Beyond Tailfins: The Shockingly Advanced Tech of the GM Firebird III

Harley Earl, the legendary automotive designer, headed up the team inspired by fighter aircraft design to highlight the technology and design General Motors could achieve. The General Motors' Firebird was a series of three concept cars built between 1953 and 1959, all utilizing innovative turbine engines. The first, the Firebird I (XP-21), debuted in 1953 and resembled a jet fighter on wheels. It was the first gas turbine-powered car ever tested in the U.S. This engine was important because it offered smoother operation, potentially cleaner emissions, and the promise of a quieter driving experience compared to traditional piston engines.
General Motors unveiled a futuristic marvel of a car at the 1959 Motorama, the Firebird III. This sleek, two-seater concept car wasn't just visually stunning with its double-bubble canopy and seven tail fins, the Firebird III was powered by a groundbreaking innovation: a 225 horsepower Whirlfire GT-305 gas turbine engine. This engine represented a significant leap forward. Unlike traditional piston engines, gas turbines offered smoother operation, potentially lower emissions, and the ability to run on a variety of fuels. For GM, the Firebird III was a testbed to showcase the potential of this new technology and position itself at the forefront of automotive development.
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[@reikofujiko991]

Why no gas turbine? Cause the world wants to go all electric whether or not it's actually the best or only solution.😕

[@WA1LBK]

Chrysler tried too, with their limited production gas turbine sedan in the 1960's. The trubine's main issue was that they are fuel - thirsty at low speeds. Turbines also operate with highest efficiency at constant (rather than variable speeds).
Where they might actually have an application in todays world might be as a range extender in an otherwise electric car; run a small gas turbine (they're already availble for use as high - end RC jet aircraft models) to turn an alternator at a constant speed to charge the batteries; esentially a turbine - electric hybrid rather than a conventional piston gas engine hybrid). I think I read somewhere that Jaguar as already experimenting with such a concept. 🙂