Mike66Chryslers
Senior Member
Yes, you read that correctly. Frank Kleptz' family is selling his car collection, including his Chrysler Turbine!
1963 Chrysler Turbine Car
From the ad:
Chassis number 991231 is the crown jewel of the Kleptz Collection, with the distinction of being the only Chrysler Turbine car available on the open market today. As offered, it is in exceptionally well-preserved condition, finished in its original metallic bronze paintwork with complementing upholstery, all original fittings and fixtures, and a host of spares, documents, and technical information. It is believed that 991231 spent much of its service life on the West Coast, performing “VIP duties,” meaning it was retained by Chrysler and loaned out weekly to executives, sales managers, award-winning salespeople, and anyone else who Chrysler Corporation thought should experience this wholly unique automobile. Allegedly, it was initially slated to be one of two cars donated to the Natural History Museum in LA, likely to save on shipping costs back to Detroit. William Harrah approached Chrysler requesting one of the Turbine Cars for his museum, and the company obliged, giving him 991231 along with a spare engine.
It is believed that the car never ran while at Harrah’s, and some assume it was related to terms of the donation, though the collection did have several thousand vehicles by that time. When much of the Harrah collection was dispersed, 991231 was acquired by Domino’s Pizza founder and noted car collector Tom Monaghan. Frank Kleptz acquired the Turbine Car from Mr. Monaghan in the late 1980s while at the AACA National Meet in Hershey. It was not running at the time, though Kleptz did get spare engines along with the deal. In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Kleptz got serious about getting the Turbine Car up and running, and he enlisted the help of GE Engine Services, who reproduced several essential precision parts and aided in the rebuilding of the engine. While it has seen limited use over the past decade, it remains operational and has recently been test-fired, making it one of just a few running examples extant.
Cosmetically, the car is in beautifully well-preserved original condition. The paintwork and bespoke trim are in excellent order, and it wears original tires and color-keyed wheel covers. The orange-bronze interior is relatively conventional in its layout, except for the stylized center console with its unique controls and levers, lending the car a distinctly space-age and purposeful character. It is accompanied by a vast file of engineering drawings, technical information, and historical documentation. The sale will also include a spare engine and transmission assembly.
As one of only two Chrysler Turbine Cars in private hands, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most fascinating, technically sophisticated American cars of the twentieth century. The remarkable Chrysler Turbine Car was the pride of the Kleptz Collection, and it will undoubtedly take center stage in its next custodian’s collection.
1963 Chrysler Turbine Car
From the ad:
Chassis number 991231 is the crown jewel of the Kleptz Collection, with the distinction of being the only Chrysler Turbine car available on the open market today. As offered, it is in exceptionally well-preserved condition, finished in its original metallic bronze paintwork with complementing upholstery, all original fittings and fixtures, and a host of spares, documents, and technical information. It is believed that 991231 spent much of its service life on the West Coast, performing “VIP duties,” meaning it was retained by Chrysler and loaned out weekly to executives, sales managers, award-winning salespeople, and anyone else who Chrysler Corporation thought should experience this wholly unique automobile. Allegedly, it was initially slated to be one of two cars donated to the Natural History Museum in LA, likely to save on shipping costs back to Detroit. William Harrah approached Chrysler requesting one of the Turbine Cars for his museum, and the company obliged, giving him 991231 along with a spare engine.
It is believed that the car never ran while at Harrah’s, and some assume it was related to terms of the donation, though the collection did have several thousand vehicles by that time. When much of the Harrah collection was dispersed, 991231 was acquired by Domino’s Pizza founder and noted car collector Tom Monaghan. Frank Kleptz acquired the Turbine Car from Mr. Monaghan in the late 1980s while at the AACA National Meet in Hershey. It was not running at the time, though Kleptz did get spare engines along with the deal. In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Kleptz got serious about getting the Turbine Car up and running, and he enlisted the help of GE Engine Services, who reproduced several essential precision parts and aided in the rebuilding of the engine. While it has seen limited use over the past decade, it remains operational and has recently been test-fired, making it one of just a few running examples extant.
Cosmetically, the car is in beautifully well-preserved original condition. The paintwork and bespoke trim are in excellent order, and it wears original tires and color-keyed wheel covers. The orange-bronze interior is relatively conventional in its layout, except for the stylized center console with its unique controls and levers, lending the car a distinctly space-age and purposeful character. It is accompanied by a vast file of engineering drawings, technical information, and historical documentation. The sale will also include a spare engine and transmission assembly.
As one of only two Chrysler Turbine Cars in private hands, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most fascinating, technically sophisticated American cars of the twentieth century. The remarkable Chrysler Turbine Car was the pride of the Kleptz Collection, and it will undoubtedly take center stage in its next custodian’s collection.
