In
the early 1950's, many automobile manufacturers were looking
into alternative turbine engine design and General Motors was
no exception. The Firebird II, as the name suggests was the
second in a series of three bubble-topped rocket-like cars built
specifically for GM's turbine programme. All designed by Harley
Earl, the original single-seat Firebird I developed exhaust
temperatures of more than 1250 degrees F, burning up everything
behind it. The four-passenger Firebird II featured a 200-horsepower
Whirlfire GT-304 regenerative gas turbine engine that operated
nearly 1000 degrees cooler. This technology allowed Firebird
II to efficiently power accessories such as air conditioning
and power steering. The Firebird II also featured a titanium
body, disc brakes, fully independent four-wheel suspension and
a sophisticated electronic guidance system for use on the "electronic
highway of the future." The Firebird II, was showcased in the
1956 GM promotional film Design For Dreaming and that years
GM Motorama. All three Firebird concepts are still in exisistence
and are owned by General Motors. Their experimental turbine
programme continues to this day.
Text by Peter Grist
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