This was the world's first gas-turbine motor car, designed and built by the Rover Company Ltd, UK. This prototype is a standard Rover 75 saloon converted to an open-topped two-seater motor car that ran on gas rather than petrol. Neither the conventional clutch or gearbox were used, and a reverse gear was fitted. The engine unit is a two-shaft Rover T8 gas turbine, which develops 200 hp at 40,000 compressor revolutions per minute (rpm). Fuel consumption was very high at only four miles to the gallon.

Picture Reference: 10457038
Subject: TRANSPORT > Road Transport > Vehicles, Gas
Inventory No.: 1958-0080_(0001)
Credit: Science Museum

Keywords: 1940s, 1900s, 20th Century, 75, Alternative, Alternative Fuel, Automobile, British, Car, Cars, Company, Consumption, Efficiency, Europe, First, Firsts, Fuel, Fuel Consumption, Fuel Efficiency, Gas, Gas-powered, Gas-turbine, Gas-turbine Cars, Gas Turbine, Gas Car, Headlamp, Headlight, Jet, Jet 1, Ltd, Motor Car, Motorcar, Prototypes, Prototype, Road, Road Vehicle, Rover, Rover 75, Rover Company Ltd, Thoroughfare, Transportation, Transport, Turbine, Uk, United Kingdom, Vehicle, Vehicle Part, Vehicles, Gas

If you want to buy this image as a decorative print, click here: