Incredible Turbonique History: Hassler's Hustler - The Only Front Mounted Turbonique Ever Built!

This is the story of Hassler's Hustler, one of the most amazing and largely forgotten vehicles ever to use a Turbonique Rocket Turbine for power and the only one to ever have said turbine mounted in the front end of the car. This is about innovation, experimentation, and the idea that in drag racing during the 1960s, the sky was the limit.
In this video you'll get the history of the car, Turbonique rumors dispelled, technical information on how it all worked, and the record setting performance numbers the car was able to turn.
There's A LOT going on here and if you love drag racing history, wild cars, and the always entertaining history of the Turbonique company, you'll love this video!

[@bobcote1375]

I love stories like this. People were so willing to step outside the box back in the day. Great story Brian🏁

[@shenanigansofmannanan]

Less regulation and government interference back then....

[@johnc7431]

What an awesome story 👏

[@daryllect6659]

"Being based on rocket fuel and technology, there were a number of safety issues with these devices. For instance, if the driver let off the throttle, then reapplied it, the device would essentially become a bomb. In 1967, after a few reported incidents and fatalities, the NHRA banned the use of Turbonique turbines for drag racing"

[@nozmoking1]

I can't even imagine what you could do with a Turbonique unuit and computer control. There must be remnants from all the units built tucked away somewhere.

[@genefogarty5395]

Get a hold of pieces and start reverse engineering and machining, lol.

[@nozmoking1]

@@genefogarty5395 Turbine technology has evolved so much that it's probablty a better idea to start all over - if it's even practical. It's just such a shame that the business collapsed before the next gen could be developed.

[@genefogarty5395]

I think the bump in the road lies in the lack of ability to control any sort of extremely volatile propellant and the instantaneous pressures it creates once lit. Making an adjustable bleed off valve to act as a throttle control that could withstand that sort of heat and pressure would be a daunting task. Definitely expensive to play with carbon ceramics, Inconel HX and titanium. Maybe NASA could get into the game, they're not that busy these days, lol.@@nozmoking1

[@sealteamsix1784]

a variable turbonique that can drive normally and efficiently with 100hp, and then flick a switch to get 1000hp would be sick.

[@gabewalker3764]

@@genefogarty5395 If only i had the resources my man.. if only. I may not know much but im a quick learner, id happily do it if i had the tooling and funds haha.

[@MX304]

The Odyssey dragster was recently found and is going to be restored.

[@failranch9542]

As a teenager in the ‘80s I was obsessed with ‘60s hot rods - I was a complete car-culture geek. I amassed a collection of old magazines and knew about Turbonique. This was obviously pre-internet and every time I mentioned Turbonique to anyone, usually much older hot rodders, they’d react like I had 3 heads. I’m glad Brian has turned his attention to a lot of this stuff that I feared was lost forever. The question I still have, and have never gotten an answer, is how would you go about disarming it at the starting line if you were ready to hit the button and something happened and you had to abort?

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Close the two valves for the fuel and oxygen. Disarm the spark plugs. Hit the go button to vent the fuel and oxygen into the turbine........ and allow the vapours to dissipate over time????

[@michaelsulpizio606]

Brian: great story! Totally forgot about this until you brought it up! I was a kid way back when the Turbonique was available. I was in grammar school at the time and I was fascinated with hot rods ! It so happens that Hot rod magazine and I are the same age, 75 this year! No big deal, but none the less a fact both born in 1947! Anyway I’m writing because guys my age are usually retired! I am , but I miss it badly! I retired as a restoration technician, mechanic. I was one of those that set out to do what he fell in love with working on and building some of the most fantastic automobiles built from the brass era to the most exotic and fascinating automobiles that were manufactured! Cars that were worth millions of dollars ! From Hot Rod, muscle car shows back in the 1960s up through the classic car shows such as the Concourse De Elegance, at pebble beach, on the west coast to The Concourse De Elegance at Emilia Island on the east coast, in between , even cars entered in the Milia Milia in Italy and the very elegant Lake Como Concourse De Elegance! But I digress ! I wanted one of these Turbonique power plants at the time to put into a go cart, which were the rage at the time! Thank God I was unable to afford one ! I probably would have killed my self! & missed out on a life’s work that I thoroughly enjoyed an was able to raise a family of three girls ,who now have done the same! You mentioned one thing that interested me that I did not know! You mentioned that one of the Dragsters that were powered by the Turbonique was built by Frank Hussar at his shop in Reseda California, Race car Specialties! He had a little shop off Topham there near Reseda Blvd. I worked there for him! Though not officially, I was not paid monetarily! I befriended him, and hung out there on a regular basis, once we knew each other I asked him for a job but he said he could not afford to pay me! But I said what if I cleaned up the shop for him , I could learn about building hot rods , his specialty was designing and fabricating state of the art top fuel drag race chassis! He said OK! I was in High School with an industrial Arts major. I had just bought a 1934 Ford 5 window coupe! Do you see my thinking here? I asked Frank if by watching him and sweeping the place up I could use some of the fabrication tools to build parts for my 34 coupe he said yes! And that’s how a great friendship was established! Several of my Dad’s friends and neighbors had told me that this was a good approach to getting a job at something that interested me greatly! So I did it! Frank Hussar was one of those guy’s that believed in passing along a plethora of knowledge gleaned over a lifetime of experience! A rare thing today! Hard to come by!!! Not many left the likes of him! He helped many a drag race team get to and stay at the top of their game ! And he helped a little guy like me be able to fulfill a little kids dream of making a career in the automotive business! Thanks for reminding me Brian!!! Regards Mike S. ……

[@surfernorm6360]

LOL ME too (same age)

[@gchampi2]

Oh, please... Restoration guys never truly retire - they just become more selective on what they'll work on...🤣

[@AgentZ7]

I was lucky enough to have my dads friend one night say "hey man you want some magazines? I was going to get rid of em and thought id let you check them out first." Well surely enough it was a pile of Rodder & Super Stock, & Speed and Supercar mags. When you mentioned the March issue, I had a look to see if I could read a bit more about it. These magazines are serious encyclopedias of history now!

[@funone8716]

The stories and tech details of Turbonique NEVER get old. What an amazing company and legacy. SUPER cool. Great video! I got talking to a local guy about 20 years ago and turns out when he was a kid he sent for the Catalog and info pack from Turbonique back in the day. He let me borrow it and I copied it all, still have it and pour over it occasionally while day dreaming about how it was back in the day.

[@rondye9398]

I also sent for a catalog back in the 1960's and wish I still had it. It not only featured these rocket rear axles, but a jet engine powered turbocharger connected to a internal combustion engine. It was claimed the engine did not even need to be 'running' as the pressure introduced from the turbo made the power without additional combustion! It also was like a trigger, once fired it was on.

[@genefogarty5395]

@@rondye9398 The intake temps must've been insane. Even the hot side of a conventional turbo gets crazy hot under boost. All I can see is no lag as a benefit.

[@BazzaroRealm]

I consider myself a knowledgeable man in terms of how a dragster is built and operates. This is new to me. I can’t tell you the last time I grabbed a notepad and a pen to start researching something new and interesting 😊

[@brianlohnes3079]

Glad to have inspired you!!

[@safetymikeengland]

I can't get enough reading material about Turbonique! The drag axle is an incredible idea.

[@THESLlCK]

HOW ON EARTH did you find all this incredible information?? This is amazing

[@Ellie-wq2qe]

Frickin love the stories I grew up at US 30 in Gary Ind threw the late 70s and in to the 80s when they shut down and in my elementary school they had articles in books about some of these cars to any way keep up the good work cause me and buddies will keep watching them thank you and happy new year

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks to you and your buddies for watching this stuff!!

[@popeyeman69]

What a great story Brian. I remember the adds for these in Hot Rod, and was always fascinated by them. I love the front engine approach they used, it sure is different! Thanks!

[@BubStubbley]

So great to see more history of these fantastic devices. Back in the 80s I saw a sandrail powered by one of these as part of a stadium monster truck show. The sandrail was super light and made several blindly fast runs through a short mud drags course. You could blink and miss those runs they were so fast. Hope you can find more history about cars using these. I am amazed no one has revived the tech.

[@TomHaroldArt]

I've just watched this video again for the mul-teenth time. I just love it! I remember reading about the Mallicoat brothers' car a few years back in a magazine. That was a fascinating story in and of itself. The Hemi Honker is just off the charts. I am going to put together a turbo build, and it's cool to see they were trying new things like this back when nobody had any idea of the conventions for a successful combination. They were just winging it (with some experimental computer data) and seeing what would happen. Too bad they didn't pursue it for another season or two, but still a very cool store nonetheless.

[@glocke380]

As a young teen in the late 60's there was always good turbine news from the main stream and automotive press and all through the 70's with to much life on my hands to pay real attention I always wondered what happened. I still want my turbine powered flying car!

[@michaelmartinez1345]

Great story!!! What is so interesting about this, there was NO THROTTLE!!!! Just on & off....Instant WFO from the staging line, until the light traps... Wholy SH!!!!T !!!; A wild ride, to say the least!!!! The WILD '60's & '70's are now far behind us, but the memories are still very much, Alive & Well....

[@madmax2069]

My friends father started talking to me about this which is what got me interested in it, and its interesting on what they was doing back then.

[@martinharris5017]

This kind of experimentation and wild powerplants is what i love about 60s to early 70s dragging and rodding. What a crazy machine but as beautiful as it is wild.

[@Burley_Bert]

I am in love, this is the coolest thing ever.

[@nigelcarren]

"He who dares wins!" Great story, and I raise my cup to all the rule-breakers! 🇬🇧🏆🇺🇲

[@TurpInTexas]

I thought I had seen it all when it came to drag racing, but never heard of the Turbonique until this video! That was very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@bloqk16]

Ah! This explains a lot why Turbonique faded away. My brother gave me a Turbonique pictorial magazine titled _Hot Rotor_ from around 1968 that he bought at a airport news stand while traveling on leave from the US Army. I was completely enthralled by the vehicles the turbine engines were mounted in, especially the ones mounted in go-karts; but, no details about the type of fuel they used; and no explanation that the turbine engines had no throttling curve to it. As I learned here for the first time, it was either full power or no power.

[@DanielLopez-tb2fl]

I used to draw pictures of the TURBO STANG as a kid and have a vague recollection of the cars of one Romeo Palamides. THANK YOU. Memphis Dan LeLoLai

[@ATomRileyA]

Thanks for all the info never knew there were so many of those Turbonique cars, shame the company ended the way it did.

[@shafferjoe1962]

OMG, please do whatever you can to find out more about all these cars. This is so cool. I may or may not have seen the ads in magazines when I was a kid. But since you started taking about them, I want to know more about them. Thank you Brain, and keep up the great work. Be blessed brother

[@BogattheMoon]

Great dive into Turbonique! Killer photos I've never seen! Developers life would make a cool movie for sure. Thanks for the dig into the mystique of Turbonique!

[@nap0le0n60]

I wish to no end someone would bring these backs. With all the youtubers building crazy cars and actually racing them. There could be a market.

[@nickthompson9697]

It would be a game changer the first time one rolled up next to some hotshot on his third win with a two stepped corvette.

[@garylucier6817]

One of those last pics was at O.C.I.R. in Irvine, CA. It appeared. Loved his space suit, ummmm Turbonique drivers suit, Dad and driver were both crazy to even attempt that once, never mind racing it in class competition.

[@pvillehick67]

I remember the ads and pictures of these units and race cars in Drag News.

[@stuarthightower418]

I'd completely forgotten about the Ozark Mule until you mentioned it. It brought back the memory of seeing it make an exhibition run at Kansas City International Raceway in the late 60's.

[@here_for_the]

Where was (city or location) that the Ozark Mule race team was out of? I don't recall ever seeing that car run. Any idea what years it ran as well? Thx! Great video 👍

[@nomuff2tuff87]

Keep up the stories Brian. Me and the kids love it. Not often you get informative non biased knowledge on very unknown and exciting mechanical marvels.

[@bgivco]

Thanks for posting!!

[@robertmontalvo597]

With all the performers going on today why doesn't somebody bring the turbonique back?. I love to see this in action

[@carlinshowalter1806]

I pay money just to see one blast down the track!

[@danieltubbs5422]

My new favorite channel on KZbin, this history is awesome!

[@generalkayoss7347]

I had no idea the "Turbonique" ever existed. So cool, I wonder why nobody runs a similar setup today?

[@eflanagan1921]

It would be expensive and more safety regulated than in 1968 !

[@quadsman11]

Hey Brian ! Thank you so much for your time, research, and willingness to breathe a bit of life back into an amazing piece of racing history ! Gone, maybe ! But NOT FORGOTTEN Brian ! My name is Ray Parsons, I am in Ohio, and continue to have very real interest in this beast of a power plant/drive system ! I am paralyzed from my neck down, so, everything tends to be a bit of a challenge for me, but nothing that holds me back ! I would have very real interest in being able to talk to you further about this ! Again, thanks for all of your great work making this video possible ! Let me know how you would prefer to touch base !

[@brianalbrecht4423]

the best of times for the "american" auto industry...& car raceing of all kinds...!...!...very innovative time in raceing...& in the life of the car....!..love the history....thanks...well done...!

[@cjespers]

Im familiar with the drag axle, but was not aware of this story. Thanks for sharing.

[@90FF1]

Fascinating piece of Hot Rod history. Thanks for your research and thanks for posting.

[@dantuttle2050]

Brian, love the content both here on YT and the podcast. Otie Smith (pronounced OT-T) was an old friend of my parents from before they had moved from Pittsburgh to LA in 1960. Otie would haul the car out from Ohio to run the WinterNationals, using a Coupe de Ville as a tow car, and stored the car in our garage while he went home between Pomona and Bakersfield. Around this time my dad was running a B/Fuel dragster and trying to get California Chassis Engineering off the ground, which is the most likely reason for leaving it in the garage and not the shop. Somewhere I have a couple of pictures my mom snapped of the car on the trailer going into the garage. My mom always told the story about how pissed Otie's wife was when he was crashing on the couch before the 1964 Winters'. She allegedly said something like "You know Audrey just had a baby 10 days ago!" That baby being me.

[@grandpahonestyguy8978]

Great storytelling. Human history & automotive & race history is all full of various "strange wonders". THAT STORY sure is one of them!! ⭐✨🌹⭐✨

[@jakespeed63]

Turbonique was just a few miles from my house in Orlando

[@funone8716]

Wow! Cool!

[@proracer382d]

Awesome! Keep the turbonique info coming!

[@vehdynam]

Fascinating ! The early stories of drag racing innovation are truly amazing.Many thanks.

[@G55STEYR]

I like the axle power vs thrust, so they deal with wheelspin and drift all the way - honorable.

[@mikecurtis2585]

Wow Amazing History!

[@deaterk]

I’m a little late to the party…great video. Excellent narration (you should do voice over work!) Thanks for sharing! 👍🏼

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks Ken!

[@poisonousfrog5526]

Thanks for the great stories, Brian! Hope there’ll be more Dork-O-Motive Podcast episodes someday. Nobody can touch you when it comes to podcasts about auto history🏁

[@navioyvind6861]

Eagerly awaiting another history lesson Brian

[@baizeoglory8214]

Awesome story! Thank you! Do any of these turbonique setups still exist??

[@ytwhite5930]

Hopefully not in usable condition...

[@glasslinger]

@@ytwhite5930 Can't get the thermoline any more.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

@@glasslinger Got to be something as nasty?

[@theschultz-ster]

Another amazing story Brian! Thank You. Makes me feel like I was born in the wrong time period! What a time to have been alive.

[@CarsandCats]

Captain Jack ran a Turbonique car? Wow I didn't know that. I ran into him at Orlando Speedworld Dragway a few years ago when he was making passes in his hydrogen peroxide go-cart. I believe he was 90 years old at the time!

[@thecontinuingadventureso-qs5zm]

Sounds Ridiculously DAVGEROUS!!!!.....I want one! ; - )

[@Airsally]

Wow awesome job on the vid. I spent a lot of time at Irwindale raceway in the late 60's and early 70's.....never saw any of these cars. Would be cool to see some vid of it running. Interesting history .

[@johnhennery8820]

Awasom video Brian that turbo might have been good in a drag boat any way I really appreciate your videos thanks for sharing this with us and until next time be safe❤

[@bigiron4018]

Oh I love the turbonique stuff, but was into it a good while ago, Glad its picking up some attention now! 15 some years ago I didn't understand how so few knew about what they created!

[@Evaunit98]

This may not have actually been the most insane Turbonique powered car, there was a Mercury cougar that had two units bolted to the back axle, I can’t find much information on the car but it looks insane

[@BastardX13]

If the legend is true, we must hear the tale of that car. Crazy bastard, that dude.

[@dieselscience]

If it's "Tobacco King" it was one axle in the back and one unit powering a supercharger under the hood, feeding a Latham Racing big block V8. It belonged to Zachary Reynolds, grandson of the RJ Reynolds Co. founder.

[@colinmunro7337]

Nah,the unsheilded prop powered go kart was the maddest!

[@genefogarty5395]

@@dieselscience I just asked about this car, funny you left this comment. The car was featured some time ago in a mag called Garage, I think it was published by Jessie James or Dan Stoner. It was going to auction I believe.

[@dieselscience]

@@genefogarty5395 It sounds like Tobacco King.

[@GarrettMcDonald-nv7ki]

Good narration!

[@rayleehylton8427]

Cool story, hope you can get in touch with hassler. Thanks for sharing.

[@ebinmaine]

VERY interesting. I've tapped Subscribe...

[@TheBuba1212]

I remember the turbonique Adds I would see in the hot rod magazines' in the 60s , me and dad had several discussions' about them, we never got to actually see one though.

[@genefogarty5395]

Found a Popular mechanics from the mid '60s that offered tiny monopropellant rocket engines for sale. Judging by the size, they were made for small scale projects.

[@DragsterJeffCrider]

Great story Brian. Thanks.

[@arthurwagar88]

Thanks for sharing. Interesting.

[@anthonytripp2251]

Fascinating

[@tommitchell8425]

I remember seeing these in Model car magazine-

[@modelermark172]

I just checked, and there are Turbonique inspired, 1/25th scale aftermarket examples - both in cast resin and 3D Printed - that are available online. That said, I've never seen any turbo-axles featured on entries at model car contests. (Lately, I've seen more custom model cars with Tesla "crate motors," or with radial aircraft engines.) I also don't remember these being offered as an option in classic model car kits back in the day. That said, since most "old-school" model car kits still used "Promo-inspired" chassis that had the rear axle, mufflers and exhaust system molded on; adding a Turbonique Axle would be difficult.

[@hpartlow8640]

Reminds me of back in '78 at O.C.I.R. drags when first time they had a rocket car there, unknowing people setting on Wall behind starting line where blown off wall along with 4×8sheets of plywood, great mayhem memory😂

[@fuhkoffandie]

❤ in the late fifties and early sixties, it was always wild and crazy everything. This was due to the Run what you brung effect, which is precisely why the fifties and sixties with some of the best hot rodding ever.❤

[@jamesgravel7755]

That was a cool video. I never knew what these thing were. You just don’t see anything about them. That cleared up a lot Thanks.

[@boballen9836]

Fascinating. Mad, but fascinating all the same.

[@sparty94]

i wonder if this idea could work as a business today? i've always been fascinated by these, and i'd love to see one in action.

[@nhra7110]

fascinating!

[@MrDmorgan52]

This needs to be an episode of Auto/ biography on Motortrend! I would think they'd have the resources to get more info

[@bradleyduncan8224]

Thank you!!

[@chadfergen]

Crazy Bastard! That's awesome.

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

Well, although they obviously exist I never ever catched wind of this very unique idea and design. To power a dragster this way seems so logic and clear now that I wonder why it never cought on further. It´s quite simple and even safe if You do as instructions say. But the picture of the snow cat blowing up is pure legend. So many variables must come together that it might be the luckiest shot in racing history. Somebody: please dig out a unit and use it. Just this once so the world can see again that this wasn´t a pink unicorn who´s farts smell like roses but a serious and cheap solution to become fast, quick in a hurry. I wonder how they have sounded like.

[@surfernorm6360]

Great story I remember seeing those turboinique adds in the back of HotRod Magazines. Everybody did LOL Never knew much about them except it seemed like an easy and only moderately expensive way to bolt 2000hp in the back of your car. I didn't know anything about the instant on or off thing the add were lacking details on that feature. When I got out of the army in 70 i wanted one but the adds were gone. It was probably for the best

[@572camaroguy]

Such a Cool story. I can see how one would fall into the rabbit hole searching the history of these insane units. I have a suggestion for another story. Ron Hodgson's Twin Turbo Nitro Pacemaker Firebird. The two main principles have passed Jerry Verheul and Gordie Bonin. But this was an Amazing piece of work.

[@mikekutzner7416]

Amazing

[@cliffordmarkell40]

My brother Charlie Markell and Jim Mellon Billet turbonique dragster 1961 we could never get it to go straight

[@highpointsights]

The Black guy that drove the VW that "flew" at I believer 180 mph was named "Pitiful!

[@carlinshowalter1806]

I think they had to use a crowbar to remove the seat cushion from his rear end after that crash!

[@dustincredible1249]

Awesome

[@merylpelosi1704]

I remember seeing adds for Turbonique in the back of Hot Rod Magazine when I was a kid. I always thought their claims were too good to be true.

[@oldsman496]

That 5 ft flame may limit my parking spot choices....Hmmm...

[@jimmieroan9881]

captain jacks go kart, and the tobacco heir ford galaxie 427ci car with the turbonique rear axle set up, i believe its still around

[@patrickspeer2990]

Wow, I am from Cleveland, Ohio, near Akron, Ohio and never even heard of this before now, but it seems like this car was gone by the early 1970s so maybe I was too young to have heard of it or have seen it

[@metrichotrods1763]

Reminds me of that fuckin dude with the big beard who does the prop rocket shopping carts, gokarts and whatever he can strap a set up to. An internet success story IMO would be if we crowd funded a turbine dragster for the guy, under the condition he vlogs his restoration and drag hits. If every dork who bought a Cleetus or Whistlin Dork hoodie gave one extra dollar, that alone would buy 3.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Yeah,love the big ol shit eatin grin on that old mans face when that pulse jet starts cooking across the dry lake bed!😁

[@ST---]

Hello Brian! What is the story with the factory x class? I cannot find any new or recent news about the class was it scrapped? Thank you for your help!

[@PUNCHARD800ftlb]

thank you ive always tried to find more info on these awesome units

[@jtcustomknives]

I have one of these kits in my shop. The one I have is the turbo version and has the manual.

[@edcadieux3689]

Hi Brian. I still need the 3rd series for announcing. Never got it yet. Need the link.

[@RickyBobby615]

Kellison drag car the "Hobo", built and raced from 1967 to 1972 by Larry Stewart of Nashville

[@carlcarlson7654]

Wow I was into the local dirt track stock car scene back in the late 70s early 80s and never even heard of that contraption. My question is how were they able to keep the rear end from blowing apart upon the immediate transfer and initiation of what must have been astronomical levels of torque into a gearing mechanism engineered for an input of less than 200 HP? The torsious precession of the shaft if not precisely balanced at such high rpms alone could twist the whole rear end right out from underneath the car. Or maybe I'm just over-imagining the whole thing. You'd never get me sitting on top of that thing, that's for sure.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Most likely didn't get the greatest traction with the crappy tires back then.

[@bigiron4018]

from what I understand. the real issue with re-starts is that combustion could occur past the combustion stage, since a good air/fuel mixture being ignited post-combustion meant it was in places where operationally they were not designed to contain the pressure.

[@malakiblunt]

WTF !! Brian Lohnes has a channel !! so not just drag week from now on - Nice

[@MJDENTON]

I really want to hear what this screaming demon sounded like!

[@squarefour1]

Could the Jack McClure you mentioned be of California MPD jet pumps? He is still around

[@manitoba-op4jx]

be awsome is we found a recording of this going down the track.

[@rallyfan555]

Given how powerful, light, and simple the Turbonique was, why are dragsters still using complex piston engines?

[@MrPublicPain]

Everything behind the bucket is the wing. It was added as a bolt on. It's not a modern wing but a rear end "shape" like a bunch of cars have. Just FYI ! :-)