Chrysler had a long history of experimenting with turbine power, beginning in the late 1930s with the world’s first turbine-powered car, a Plymouth Belvedere, beginning testing in 1954. By 1963, they were entering customer trials. Fifty-five cars were built by Ghia in Italy, designed by Elwood Engel. They were powered by the 130hp A-831 turbine engine that could run on virtually any combustible liquid. The engine operated with roughly 80% fewer moving parts than a standard V8, providing a vibration-free, smooth gliding ride. Chrysler launched a massive public relations and engineering user programme, lending 50 of the cars to 203 everyday families across 133 U.S. cities for three months at a time. The programme officially wrapped up in January 1966 after some glaring drawbacks were highlighted, including a complex, multi-step startup procedure and inconsistent power delivery. Of the original 55 test vehicles, 46 were scrapped, leaving 9 still in existence.
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