Two years after Chrysler’s innovative turbine-powered vehicle made its Canadian debut in Steinbach, the newest model, nearly ready to hit the production line, is back at AD Penner’s showroom on Main Street.
The world’s first turbine-powered car, designed for large-scale production within five years, provides the first viable challenge to traditional piston engines in 80 years of automotive development.
The sleek copper-colored hardtop’s unique, innovative power plant is the result of 15 years of research by Chrysler engineers and designers.
Lighter than conventional engines of similar horsepower, Chrysler turbine engines have 80% fewer moving parts, only one spark plug, and require no water or antifreeze, and can be used to clean everything from diesel fuel, gasoline, and kerosene to perfumes, Works with almost any fuel, even peanut oil. .
It doesn’t require an oil change or tune-up in the traditional sense, but it promises instant start-up and instant warm-up, even in sub-zero weather.
Two years ago, more than 1,000 people peeked under the hood of the Dodge Turbo Dart when it made its Canadian debut at Automobile City on Fair Day 1962.
AD Penner said at the time that putting a turbine-powered vehicle in a showroom for the first time was the proudest moment of his 26-year career in the auto industry.
“I’m more excited than I was when I sold my first car in 1936.”
This says a lot for a major auto dealership in Steinbach, which is best known for being the first to promote the town of Steinbach as an “automobile city.” Penner has seen many changes since he started selling cars, but says his turbine engine has been the most dramatic for him.
According to a Chrysler spokesperson who accompanied the car on a recent visit to Steinbach, Penner’s impressive product sales performance in recent years led to the community’s selection to showcase its revolutionary new car engine for the first time in 1962. It is said that
The car itself looked a lot like the traditional 1962 Dodge Dart, but the big difference was under the hood. The engine is similar to the one that powers a turboprop airplane. This engine weighs only half as much as a piston engine of the same power, has fewer moving parts, and is air cooled.
When the vehicle was in Steinbach two years ago, the engine was started every hour in the showroom to show visitors that the turbine engine produced a lot of heat but no dangerous gases.
The vehicle was originally expected to be sold to the public by 1964, but when the vehicle was returned to Steinbach this month, Chrysler’s turbine research engineers said it would be another five years before the turbine car would be sold. suggested that it was a possibility. Fully produced.
Chrysler built a total of 55 turbine-powered vehicles, including five prototypes and 50 limited run vehicles for consumer programs. All have a distinctive metallic paint named “Turbine Bronze,” which is roughly the color of root beer.
AD Like the models that recently hit Penner showrooms, all models come with power brakes and a “TorqueFlite” transmission.
When the user program ended in 1966, Chrysler recalled the cars and destroyed all but nine. Chrysler keeps two of the cars, six are on display in museums in the United States, and one is in comedian Jay Leno’s collection. Chrysler’s turbine engine program ended in his 1979 year. The main reason for this was that the engine did not meet government emissions regulations and had relatively poor fuel economy.