$800,000 Modified Corvette Does 180MPH

Ridiculous Rides

A MODIFIED 1970s Corvette has been described as 'one of history’s greatest streetcars'. Custom-built by legendary modifier, Andy Granatelli, the Chevvy is worth over $800,000 and is capable of speeds over 180mph. It currently lives at the Rock ’n Roll Car Museum in Austin, Texas and is a stand-out piece in their collection. Boasting 880HP, it can push from 0-60mph in less than three seconds and has a gas turbine engine. Andy Schmidt said: “To drive this car, it’s not easy. You have to put a little work into it. There’s actually a fifth break that’s installed in order to help slow this car down. It can be a handful but when you get on the throttle, it’s all worthwhile. When you do hit the accelerator pedal, you better be holding on because this thing is going to take off."

Transcript

00:00This is truly one of history's most incredible streetcars.

00:05It's scary fast, the sheer rawness of it, the excitement and the acceleration.

00:12When you do hit the accelerator pedal you better be holding on because this thing is going to take off.

00:24The Rock and Roll Car Museum in Austin, Texas is home to a Chevy like no other.

00:29Modified by legendary indie mechanic Andy Granatelli, this 1978 Corvette is powered by a Pratt & Whitney ST6B turbine engine.

00:41Packs 880 horsepower, pushes 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and is capable of speed over 180 miles per hour.

00:52It's a marvel, it really is, it's an amazing piece.

00:55What we like to call the wolf in sheep's clothing.

00:58It uses a compressed gas to turn turbine blades.

01:02This one, instead of using thrust, actually uses a shaft that turns the drive shaft through the transmission just like a normal car would.

01:10But it is still a true jet engine, it's absolutely stunning.

01:16And being in a class of its own, it's no surprise that this is the pride of the museum's collection.

01:22When you have something that's so unique like this, it really stands out.

01:26You can have a lot of Porsches or a lot of Ferraris, but there's only one JetVet.

01:31This car approximately cost $550,000 and it was purchased in 2005.

01:37If I was to guess its value today and what it would cost to build this, I mean, you could spend $600,000, $700,000, $800,000.

01:48Because it differs so much from a normal V8 engine, the engine extends all the way from the very front of the car,

01:53where the radiator normally would be, all the way into the firewall.

01:57Under these covers would be the exhaust side of the turbine engine.

02:02In the center is the compressor side.

02:05This series of fins that looks like a radiator is actually the condenser for the air conditioning.

02:09This car actually has functioning air conditioning.

02:11And because this engine acts like a giant fan, it sucks in the air at such a high rate.

02:18Even with a high ambient temperature, the AC in this car works flawlessly.

02:22And a turbine engine presents unique issues met with unique solutions.

02:34The biggest problem with this car is trying to vent the hot exhaust gases.

02:39A turbine engine will produce enormous temperatures.

02:42We're talking over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

02:45It has a very remarkable exhaust system that was very well engineered and built.

02:50The turbine engine, because they burn so much fuel at such high temperature,

02:55it has to have so much surface area in order to get this exhaust out of the car.

03:00So they built this massive, flat exhaust system.

03:03It's all made out of a material called ink and elm, which is similar to stainless steel in many ways,

03:09but it has a much higher operating temperature and it dissipates heat a lot better.

03:13So it enters right here.

03:15It comes around and then bridges back together and it fans out and then out of the diffuser.

03:21And there is nothing else that's ever been built this way.

03:25Up front here, we have a series of switches and gauges, which are completely different from the road-going car.

03:31To drive this car, it's not easy. You have to put a little work in it.

03:42There's actually a fifth brake that is installed in order to help slow this car down.

03:47You can start out by holding the brake very firmly.

03:50Some people maybe would have to use actually two feet.

03:53The car will idle between 70 and 90 miles an hour depending on conditions and the road you're on.

04:00It can be a handful, but when you get on the throttle, it makes it all worthwhile.

04:04Once you drop the car into gear, you would slowly let off on the brake pedal.

04:08And just like any other car, it'll actually start going without touching the accelerator pedal.

04:12When you do hit the accelerator pedal, you better be holding on because this thing is going to take off.

04:18It's going to snap your neck.

04:21This is truly one of history's most incredible streetcars.

04:28This car accelerates so smoothly and so quickly that before you know it, you're surpassing 130 miles an hour.

04:36You have to be very careful when you're driving it because it just really wants to stretch its legs and run.

04:41All inspiring, just a marvel of engineering.

04:48It's scary fast, the sheer rawness of it, the excitement and the acceleration.

04:54It will put a smile on your face every time.

04:57It's a lot of fun to drive.

04:59Truly an amazing vehicle.

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