23. Chrysler Turbine
During the early ’60s, Chrysler was heavily involved in turbine car testing. At the moment, this kind of engine, similar to a jet aircraft engine, made sense as the future of the internal combustion engine. After extensive testing in laboratories and test tracks, there came a time when Chrysler needed valuable real-life data. So they built 55 cars and sent them to Italy’s Ghia design house to get fancy hand-made bodies. Then, Chrysler gave the cars to randomly chosen families all over America for them to use Turbines as regular cars for a time.
The extensive program lasted for two years. The cars covered millions of miles and the drivers tested them in various conditions. Finally, Chrysler decided to abandon the project and scrap all 55 cars because of the import duties since they were mostly produced in Italy. However, due to lucky circumstances, nine cars survived. Today, you can find them in museums and private collections all over America.