turbine Archives | AutoDepot

Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Videos, Humor

Jet-powered golf cart

Jet-powered golf cart – Click above to watch video after the jump

There are plenty of fine reasons to play golf. Everyone needs an excuse to get outside and stretch their legs, and smacking the life out of a little white ball is a socially acceptable way to relieve stress with a club. But for many of us, the only reason to get on the green is to get behind the wheel of a golf cart. Our short game may be the living definition of embarrassing, but we’d like to imagine we could execute a fine handbrake turn behind the wheel of an electric rental.

If that’s not entertaining enough to wet your whistle, you can always add the thrill of a turbine engine to the mix. We’re not exactly sure where the gentleman in the video after the jump got the idea to strap a small jet engine to the back of his custom golf cart, but we like where his head’s at. Odds are the other players may have a small problem with the racket that his contraption makes, but that’s their problem, right?. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse”

Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage

Filed under: Videos, Chrysler

Jay Leno’s Chrysler Turbine Car – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Chances are you’ve probably heard about the Chrysler Turbine cars of the 1960s, but we’re betting you don’t know anywhere near as much as Jay Leno. The late night talk show host and car nut picked up his own Turbine, and it is featured in the latest installment of Jay Leno’s Garage.

The post-jump video is nearly 25 minutes long, and after watching it you’ll ascend to Chrysler Turbine expert. We had no idea there were only 55 units ever produced, that it can run on tequila, the bodies were crafted in Italy or that the turbine engine sounds like… well, you’ll have to hear it for yourself. As an added bonus, Jay threw in a 1960s promotional video that illustrates just how the turbine engine works. Terrific history lesson, and you can see it for yourself by hitting the jump.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage

Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: 1963 Chrysler Turbine whirs into Jay Leno’s Garage”

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Woodill Wildfire is a turbine-powered thing of beauty

Filed under: Convertible, Auctions, Specialty

1955 Woodill Wildfire

1955 Woodill Wildfire at Barrett-Jackson – Click above for high-res image gallery

Before stumbling upon this 1955 Woodill Wildfire here at the Barrett-Jackson festivities in Scottsdale, we weren’t even aware that such a car existed. And this is one of the reasons why Barrett-Jackson is such a cool event.

Apparently, an employee of McDonnell Douglass (we’d guess with the last name Woodill…) built an experimental turbine engine originally intended for use in a helicopter. First seen in 1952, this machine is recognized as the world’s first production fiberglass-bodied automobile. For what it’s worth, the Corvette didn’t come until late 1953.

According to the official Barrett-Jackson auction page, the engine puts out 310 horsepower at the crank at a stratospheric 37,500 rpm. This particular machine, built in 1955, was reportedly clocked at 137 miles per hour on a dry lake bed and then sat for 40 years until being restored to its current condition.

See the proceedings for yourself live and in living color over at Speed’s online streaming channel. You can also play along with Speed’s online Fantasy Bidding game – we only hope you’re better at guessing these values than we are…

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2011: 1955 Woodill Wildfire Turbine Convertible

Barrett-Jackson 2011: 1955 Woodill Wildfire Turbine Convertible

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Woodill Wildfire is a turbine-powered thing of beauty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Barrett-Jackson 2011: Woodill Wildfire is a turbine-powered thing of beauty”