getting answers he had a team below14:09him working on these cars and building14:11the cars designing the cars and he had14:13to go up a level to get the people above14:15him to authorize expenditures and so on14:18he was really a convincer specifically14:20internally he sold it to the hierarchy14:23of the corporation if any one individual14:25could take credit for the chis turban14:27program going as far far as it did it14:29would have been George George hubner14:31executive engineer research who14:34literally lived with the turbine engine14:36from concept to completion it probably14:38wouldn't even launched without him Sam14:40Williams may have talked somebody into14:42letting him shoehorn in engine into a14:44car and they probably would have said14:45okay that's that's cute Sam get back to14:47work and build us something14:50else Sam was kind of the initial spark14:54he was one of the guys that said don't14:56worry about the problems with the jet14:57engine aircraft that's different animal15:00we're going to make this thing work he15:02was concentrating in his efforts and his15:04Visions on miniaturization making things15:07small it's a machine like anything else15:09you just downsize it break out the slide15:12rules and start doing math and make it15:14smaller what's remarkable about it is15:17that Dr Williams is blind so all of the15:19stuff he was doing in his head he15:22couldn't see he had to imagine15:25it we had people like Williams and15:28Chapman and several others that were15:30unbelievably good Engineers they really15:32started with a blank sheet of15:35paper our objective was to make an15:38engine that was so efficient so15:41inexpensive and so clean that everybody15:44would want one of course that's15:46everybody's ambition two you15:49[Music]15:51know the challenge was really the15:53materials used in the engine and the15:55cost that go along with those the fan15:57blades what those are made out of15:59becomes a big issue metals that you16:02don't hear people talking about in the16:03automotive World things like Inc canel16:05or titanium but exotic metals are16:08expensive through Chrysler metallurgical16:10research new materials were developed16:13which contain plentiful and relatively16:15inexpensive elements that could be made16:17by conventional methods and still have16:19excellent resistance to heat and16:21oxidation even at extreme temperatures16:24they developed an alloy not good enough16:27for aircraft but fine for automotive use16:31it was still expensive those are the16:34kinds of things that made the program16:36difficult but fascinating stuff we had16:39never even thought of before new16:41problems to be solved and it occupied us16:44100% what can we do to either make it16:46more powerful more efficient and one of16:48the things that Chrysler came up with16:50very early on as a concept of16:52regenerator a regenerator recycles the16:55heat which is more efficient because16:57you're saving energy as the exhaust goes16:59out of the car it goes through one side17:02of the regenerator and as the17:04regenerator rotates around the intake17:07air goes through the regenerator and17:08picks up the heat that was just put in17:10the regenerator at the backside and so17:12it's recycling the heat from the exhaust17:14so that does two things it increases the17:17intake temperature and it lowers the17:19exhaust temperature every bit of heat17:21that you can recover with the17:22regenerator was fuel that you didn't17:24have to put into the combustion chamber17:26it absolutely had to have some kind of a17:29device like that to keep all the heat17:31just blowing out the exhaust the big17:34fear that everybody had was the exhaust17:37that oh don't stand behind it I mean17:39there were stories that if you drove17:40into the grass it set the lawn on fire I17:43I can't tell you how many people say17:45melt the car behind them no fact the17:47exhaust was a little cooler than your17:49regular exhaust out of a piston17:52in the regenerator was the major step17:55forward between a jet engine and an17:57automotive engine the other major17:59problem initially at least was noise a18:03jet is really noisy when they started up18:06stand back its deep throated voice will18:08climb to the shrieking of a thousand18:11fiends some of the first turban Carrs18:14they blow your ears18:16off we spent a lot of effort working on18:20reducing that noise by different designs18:23of turban wheel blades and ducting and18:25so forth they got it down to a tolerable18:28level18:28[Music]18:32it went along relatively quickly from18:33World War II 9 years later they actually18:36had a running turbine in the 195418:39Plymouth the first American built gas18:41turbine engine in a production line18:43automobile for the first time they18:45demonstrated the turbine in front of the18:46media and their minds were blown they18:49had no idea really what it sounded like18:51what it18:55was it was loud and a little18:59sluggish it was a kick the first cars19:02were nowhere near a production car19:04that's for damn short but the engines19:05were put in a production car and it were19:07driven down the street so that's the19:09first step we did put it in a couple19:11show cars however the idea was can we19:14make this practical for the public roads19:16so let's put it in a 54 Plymouth and a19:1856 Plymouth put them in real world19:21vehicles and give people a sense of what19:23we're trying to do they didn't say hey19:25let's take them to car showells and show19:26them off they drove them cross country19:28[Music]19:41we're going to drive it to Los Angeles19:42and when we get there Mr Huer is going19:44to drive journalists around that weren't19:46expecting to see this and then he's19:48going to drive it back those were PR19:51projects you know just to get everybody19:52aware of it even the hierarchy of the19:55corporation they would stop everywhere19:57and have press conference and show the19:59cars off George Hum discovered the20:01reporters would show up in droves he20:03knew how to go around his20:05bosses he went directly to the public20:08when we stopped for lunch in Springfield20:09Illinois the owner called up all his20:12friends and invited them over for a20:13special show all a sudden we're bringing20:15out this vehicle that sounds like the20:17future they20:18expected and that really pequ people's20:21interest the whole country was behind20:23this idea that we're moving forward when20:26Chrysler was really at the Forefront of20:27that20:32the publicity got us the funds to keep20:35working on this engine we had money20:38coming out of our ears for a20:42while a lot of people who got excited20:45about the idea came to work there when I20:47worked on this program is the most fun20:49job I've ever had in my life for sure I20:51died and went to heaven I think that20:53everybody that worked on a program kind20:56of became a family we played hard we20:58worked hard we were kind of like a Skunk21:01Works in side of Chrysler Corporation21:03very talented very skilled very21:06competitive uh Whenever there was a21:08problem everybody thought their idea was21:10the best but we kind of managed to come21:12to some Central agreement was a little21:14bit of everybody's input that's the21:16field of engineering that's what drives21:18you the21:22unknown initially in the 1950s the21:25engineers were housed here in Highland21:27Park once the program started gearing up21:29they moved out to Dearborn Michigan into21:31the Greenfield Plant the Greenfield21:32Plant was just turban team that's the21:34only people that worked21:36there we had a lot of confidence that21:38this was going to be the car of the21:41future in the early 1960s Mr Huer had a21:44brilliant marketing idea you had to go21:46to them and say look guys I want to run21:47an experiment I want to build a fleet of21:51jet powered cars and lend them to the21:54public the objective of this unusual21:56program was to test consumer and Market21:59reaction to turban power and obtain22:01service data and Driver experience with22:04turban cars under a wide variety of22:06geographical conditions by the way we'll22:08ensure the cars the drivers won't ensure22:10the cars Chrysler will ensure the cars22:12think about the liability of a major22:14corporation lending experimental cars to22:18strange families scattered about the22:20contiguous 48 states it would never22:22happen today it was a different time as22:24my mom would say it was a different time22:26then but the agreement we we had to side22:28was three columns 14in long22:31paper it's a single page contract they22:34don't exist in the wild anymore that22:36basically said I the user I'm going to22:38take this car from Chrysler Chrysler is22:40insuring it but I will do my best to22:42take care of it and if it breaks down22:44I'll do the following things I'll put22:45gas in it I'll drive it at the end of22:47the program I'll turn it back in one22:49page the public is easy to sell to if it22:51sounds good you know I mean that's who22:53wouldn't say hell I'd like to try a jet22:55car I I mean I would have done it back22:57in the day oh that sounds kind of cool22:58I'd love I would love to partake in that23:00we were out to sell an idea we wanted to23:04show them what Chrysler engineering can23:06do we're excited to get the product out23:09there and at the same time we're23:10figuring what are we doing you know23:12we're giving people a new type of23:14driving technology how will they treat23:16or mistreat it yeah there was concern23:19like with any brand new experiment but23:22most of us Engineers were quite23:24confident that it would be safe and23:26interesting and drivable George yubu23:29convinced the pow of B that having a23:31fleet of cars and giving them to people23:33to use would really be a wonderful23:36promotional thing for Chrysler you know23:37how could you beat23:40it Chrysler said well if we do this we23:42want people to recognize the cars guia23:45and Italy did all their show car work we23:48had a relationship and it was natural23:49that guia would build the bodies by the23:51early 1960s Elwood Engle came over from23:54the Ford Motor Company as our lead23:55designer it was really his vision that23:58became the 1963 64 turban cars with our24:02designers Charles mashan was the guy24:05that designed this car Charles worked24:07for Elwood Engel Elwood Engel had to24:10sign off on24:11everything now the overall shape of the24:13car that was a Thunderbird redone you24:17can tell it does look like a teabird24:19ohle the guy who had done the original24:21Thunderbird had come to Chrysler by that24:23time and this is one of the first24:25projects that he was in charge of my24:27first impression was as a damn good24:28looking car and I thought perfect for24:30what they're going to use it for they24:32picked a color turban bronze that would24:35stand out it's not terribly loud but24:37it's distinctive and so when you see24:39that color on a car it's a Chrysler24:42turbine car this is no typical dream car24:46it is deliberately designed to have24:48current styling appeal and usefulness it24:50had a lot of turban cues in it it looks24:54like it's powered by something other24:55than a gas engine especially from the24:58rear to look like the rear of a fighter25:00plane it's quite imposing that car has25:03got the most beautiful rear bumper of25:06any car on the road far on and that's25:09just one item on the car you know there25:11so many other cool things about the car25:13people see the tail lights and they25:15think automatically oh that's the25:16exhaust which it looks like it would be25:18they think it is powered by a jet and25:20they expect you know Flames out the back25:24the biggest thing that people assumed25:25was part of the jet Park that was the25:27center console that tubular console that25:29runs down the center most people will be25:31oh that's got to be connecting something25:34from the front to the rear and no you go25:36look in the back and it there's an ash25:37tray there they have that turban Motif25:40tucked everywhere in that car the bar25:43that holds the rear viw mirror to the25:45windshield the25:47hubcaps the bezels around the headlights25:50all have got cooling25:52fins they did style it to make it look25:55space age but it's not outlandish it's25:58actually quite restrained for the late26:0050s and early 60s it has sort of a26:03dignified26:08look all vehicles were handbuilt in26:10Italy they're all painted there and26:12trimmed there they're doing very very26:14slow building one at a time basically26:16old world Craftsman the bodies that came26:18from Italy they're well over $250,000 in26:21today's money so it was a huge26:24investment and that was really kind of26:26baked into the marketing budget to make26:29this stand26:31out the vehicles from Italy were shipped26:34directly to the Greenfield Plant for the26:36installation of the turbine26:37[Music]26:48engine there was seven generations26:50created for the turbine the one that's26:52used in the Gia cars is the fourth26:54generation his East generation engine26:57came along26:58the fuel consumption improved quite27:00dramatically in everyone the original27:03Power turbine had fixed nozzles that27:07direct the stream into the turban blades27:10that limited Us in terms of what we27:12could do with flexibility of the output27:15the biggest leap in turb technology was27:18with the fourth27:21generation the variable geometry that27:23this engine has that nozzle being able27:26to change position essentially gives you27:28an infinite selection of engines27:30anything you did like that improved the27:31efficiency the hotter you could make it27:33run and still not melt the parts the27:35more efficient it was this gadget up27:37here a hydraulic actuator would27:41reposition these nozzle veins depending27:44on what you were doing if you had the27:46accelerator to the floor they would go27:48to the fixed position for max power take27:51your foot all the way off the guess that27:52actually would reverse the flow and try27:54to drive the power turb in the other27:56direction and give you some engine27:57braking and if every place in between27:59there depending on what speed you were28:00going to Tren too these nozzles would28:02have a setting that took quite a lot of28:05work but that gave us a big leg up on28:08part load efficiency and28:13versatility also the other engines had a28:16big single regenerator on the top the28:18fourth generation had dual regenerators28:21on it they put the regenerators on28:22either side that created a more28:24efficient engine had a lower height so28:26it could go into a lower engine28:27compartment28:30as far as I know this is definitely the28:32biggest build of test vehicles ever we28:36got a body there's nothing there but the28:38body they were all bolted down to a big28:40big box they came in pretty good shape28:44and crate the thing and whe it over to28:47our start of our little assembly line28:49then we had to make it into a28:52car the line wasn't that long we only28:55hit about six stations or so28:58we would build it and and test it and29:01make all the engine adjustments that29:04were29:05relevant we would test them in the29:07Southfield Freeway and we'd run them29:10pretty29:11fast and then uh we' turn it over to the29:14service people they drive it29:17away they built 55 of the guia turbines29:21the first ones that came over were the29:23ones that ended up in the lab the Lab29:25Rats one was BR with auto VY roof one of29:29them was white with a white interior29:30with bronze inserts there were actually29:33only 47 that were being let out to user29:36because George hubner had one it was his29:38personal car and two cars were assigned29:41to the New York World's29:43Fair you could get tickets like a ride29:46at an amusement park stand in line and29:48get a ride in the turban car and you do29:50a couple laps around this track they29:51gave like 14,000 rides over 2 years and29:55people I've heard have traveled hundreds29:56of miles just to get get to see those29:58cars April 17th 1964 I made my dad take30:02me to that you know I we went and I had30:05the terb car driving around in a30:08pit my father's going for God sake what30:10the hell we how long we going to look at30:11this car it's going in circles the hell30:12can we walk around no papa want to watch30:14what the hell you watching it's a car30:15going in circle my father just furious30:17he just thought that was like the30:19craziest thing he'd ever seen but it was30:21just so different I mean the hit show30:24was the Jetson which was about the30:26future30:28meet George30:31Jetson and here was a car who like the30:33Jetson car and when you're 12 or 1330:36years old oh my God that's like the30:37coolest thing in the30:42world when you're driving this vehicle a30:44couple things will pop out to you one is30:46that the engine temperature is about,30:471400° there's a temperature gauge up30:49here which goes up to 2,000 de you get30:52up that high You' burned up the engine30:55it's got a really unique instrument30:56cluster if you look at the tachometer30:59basically it idles around 20,000 RPM and31:02it red lines at 60,00031:06RPM this is all air filter housing You'31:11pump five times as much air through this31:13engine as an equivalent pess the engine31:15ignition switch is31:17here this is the gearshift selector and31:20you push it down to put it in par it has31:23to be there for the engine to31:25crank other than that it's no different31:28than any other car just a plain old AM31:31radio at least it has one31:34you parking31:36brake they were talking about names the31:40typhoon was a name that was kicked31:41around for a while in fact one of the31:43prototypes this had typhoon on it but by31:45the time I got there they had settled on31:51turban everybody knew it as the Chrysler31:53turbine you can't have a Ford turbine31:55now because it's recognized with us a31:57new beginning and automotive power but31:59also the start of the first public32:01evaluation program under controlled test32:03conditions ever attempted no automobile32:05company has ever undertaken to place a32:07new and revolutionary type of vehicle in32:10the hands of motorists for the purpose32:12of studying consumer reaction over a32:15wide range of driving conditions it is32:17another Chrysler first when we announced32:19that we were going to have this user32:21program it really peaked at people's32:23interests the reaction of the public was32:25simply overwhelming nearly32:2825,000 unsolicited requests for a turban32:31car it looks like from a marketing32:33Viewpoint they were hoping to get the32:35cars into the hands of people who drive32:36them be seen with them but not be seen32:40in a way that would make them look bad32:41they don't want the cars being raced32:42crashed being drunk driven or anything32:45like that General people all walks of32:47life had these vehicles there was no32:49socio economic class we were looking at32:51male female race gender it didn't matter32:54as long as we had a broad section the32:57temperature and the elevation mattered a32:59lot so we were getting test data back on33:02how the engine performed at high33:03altitudes low humidity all those things33:06were factored in and so it was really33:08marketing and Engineering at its height33:11the program itself was a huge Public33:15Relation the first maybe dozen33:18deliveries were major press shows Lyn33:21Townsen was into it up to his years he33:23the first delivery he delivered the car33:24you know we are now ready to introduce33:27Mr and Mrs33:32Blaha mob people would show up it was a33:36high class33:38[Music]33:40promotion my dad was user number 160 we33:44knew that we were chosen to be a user33:48back in February of 65 when I found out33:51we were getting it I was alone is your33:53dad home no is your mom home no so then33:58just out of the blue I said is this33:59about the turbine car and he went yes34:03and he he hung up and I just went34:06ballistic cars were my life even before34:08we got the turb car so for me it was34:11like the utmost cool thing I could34:14happen because I get to drive a turbine34:16car the Sunday before we got the car34:19they ran an article in the paper there34:21were two cars given out on the day we34:23got ours you know of course the Press34:24was all there they gave us the keys34:26probably 10 times34:29times it was a big PR event each driver34:33was given an orientation it was34:35everything people expected of a car34:37you've got you know two pedals you've34:39got automatic transmission power34:41steering power34:42brakes they did have to put warning34:44signs all over it not to put leaded fuel34:46in the tank Chrysler said you can run on34:48anything that burns as long as it's not34:49leaded fuel leaded gasoline had tally34:51you coat the lead onto the wheel and34:53then cause a blades to overheat and34:55start to disintegrate most people at the34:57time ran it on34:59diesel my dad and I studied that35:01engineering book they gave us we studied35:03a history book we studied everything on35:05the car that we could find it it was35:08exciting it made you the coolest dad on35:11the Block if you were chosen for the35:12program it was a celebrity and because35:15it was a celebrity we became celebrity35:18this is the fabulous Chrysler turban car35:20and this is Mr alen Olson of the city of35:22duth who has the use of this car for a35:243-month period you've got about a month35:26left Mr olon what kind of luck have you35:28had with the car very good luck I've35:30enjoyed it very much been fabulous35:34car it was nothing like everybody's ever35:36seen on the public roads before here's35:38somebody driving they must be special35:40the excitement was just phenomenal in35:42fact they gave every employee the use of35:45the vehicle for a week and I drove it in35:48my neighborhood everybody went crazy I35:51spoke to people who told me they were35:52hiding the car because they wanted to35:55have some alone time everywhere it went35:57caused the commotion they got it right35:59with us I think we were users that were36:02good PR for the Chrysler and the car36:04performed out in the mountain area how36:06did it perform out there it's just like36:07you haven't got a just like stepping on36:08nothing it really takes off and goes36:10that the heels didn't bother it one bit36:12by the way they tell these families oh36:14anybody in your family who licensed can36:15drive it so if you send it to a guy his36:17wife can drive it his 16-year-old kid36:19can drive it most of the time we36:21traveled I'd Drive half of the way and36:23he'd Drive half of the way so I put I36:25figure between 4 and 5,000 miles on our36:28car to have had that car for a couple36:30months when you're a kid just got your36:32driver's license some other kid's got a36:34Corvette you've got a turban car for a36:3616-year-old kid it was a huge event we36:39weren't really under a schedule because36:41we knew every time we stopped for fuel36:44it was going to be the same thing over36:45and over again people come out of the36:47woodwork and say oh that's a turbine car36:49let's see the motor can we hear it TI we36:52never got tired of it all people just36:54were impressed by the car the feel the36:58acceleration because if you made a jump37:00start that thing would snap your head37:13back through the action of the variable37:16nozzles the driver is assured the same37:19control he can get in the best37:21conventional passenger car37:28[Music]37:43it was fun to drive because it was37:45something nobody else had it was37:47different at a time when we prized37:49differences37:55highly the local Dodge dealer was our37:57goto if we had a problem we went to him38:00he would contact the coordinator if38:02somebody you know was in an accident or38:03something broke straight to the38:05dealership people like Bill Carrey would38:07go down and assess the38:09[Music]38:12situation Bill Carrey was really38:14important because when a vehicle was38:15sent to a certain city bill would go to38:17that dealership there and teach those38:19mechanics how to keep these vehicles38:21running my title was supervisor of38:23turban38:25service I had an office in had a big C38:27on the wall with 50 strings on it where38:30all those 50 cars were in any38:32minute so were six regional service reps38:36who I trained and they took care of 90%38:39of the stuff if it was something unusual38:41that they had never run into then I38:43would go the tel pH would ring at 2:0038:45in the morning and somebody say out in38:46California oh you know one of the cars38:49is acting up and I'd have to get out of38:50bed and go I did a lot of a lot of38:52travel the thing was to get the car back38:55on the road as fast as we possibly could38:57good to minimize the downtime I love38:59tinkering with the damn things you39:04know we learned the areas where problems39:07could occur and they did39:10occur there was definitely a learning39:12curve and mostly it was the startup39:14procedure the starting procedure wasn't39:17well thought out didn't anticipate39:19people doing bad things to it you give39:21the vehicle to 200 people and people are39:25people they were so excited they would39:28shift it in the gear before it was up to39:30idle and in many cases the engine over39:32temperature and they toasted a couple of39:34engines every car had at least one39:36engine replacement some of them many you39:38know there was a stock of engines ready39:40to go crated you could swap it back out39:43relatively easy it happened often enough39:46that a pair of us could change an engine39:47in an hour the last 10 cars had a39:50totally modified starting electronic39:53control system in sequence so that you39:55couldn't do that and that's how all39:57projects get evolved you learn by your40:02mistakes people would have them for 9040:04days somebody in the field whether it's40:06Bill carry or somebody else check the40:07engine over but then let's get in the40:09next person's hands and let's get more40:10data more feedback and more40:13PR some 200 families across the country40:17will drive the car free of charge for a40:19period of 3 months and report to40:21Chrysler on their own40:25reactions a kind of Market evaluation40:28which as far as we've been able to40:30determine is entirely new to the40:32automobile40:33[Music]40:37industry one thing is certain with a40:402-year public test program off and40:41running the Chrysler Corporation turban40:43car will be in the public press and in40:46the public mind almost40:49[Music]40:52continuously see how much free publicity40:54Chrysler got in the' 60s and 740:58I mean don't forget this thing starred41:00in a41:02[Music]41:06movie I don't know how they pulled it41:08off but George humer apparently got41:10somebody in Hollywood to get on board41:12with the idea that you guys need to make41:13a car movie that teenagers will dig and41:15will put a turban car41:18in and there's like a 5-minute41:20commercial in the middle of this movie41:22you're looking at a practical gas turban41:24engine for passenger cars you say this41:26is going to replace the piston engine41:28now coming in under our camera in fifth41:30position is Casey Owens turban car this41:32is a revolutionary machine a concept41:35which may one day shake up the entire41:36automobile industry George Teter was the41:39guy that drove the car George was a41:41mechanic in the research lab and a very41:43competent guy he spent I 6 months out in41:47California in a movie set with that41:51car now41:55[Music]42:00Casey the turban engine will be the42:02coming thing as the result of your big42:03win today I sure hope so Casey what are42:06your plans can you tell us about them42:08I'm giving up auto racing what do you42:10plan to do I'm going back to school42:12Michigan Tech42:16[Music]42:20Center The other thing that Chrysler did42:23was they took these cars on college42:25tours at Michigan tack or at Harvard and42:28they'd show off the turban car to try to42:30get students to say hey look you want a42:31high-tech job as an engineer come work42:33for Chrysler look what we're42:35[Music]42:39doing really the whole company became on42:42board with the turban program and42:44getting these things out taking them to42:46shopping malls and dealerships getting42:48thousands and thousands of people42:49through them now the main exhibit of42:51course features the turban car but42:54current model displays get equal42:56prominence it was the halo car people42:58went to the Chrysler dealership to see43:00the turban car and they bought the Dodge43:03Coronet or they bought the Chrysler or43:05the Valiant or the Imperial whatever it43:07might43:10be looking at some of the sales figures43:13Chrysler had a pretty good couple of43:15years after that and they owed that to43:17the interest of the turban43:18[Music]43:22car other companies and groups working43:25on turban development said we're not43:26going to get get the recognition they're43:27getting we're not going to get the Press43:29Ford eventually dropped their program43:32and so did43:34GM industrywide it became Chrysler's43:37doing this nobody's catching up there43:39was no doubt that Chrysler was the43:41turban43:44[Music]43:52company we had three months of fantastic43:55time in our life43:59the summer that we had the car they had44:02a slot car track in the loose everybody44:04knew me at the slot car track cuz I was44:07a guy that had the turban slot44:10car we probably put close to 13 and A244:13or 14,000 miles on it I think we were44:15the biggest44:17[Music]44:19user you know we figured okay if we're44:21going to have this thing we're going to44:22drive it so we drove it44:25[Music]44:28I would go out in the garage many nights44:31a week after my dad came home turn the44:33key on and just look at the script on44:35the dash that electrol ument lighting44:37was just so44:41beautiful 3 months later that was it44:44boom was gone we were just your average44:47Joe citizens44:49again you know we were given an44:52opportunity to show people something44:54that they've never seen before that's a44:57beautiful44:58thing for me personally it made a big45:01difference in my life I was kind of a45:03loner and I didn't like sports I like45:05cars so I was kind of the geek of the45:08day and I changed after being with the45:11turban program I was more outgoing I had45:15more confidence i d was a very pupil45:18person and I became a pupil person after45:21using the car for the three months so45:24yeah it changed my life45:29the overwhelming sentiment that I heard45:31from people who drove these cars was I45:32would have loved to keep the car if I45:37could they lent the cars to 20345:40different families who logged over a45:42million45:43[Music]45:45[Applause]45:46[Music]45:52miles these people were actually part of45:55the engineering program whether they45:57knew it or not they were accumulating45:58miles they were giving their46:01[Music]46:07feedback about a week later two guys46:09from crer came to our house they wanted46:11to know what was really happening with46:14the cars when they're out in the real46:15world there was a summary put together46:18with all the data comments from the46:19owners generally speaking the people who46:22had the cars loved them they were46:24getting unsolicited offers from public46:26saying I will buy one of those cars I46:28don't care what the price is it was46:30extremely positive they liked the fact46:32that on cold mornings you didn't need to46:35wait for the heater to warm up which46:36back then could be a while we had 1200°46:39available to us to put through a heat46:41exchanger it was almost instant46:43defrosting on a car in cold46:46weather one of the things that they46:48learned from a lot of the customers is46:50that about 60% liked the noise a lot of46:53people did not they thought it was46:54annoying and irritating46:57we think it's classic at this time and46:59it's part of the personality of the47:00vehicle that was you know wow I'm47:02different I'm driving through my47:04neighborhood and everybody knows I'm47:05Rudy47:09something chryler proved they can make a47:12jet powered car foolproof enough to47:15where the average American can drive it47:17without destroying it that's what's47:19remarkable about47:23it now we've got 55 cars here in Detroit47:26the program's over47:27we can't keep all these vehicles and we47:29can't just sell these cars cuz we47:31couldn't have it on a used car lot47:32rusting out somewhere not being taken47:34care of Corporation didn't want them47:37ending up in people's hands with hemmies47:40in them and this kind of stuff that47:42would diminish the reputation of the47:45program it was just they wanted to keep47:47it pure and that's typical of the47:49automobile industry so Chrysler47:51contacted museums around the country and47:54said if you guys want one of these cars47:56in your Museum will let you have it at47:58the time it was still warm for being48:00used it was a new car who puts a new car48:03in a museum I think they would48:04disappointed that so few museums took up48:07the offer the cars got shipped out to48:10the museums that accepted them the48:11Natural History Museum of Los Angeles48:13got one which they often lend to the48:15Peterson Museum one went to Hara in48:19Nevada one went to Smithsonian one went48:22to St Louis Museum of Transportation one48:25went the Detroit Historical society and48:28one went to the Henry48:30Ford in the past all of their show cars48:33had either gone into their own archives48:36into museums or they would destroy them48:39and that's a common thing believe it or48:40not that car companies do with48:41prototypes so six cars went to museums48:44Chrysler kept three and the others were48:50destroyed those cars were taken to a48:53scrapyard in ramulus Michigan in the48:55shadow of Detroit met48:57airport the saddest part of this program49:00was and I spent an entire day watching49:02them pick them up take a pickaxe poke a49:05hole in the fuel tank let the fuel run49:07all all over the ground underneath the49:09car set it back down and set fire to49:11it and you watch it all burn up and then49:15pick it up in the pile and crush49:18it you accept things and you do what you49:20got to do but it was tough I didn't I49:23didn't enjoy that day49:28I mean we've been out there showing it49:30off and suddenly it comes home and we've49:33got a dispos49:36down it was hard on a lot of people a49:39lot of Engineers a lot of people49:40involved in the program but it's kind of49:42the cost of doing business in the Auto49:45World it was a sad day when they49:47crunched all of the49:52cars that's got to be one of the most49:54painful things for me to watch because I49:56don't one of them is our car but they49:59know that's the reason why corporations50:00do exactly that the company was looking50:03at the liability aspect number one this50:06is coldhearted capitalism here it's just50:09a matter of50:10business you can't sell something is50:13ahead of its time in its time it's just50:15not going to50:21work the program went on after the 60s50:25it stopped being a promotional gimmick50:27it became serious engineering all the50:29way but there was definitely a changing50:31attitude towards what people wanted out50:33of a car the novelty of the turbine car50:36the newness the jet age was really being50:39replaced by speed and power the muscle50:42car charger new leader of the Dodge50:45Rebellion muscle enough to catch50:48anything on the road there was still50:50versions test beds test Vehicles put out50:52there running you know most of the50:54engines went into Dodge vehicles50:55coronets50:57aspin and then a cral baron the engines51:01that came after this the cause were much51:03better performers I mean they really51:04would51:06move in the 1970s the EPA came around51:11looking for people to bid on alternative51:14power sources for cars so for six years51:17we worked under a government51:20contract and that's when we got51:22introduced to government terms reports51:27meetings it was another world and we51:29didn't like it but we did it because it51:31was the only way51:48out I was on the gas turban program from51:521952 till it ended in51:551981 at one time Lyn Townsen credited51:59the Chrysler turban 50 car program with52:02being one of the things that pulled52:03Chrysler back out of its ups and downs52:06so we were pleased with that but52:09eventually the facts caught up with us52:12I'll tell you the the cost we never ever52:15could get it down to any reasonable52:18level we always use the 318 as the you52:21know comparison it was like $300 or52:24something this was always more a lot52:26more we just went back and forth back52:28and forth and I I never saw anything52:31that was anywhere near a equal level52:34with a52:35piston possibly make it worthwhile if52:38you were all of a sudden getting 40 5052:3960 m a gallon but really it was still52:42getting close to where you could get in52:43a 318 engine and then the emissions were52:46not ever reached with the hopes that we52:48could have them to me it was a gradual52:51understanding of the Hill that we were52:54trying to climb and probably weren't52:56going to get get to the top it was a52:58difficult53:03time the company just couldn't see that53:06type of investment to go53:08forward if you look at the automotive53:10turbine from Chrysler you'd say well53:12that's a program it started here and53:13ended here but not really cuz the53:16technology and what they learned from it53:18did carry through into other things all53:20these years they worked on this it53:22didn't work for general public but that53:25engine does work on a limited basis for53:28a government53:31project a lot of the work we did was53:33instrumental in developing the M1 ABS53:36tank the main battle tank that the US53:38Army uses is powered by a huge turban53:41engine that was developed by guys who53:44worked on this53:50program they had quite a few running53:52engines after the program53:58St Louis took their display engine put54:01it in their car got theirs running so54:02the St Louis car does54:06run there was a time where Chrysler had54:09three running turbine54:11cars haras sold their car and Tom54:14Monahan bought54:15it Tom Monahan had the car for a little54:18while but it was not running and it was54:20bought by a guy named Frank kleps who's54:23a well-known car collector in Indiana54:25and Frank kleps had to car in his54:26collection for a while somewhere along54:28the line he was talking to Jay Leno Jay54:30said that's a really cool car you got54:31there too bad it doesn't run and Jay was54:34friends with Bob Lutz at Chrysler at the54:36time I called Bob Lutz and I said I got54:39a friend with a Chrysler ter and we got54:41an extra engine take it so she gave me I54:44gave her to kleps Frank got the car54:46running with that engine and Frank kleps54:48had a running turbine54:50car and then I got a turban54:53c yeah yeah54:57when chry was entering bankruptcy I just54:59called the bank and I said I'll give you55:03this much money really one of those I55:06wasn't looking at it as a future55:08investment I I just liked it I thought55:11it was55:12fascinating Bankers they didn't look at55:14them as kinetic artwork or or pieces of55:17Americana or it was just an old car you55:20really want to pay this for that55:23yeah okay55:27so now Jay Leno's got a turban car55:30also Frank kleps unfortunately passed55:33away his son got the collection and then55:36his son sold off the collection when it55:38was announced that the car was being55:40sold it just blew up the automobile55:43world with people you know saying oh my55:45God drop what you're doing there's a55:46turbine for sale his car was purchased55:49by the stall Museum in55:51[Music]55:53Michigan Ted and Mary stall are the55:56founders of the Stalls Automotive55:57Foundation Ted had sent me an email with56:01about seven cars in it the turbine was56:02on the top of the list and I don't even56:05remember what the other cars were to our56:08surprise he sent back and said we got it56:10so we were very excited about56:13that our mission is mainly to educate56:17young people and help develop a passion56:20for these cars like we all56:23have we set up the cars in a somewhat56:25chronal ological order so that you can56:28basically walk through time it's an56:31experience that you will not forget you56:33have to come here and see it and hear it56:35to believe it because we also have our56:38automated musical56:42instruments we have a wher theater organ56:44that plays56:48throughout people don't expect that when56:50they come56:54here the Chrysler Turan draws such a56:57crowd people come here just to see that56:58car and we' just love to share it to57:00expose the stories about the car and the57:02turban program to the average public57:05it's just it's it's an57:07honor when we first purchased the car57:10bill Carrey called me and basically said57:13don't start the car until I get there I57:16know how to treat them and I will show57:17you how to treat them57:23right I spend as much time as I can57:25around the I mean I it's like my own kid57:27you know he's really been an educator of57:30the turban program for the last 50 years57:32so we have people that know how to work57:34on these cars and keep them running for57:37the Next Generation the next bill Carrey57:39is our first line of defense he came out57:41here and started up the car for us57:43showed us what to do what not to57:46do we run it on Aviation57:51King once you get behind the wheel being57:53able to hear the car and see it operated57:55it's a once in a-lifetime57:59Opportunity this probably will be one of58:01the highlights in my58:04career the driver immediately senses an58:07absence of engine vibration and a58:09cockpit feeli that is accentuated by the58:12aircraft type instrumentation and the58:15console control58:18station the teenager of tomorrow may58:20someday impress his girlfriend by laying58:23down 25 ft of vapor58:26it's fun I drove mine a58:29lot drove it to the tonight's58:32[Music]58:33show I used it all the time I use this a58:36regular car until I melted it58:49[Music]58:52down with a turbine engine you toast the58:54regenerator you toast the wheel you just58:57don't make another one right off the bat59:00because the tooling no longer59:18exists I pick up the phone and I hear59:20Jay Leno's voice on the other side and I59:22I literally thought I was being pranked59:24by somebody and so I called my brother I59:26goes Steve Jay's on the phone he left me59:28a message something about his engine oh59:30yeah I forgot to tell you he toasted his59:31engine he needs your help bad and I59:34called him back and uh that's when he59:36started telling me what had happened59:38well right now the engine is59:39[Music]59:40apart because you don't understand I've59:43got Parts laying all over my shop I just59:45called BS on him I go you don't have59:47Parts laying all over your shop he goes59:48I do so he started snapping pictures and59:51he showed me the turbine and all the59:52blades are burned off I go that's no59:54problem we make those all day long at59:56that's just a different configuration we59:57can do that and then he showed me a59:59picture of the regenerator core with the1:00:01big chunks missing and everything and I1:00:03went wo that's serious right there that1:00:06is the hard1:00:08part it is a masterpiece of1:00:11manufacturing I'm just totally amazed at1:00:13how they put that together I helped Rick1:00:16tear into the one that got destroyed and1:00:18we were trying to theorize how they1:00:19raised it together it's mostly a lost1:00:22art1:00:25[Music]1:00:30documentation does not exist on the1:00:32engine because the company at the close1:00:34of the program told us that we had to1:00:36destroy all of the parts and1:00:39[Music]1:00:46drawings we had taken the project on and1:00:49it was astronomical but it's doable I1:00:52love a project like that1:00:56[Music]1:01:01that was all about working on old stuff1:01:03you always learned something and you1:01:05realize some of the problem solving they1:01:08figured out the simplest and most1:01:09elegant way to accomplish the goal1:01:12whereas with some of the newer1:01:13technology they might be able to figure1:01:15out a way to do what they wanted to do1:01:16but it's not always as simple and robust1:01:19[Music]1:01:31there's millions of dollars worth of1:01:33Machinery here Space Age latest greatest1:01:35Cutting Edge stuff and it's all1:01:37available to the Project Blue J1:01:43[Music]1:01:45team so now we got guys working on a1:01:48volunteer basis to help us rebuild this1:01:51Cris of turban engine so I'm very1:01:53excited about this project it's pretty1:01:54cool1:01:57they're trying to do it and they're all1:01:59doing it with volunteer Health at Le1:02:01people stay on after work our engine1:02:03technicians we've got some of the best1:02:05in the world working at Williams1:02:07International but when you're taking1:02:09aart an antique turban engine it's a1:02:12little different than taking apart what1:02:14we're used to nowadays to design and1:02:16build Parts when you don't have any1:02:18drawings no specifications no nothing1:02:22it's pretty tough Rick gave me a call1:02:24and said they was gonna put together1:02:26this voluntary group and the first thing1:02:29that I did was uh reach out to the other1:02:3220 or 30 some OD people who I have1:02:34contact with and told them here's a1:02:38project are you interested in in getting1:02:39involved the relief to have a guy from1:02:43Chrysler I well okay this is starting to1:02:45come into Focus we can do this you know1:02:47and then he goes and I got a couple1:02:48other guys too we want to1:02:50help we want to volunteer too we just1:02:53want to help save one of these things1:02:55and I I was just like wow and then you1:02:57find out who they are I mean Jerry he's1:02:59the test cell guy he built the engine he1:03:02knew all about it Bill Carrey he's on1:03:04the cover of my brother's book you know1:03:06he's the guy who went out and fixed him1:03:07in the field and you go okay that that's1:03:09pretty good right there you can't get1:03:11much better than that then you get into1:03:12the project you realize the regenerator1:03:14cores are the hardest part of the whole1:03:16thing and then all of a sudden Ted pops1:03:19up and I go Ted what did you do back in1:03:22the project he goes I I built 80 to 90%1:03:24of all the regenerator course and I just1:03:26went welcome to the1:03:32team everybody's little notebook on how1:03:35they accomplished things died with them1:03:37or got destroyed yeah and that's too bad1:03:40a lot of good stuff got got lost so1:03:43basically I'm here working for memory1:03:45and what little personal notes I managed1:03:47to put together but it's been some 601:03:50years Jerry when he comes in here he can1:03:54answer questions that1:03:56I wouldn't have thought of even asking1:03:58and they're all right off the top of his1:04:00head still I fully respect those guys1:04:03because I see how difficult it is for us1:04:07to reproduce some of these parts with1:04:09all the latest greatest technology we1:04:11have now and you go how did they even do1:04:14this back then they didn't have1:04:16computers they had slide rules they did1:04:18it with paper and pencil for them to be1:04:20able to create this back in 1953 and the1:04:24car that we're talking about is 63 is1:04:26just amazing they've got Machinery that1:04:28I drool to have back then back in the1:04:3160s yeah and they're doing great things1:04:33and if anybody is going to restore this1:04:36I think they have the best bet because1:04:38of their background number one and1:04:40they've got a go attitude organization1:04:43you know everybody J Money1:04:48well they get to work on something that1:04:50they had a passion for back then they1:04:53worked there for decades on this project1:04:55the rug got yanked out from underneath1:04:56him and all of a sudden it's boom right1:04:58up front and center again I mean I never1:05:00would have gr that something like this1:05:03would have happen I think it's great1:05:05Fate has some funny things doesn't it1:05:08yes y yep yeah well I just hope they can1:05:10gain enough experience and get it up and1:05:12running before we die1:05:16yeah we are going to get this thing1:05:18running again we'll have the engine1:05:20running on the test stand first make1:05:22sure it's all broken in then we'll put1:05:23in the car we'll do a Breakin period in1:05:25there and after that um Jay's got to1:05:27start giving1:05:28[Music]1:05:34rides it's important to preserve stuff1:05:37like this you know there's so few of1:05:38these left if you just let one go at a1:05:41time it doesn't take very long before1:05:43there's none that are working1:05:49anymore it's really important that this1:05:51car be documented so that future1:05:53Generations understand the amount of1:05:55time the amount of passion that was1:05:57going into making these vehicles work to1:06:00me it shows the people what can be done1:06:02if you apply yourself and stick to it1:06:05human accomplishment you know you human1:06:07creativity that is there it is there's1:06:09an example of1:06:10[Music]1:06:12it not that long ago a guy sent me an1:06:16email and he said your dad let me drive1:06:18that car and I've never forgotten it you1:06:21know I know that kind of thing touched1:06:22my1:06:23heart so many people have their memories1:06:26about it and it just stirs up such a1:06:28positive emotion when I get around one1:06:31now uh I miss him you know I had a love1:06:35for that car I mean that's an awful1:06:38strong word but I actually love that1:06:42car people back in the 60s related to1:06:47the turban program and I think that1:06:51relationship deserves to be preserved a1:06:54remarkable new means of of automotive1:06:56power a striking example of Chrysler's1:07:00engineering leadership Chrysler as a1:07:03company we should be very proud of where1:07:04our forefathers were going in the work1:07:06that they did George hubner was an1:07:08engineer and I've jokingly called him a1:07:10showman he's actually a dreamer if you1:07:12went back to 1953 and 54 and you saw the1:07:15guys shoehorning the first one into a1:07:17car you'd never imagine it would get as1:07:20far as it did in the length of time that1:07:22it did1:07:27I wish everybody could talk to the guys1:07:29that put their heart and soul in these1:07:30vehicles the people that I met and1:07:33worked with they were really quite a1:07:36product the group was creative as hell1:07:39and funloving every day was a challenge1:07:41every day was something different it was1:07:43a little bit of engineering a lot of1:07:45research some black magic and hard sweat1:07:50I want to thank everybody that I worked1:07:52with that are both alive and are passed1:07:56on will meet up in a big turbine1:07:59[Music]1:08:02Sky even though the turbine car might1:08:04look like it was a dead end of some sort1:08:06I don't think it was nobody else tried1:08:08to do anything quite as radical as this1:08:10so I think it's good to acknowledge1:08:13trying it shows the Ingenuity of a group1:08:16of people who took something from a seed1:08:19of a wartime aircraft and tried to put1:08:22it into the American economy as a viable1:08:26product the fact that it didn't quite1:08:29get there is still important1:08:31[Music]1:08:49[Music]1:09:10[Music]1:09:20[Music]1:09:32[Music]
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