It’s a rare sight to spot a Chrysler Turbine Car cruising on the Interstate, and understandably so. Out of the initial 50 units produced, only nine are said to exist today, with the majority of them inactive and unlikely to hit the roads again. Given their scarcity, it comes as no surprise that the operational ones are hardly ever driven; preserving a turbine engine that bears a hefty replacement cost and might eventually become unattainable is a valid concern. Nevertheless, this Chrysler was designed to be driven, and that is precisely the intention of the new individual who acquired the Turbine Car auctioned off last month.
Previously part of the Frank Kleptz Collection, Chassis 991231 swiftly changed hands in April and reappeared close to its previous location in Chesterfield, Michigan at the Stahls Automotive Foundation car museum. The museum officially disclosed its acquisition last Thursday, both through a video presentation of the car on various social media platforms and on national television, where Terri Coppens, the museum’s general manager, supposedly confirmed plans to put the car in motion.
Chrysler Turbine Car at Stahls Automotive Foundation Museum, Facebook | Stahls Automotive Foundation
“Rest assured, we will start the car and take it for a drive,” remarked Coppens as per Hagerty. “We firmly believe that all our vehicles should be operated as intended. That’s their purpose.”
Nonetheless, allowing the museum staff to drive this historical Chrysler won’t happen immediately, as the host of the museum’s Facebook announcement video confessed they have yet to initiate the engine.
“We have not turned it on yet because we need guidance,” stated the unnamed host in the video. “Each of these cars behaves differently when started and operated, so we want to ensure we are doing it correctly, hence we have someone coming to instruct us on the process.”
Stahls is unlikely to open the opportunity for the general public to drive their copper-toned Chrysler, but observing will be permitted on Tuesday afternoons from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Attend on the right day, and you might even get the chance to hear the turbine engine roar to life.
Have a lead or inquiry for the author? Drop them a message: james@thedrive.com
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