OK Solberg: 00:00

I wanna again welcome you to the 04:05 coffee break. It's a new week, guys. Get you a cup of coffee, glass of iced tea, bottled water. Let's see what's happening. See if we can put a smile on your face. Have you been frowning? I hope not.

OK Solberg: 00:12

Spring Wheat $5.49 a bushel. 550lb steer calves stand pretty steady at $4.41. A butcher hog in Iowa 68¢ a pound. And a 100lb lamb that's fat in Billings will fetch you $2.20. $2.20 to $2.23 a pound. But guys, there's more, much more.

OK Solberg: 00:39

November 17. Did you realize that REA energized the power lines in Harb exactly seventy one years ago today? 11/17/1954, it's true.

OK Solberg: 00:56

And the reason I remember it is because it's the day my sister Viv was born. The exact day she was born is the day Harb got energized by REA. What about that then? Now I can't tell you how old my sister is.

OK Solberg: 01:14

No. Uh-uh. Ladies don't like people to know that little secret. But I can tell you, 71 years ago today, the community of Harb was energized. Happy birthday, Viv. It's safe to say she lit up Harb. Okay. With that little housecleaning chore aside, welcome to Jay and Joe's Motor Monday. Today, we look at horsepower one Monday at a time.

OK Solberg: 01:44

Now I had a young man by the name of Jay asked me to talk about the 1963 Chrysler turbine automobile that was, and now there's only 3 left that are in running order, and Jay Leno has one of them.

OK Solberg: 02:01

Well, what a wonderful topic for Jay and Joe's Motor Monday. First off, I have loads of information about this car. You too can do it. Research it as easily as I on the Internet. But before I tell you too much, first I have to bring to your attention the fact that it was a turbine engine.

OK Solberg: 02:27

Alright? Not a 4 stroke gasoline engine, not a 4 stroke diesel engine. A turbine engine just like jet airplanes use. So what we're talking about is a car manufactured in 1963 by the Chrysler Corporation that had a jet engine. Now for you out there that don't know too much about the ins and outs of horsepower and output, let me tell you this.

OK Solberg: 02:56

Okay? If you have a tachometer in your current automobile, the one you're driving today, if you have a tach in it, check it out. The tachometer registers the revolutions per minute or for short, the RPMs. So inside your engine or motor if you prefer, is a crankshaft that's going round and round. Go look on your tack.

OK Solberg: 03:21

If you start your car and let it idle, it'll be showing from maybe 850 RPMs to 1,100 RPMs. But to get more power, you pour the coal to it. Right? Step on the accelerator and the RPMs increase. You'll see it RPMs.

OK Solberg: 03:39

And if you tromp on it, it might gear down and wrap up to four to five and even 6,000 RPMs. But once you get cruising again, it'll drop back down to 2,200 to 3,000 RPMs. Remember this and never forget it. The faster the RPMs, the more horsepower. But there is a trade off.

OK Solberg: 04:02

The faster the RPMs, the quicker things wear out. If you can keep your RPMs down, you have a better likelihood of allowing your engine to last a long, long time. In fact, let me tell you this. I had the opportunity to drive a D8 Caterpillar crawler for Duane Mathews. Now that powerhouse crawler actually did a lot of work, and it was only cranking out 1,100 to 1,300 RPMs.

OK Solberg: 04:36

Guys, that's slow. That's really slow. And that's why they lasted so long. They had lots of power, but they kept the RPMs low. And I realize I'm gonna run out of time here, but I'll continue this subject next Monday.

OK Solberg: 04:52

You guys need to understand RPMs to fully appreciate the 1963 Chrysler turbine car. So like I just said, I drove a Caterpillar that was at full operating speed turning out 1,300 RPMs. The car you're driving today will most likely be cruising down the highway at 2,200 to 3,000 RPMs. Okay? Listen and pay attention, class.

OK Solberg: 05:21

Sit up straight. No spit wads. Don't let this slip past you. The 1963 Chrysler turbine car idled at 20,000 RPMs. Did you hear me? 20 to 22,000 RPMs. If you gave it to gas, it would crank up to 60,000 RPMs. This is a jet engine inside a 1963 automobile. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I have to say it. I hope to shout and call the doctor. A jet engine inside a regular street legal 1963 automobile.

OK Solberg: 06:04

Like I told you, I'll continue this exact subject next Monday, but the Chrysler Corporation was doing some experimentation, and they saw what jet engines could do during World War two, so they thought, let's experiment. After testing, Chrysler conducted a user program from October 1963, just before JFK was assassinated, all the way to January 1966 that involved 203 drivers in a 103 cities in The United States. The program helped the company determine problems with the cars, notably with their complicated starting procedure, their relatively unimpressive acceleration and subpar fuel economy, and noise.

OK Solberg: 06:58

Well, after the user program ended in 1966, Chrysler reclaimed the cars and destroyed all but nine of them. Chrysler kept two cars. Six are displayed at museums in The United States, and one is in comedian Jay Leno's private collection. So why did they destroy them? Well, tune in again next week to hear more of the story of the jet engine automobile.

OK Solberg: 07:29

I'll close with the bible verse. Listen now. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the lord our god. Psalm 20 verse 7 Horsepower will only get you so far.

OK Solberg: 07:45

So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.