[h=2]Turbine engines[/h] Despite 40 years of development and a high-profile lease program for its 1963 Turbine Car, Chrysler never quite figured out how to make turbine power viable. | Chrysler

In the late 1930s, Chrysler began experimenting with the idea of turbine engines for cars. On the surface, the project had lots of potential: Compared to the internal combustion engine, turbines were simpler, long-lasting, didn’t need a cooling system, were more economical, and rarely needed any maintenance. What’s more, they could run on virtually any combustible fuel — Chrysler even ran the cars on tequila and Chanel No. 5 for public demonstrations. Despite a high-profile 1963 to 1966 program, where average Americans could lease the unique Turbine Car, these engines were never deemed refined enough to enter production. Chrysler finally abandoned the technology in 1980.