The Howmet Turbine Experimental racecar is the brainchild of Bob McKee, a man who created several notable race cars. The 1968 Howmet TX is notable though not just for its gas turbine power plant but for the fact that it’s the only jet-powered car to register a win in completion. Now, Jay Leno is getting a chance behind the wheel of this historic race car.
McKee didn’t just design the powertrain on the Howmet TX. He also designed the body including the Porsche-sourced windshield and the cam-am fenders. It features magnesium wheels, an aluminum body, and brakes from the Ford GT40. The gearbox is a single-speed unit but has a quick-change feature that allows tuning based on the needs of a specific circuit.
Powering the Howmet TX is a TS325-1 gas turbine engine, initially designed for military helicopter use. It provides an output of 350 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque (880Nm), with a maximum redline of 57,000 rpm. The gearbox is a single-speed unit but features a quick-change capability that enables tuning according to the requirements of a particular circuit.
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As Leno points out early in the interview, jet-powered vehicles aren’t typically great at low-end acceleration. In the case of his jet bike, for instance, he says he’ll lose eighth-mile races but win quarter-mile ones because of how the power comes on. The Howmet TX is similar and actually gets pushed off to begin the test drive with Leno.
The jet engine isn’t the only aeronautical bit of this car. The cabin looks almost like it could stand in for an airplane cockpit. It fits even better since they test the car on a runway. According to Leno, judging braking distances is hard because even after engaging the brake the car can continue pulling for a moment or so. The power delivery is a noteworthy difference compared to a normal car.
Compared to a racecar where you’re always shifting it’s just so smooth, Leno says. “It just pulls constantly and you’re just always going faster and faster… I’ve got to get back on my jet bike, this is just too much fun.”
McKee says that of four jet-powered Howmet TXs built, all four have survived and still exist around the world. Of them, three are fully functional cars and one is just a chassis. We’re just glad to see these legends coming together in such a way.