During the 1960s, an American-made racing prototype caught the attention of motorsport enthusiasts around the world, especially because it was powered by a gas turbine engine initially developed for a helicopter.
It must be remembered that, shortly after the end of World War II, the gas turbine engine became very popular in the aircraft industry. Considered revolutionary for its excellent power-to-weight ratio, compact design and great reliability compared to traditional piston engines of the time, the gas turbine was also seen as a viable alternative for the automotive industry.
One of the vehicles that integrated this technology was the Howmet TX, which had a gas turbine initially developed for use in a military helicopter prototype. This weighed 77 kg and delivered 350 HP of power and 880 Nm of maximum torque, figures that made it ideal for competing in endurance races.
This engine was capable of accelerating up to a whopping 57,000 rpm, so it could not have a conventional gearbox. In its place, a single-speed transmission was installed. Since the objective of the racing car was initially to be approved by the FIA to compete in the 1968 World Endurance Championship, it needed to have reverse gear for regulatory reasons.
To achieve this, its creators installed a small electric motor (apart from the turbine) that had this function. They also realized that to build a competitive racing car they needed a custom-made chassis. In its first version, a Can-Am chassis was used as a base, but shortly after it developed an improved chassis, starting from scratch to give birth to a second variant of the Howmet TX.
Both cars featured fully independent suspension systems and four-wheel disc brakes, with the gas turbine engine located between the rear axle and the cabin in a central position. While the two chassis were slightly different, the bodywork of both TXs was identical and was designed to comply with FIA Group 6 regulations.
The two units were tested in the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona and participated in various races during the same year, although that was the only season in competition for the Howmet TX. Subsequently, the two units began to be used in specific events that did not go unnoticed, as was the case of the various land speed records they achieved in 1970.
With various variations and reconstructions, the two examples still exist today. If you are interested in knowing even more details about this curious American prototype, you just have to take a look at the video that accompanies this article.
