@65pacecar @swi66 "The Chrysler Turbine Car is an experimental two-door hardtop coupe powered by a turbine engine and manufactured by Chrysler from 1963–1964. ... The car was styled by Elwood Engel, the Chrysler Studios and featured power brakes, power steering, and a Torqueflite transmission." Hello, Our dad come home from work one night and told my brother and me about a new car. It was the Chrysler Turbine car. While his friend in Los Angeles had a bunch of connections to those in the hot rod/auto parts business/industry, this was a surprise to have the knowledge given to us. Instead of an Oldsmobile sedan, 58 Impala or a 57 Buick Roadmaster in the garage, perhaps the Chrysler Turbine would have taken up that space. At least moving the Turbine in and out of the long driveway for a car parking exchange would have been interesting! Impala roof vent seen in the left side of the two car garage In late 1961, and heading into 1962, our dad was getting antsy for his every 4 year Buick Sedan exchange. He had been told by his friend in Los Angeles that a new model was on the horizon and that our dad should wait. But, in the mean time, he looked at his options. My brother and I even took him to several foreign car luxury dealers (BMW, MERCEDES, JAG, etc )and that was a bust. The offer given to our dad was to have him drive a new 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car for free and at the end of the trial period of several months, give his honest opinion of the car overall compared to his line of Buick Sedans over the years. For us, it was a free car. But an odd looking one at that. But, our dad was so antsy, he did not listen to the Turbine car offer and came home with a 63 Buick Wildcat sedan. He liked the sporty aspect of the Wildcat model and had a satisfied look while we saw him at home and while driving around. Our dad in a sporty Buick… wait, is that an oxymoron? A sporty Buick? That was good for a nice chuckle. He wanted a very stylish car for his choice and the 63 Wildcat was pretty stylish with all of the new features. Bucket seats, a center console with a tachometer, and even a floor console stick shift lever. Yes, that is sporty in a Buick. We asked him about the Chrysler Turbine. He said it would be a rental car and not his to own. Our mom did not like the Chrysler Turbine styling and let him know it, in so many words. So, the final decision was “let it go” and get a real sporty Buick sedan. Who could say the Chrysler Turbine hardtop was not stylish and way before its time? Well, of course, my brother and I had our thoughts about being able to cruise around in this new turbine hardtop. Also, we wanted to try it at the drags and wondered what class it would be entered. But, before we could make a decision, the Wildcat arrived in our garage. Jnaki The Turbine was stock, but with 130 hp, it would be in the lower classes of stock cars at Lion’s Dragstrip. So, that was a new idea. 14 seconds to 60 was not the fastest car on the block, since our 58 Impala could do it in at least 7-8 seconds. But, the ability to cruise around driving the Chrysler Turbine was going to be “something” in the local So Cal Bixby Knolls cruising area. That certainly would have been a first... He canceled the Chrysler Turbine deal and had a nice new Buick Wildcat for the 1963 year. But, wait, there is a better ending to this dilemma. Six months into the actual 1963 year, our dad came home with a Dark Green super stylish 1963 Buick Riviera sedan. What happened to the Wildcat that was sitting in our garage? He traded it in as soon as he saw the dark green Riviera in the showroom floor. We had no idea he was still looking around, but it was a nice cool design that was very stylish. from an old HAMB post Our dad came home with a brand new cool looking new Buick Riviera, with leather and A/C. He told us later that the A/C was the deciding point as well as the new Buick styling, vs the Turbine sedan. Note: lowered custom Turbine Station Wagon? In more recent times, the thought was that since our dad was following us around with his 16mm movie camera for surfing movies of us at various surf spots, we thought he might as well drive up in a cool station wagon. The thought moved back to the 61-63 season… But, the artwork was done in the most recent of times. or, a slight rake? A cool looking custom Chrysler Turbine Station Wagon. Just made for local So Cal beach adventures… even those heavy longboards would have fit inside with ease. The experiment probably would have taken off with this station wagon version available to moms and kids, too. But, to get away from that funny copper color, a favorite blue for our dad was selected. Would he have then liked the experimental Turbine car/wagon? There should have been an option to have a station wagon added to the 2 door sedan model. That would have won over a lot more families to boot. a chopped, lowered version? Then even added in a two tone version with pinstripes and mag wheels to boot!!! What if…YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
