It was almost a decade before the Chrysler Turbine car.
The Chrysler Turbine car is a well-known name among auto enthusiasts. Through the 1960s 55 cars were made. 50 were sold to the public through a temporary program that ended 1966. Nearly all the cars were destroyed. But did you know Ford also tried their hand at the turbine industry?
A 1955 Ford Thunderbird is a fascinating sight to behold. The engine is a 292-cubic-inch V8 that produces just shy of 200 horsepower (149kilowatts). As the huge exhaust outlet in this bird’s fender suggests, there is something very different between the fenders. Boeing supplied the small gas turbine engine.
Ted Ryan, Ford Archivist, shared this image on Twitter along with a photo of a program outline document. The engine is listed as a Boeing 8c, producing 175 horsepower (130 kW) and presumably, has a soundtrack that guarantees double takes from everyone within a 1-block radius. The exhaust system from the Chrysler Turbine car was vented out the back. This Ford prototype dumps it behind the front wheels. The document notes that the design flaws of the Ford prototype’s front exhaust are not desirable. There is also a significant delay in starting up acceleration. It is hard to imagine the heat and sound the driver would experience in this jet ‘Bird.
Is there any benefit Ford discovered in using a gas turbine engine to power the first-generation Thunderbird? It was noted that the gas turbine engine had a good power-to-weight ratio, medium speed acceleration, and smooth operation. The turbine’s simplified design makes it easier to maintain than a piston engine. A jet-powered Thunderbird might have been possible with some additional development, such as an exhaust that doesn’t blast anyone standing near the car. We know that it wasn’t meant. The Chrysler Turbine car was a significant step forward in the design of the Chrysler Turbine car. It literally made it streetable, if not a little too practical.
Ford paid $188,000 for this unique vehicle using an existing platform. This is in 1955 terms. It would cost nearly $2 million if it were built today. This is a significant price for what amounts to an engine replacement. The turbine with Chrysler was ultimately destroyed by the production cost. Ford may have reached a similar conclusion in the past.
We still love the idea of a Thunderbird actually delivering a little bit of audible Thunder.