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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