American Howmet TX--the only turbine with a race winning record

The American Howmet TX turbine was pieced together by a group of SCCA drivers led Ray Heppenstall in 1967. Heppenstall had developed his own design for a gas powered turbine engine. Howmet Corporation funded his project, lending their name to his car.

Two turbine engines were leased from Continental Aviation & Engineering. The TS325-1 gas turbines were prototypes for unsuccessful bid on a military helicopter. The loaned turbines weighed 170 lb could provide 325 bhp and 650 lb·ft of torque. The engines could reach a maximum 57,000 rpm.

Bob McKee, of McKee Engineer, designed two space frame chassis for the project-the first was actually built from an older McKee car and adapted for the turbine engine. The second was built from scratch, and purposely designed around the use of a turbine engine.

A the car's inaugural race, 24 Hours of Daytona, the driving team of Heppenstall, Dick Thompson and Ed Lowther qualified with the seventh fastest overall lap time. The TX was running third, when on lap 34 the turbine wastegate failed to open, giving the driver too much power for the corner. While navigating a corner, the car spun into a barrier, forcing the team to retire

The history-making race was in June, 1968, when Heppenstall won the Huntsville National Race, the first race ever won by a turbine powered car.

In 1969, Howmet withdrew support of the racing program, and used the cars for promotional purposes instead. Two year later, the company ceased the promotional program and sold the chassis to Heppenstall for $1. The turbine engines had to be returned to Continental. Heppenstall kept the two chassis for several years, eventually selling them. Bruce Linsmeyer, of Avon Aero, purchased Chassis #GTP1 in 2006, and restored it with an original Continental turbine. The car won the Sebring Trophy in 2007 at Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.