THE SPACE AGE

K. T. Keller became Chairman of the Board on November 3, 1950, as Chrysler entered the space age by signing a contract with the U.S. Army to build the Jupiter space exploration missiles. In 1952, one of America's first successful space flights carried two monkeys to an altitude of 350 miles at the top of a Jupiter missile.

When hostilities erupted in Korea in 1950, Chrysler again supplied military products including tanks, military trucks and air raid sirens. By the end of the Korean police action, Chrysler had participated in 31 government projects worth more than $1.1 billion.

Chrysler's engineering department developed several landmark innovations
during the 1 950s including four-wheel, self-energizing hydraulic disc brakes and the famous "Hemi" V-8 engine.

Chrysler engineers created the hemispheric combustion chamber V-8 engine, the Hemi, in 1951. The Hemi engine was a relatively expensive option for retail customers. Its costs often equaled a third of the purchase price of the car. Chrysler stopped producing the Hemi in the mid-50s due to the costs. However, in 1964, Chrysler introduced a high-powered sport version of the engine -- the legendary 426 Hemi -- with more than 400 horsepower under the hood. Richard Petty made the 426 famous in his NASCAR racing. Only about 11,000 of the specialty engines were built between 1964 and 1971. Car enthusiasts still consider the Hemi to be the ultimate internal combustion engine.

Other Chrysler developments in the 1 950s have become standard features on today's vehicles. The electric window lift system (1950), power steering and Oriflow shock absorbers (1951) made driving safer and easier. Drivers of Chrysler products built in 1955 were the first to enjoy the pleasures of Chrysler's all-transistor car radios. And, two years later, curved side windows expanded the possibilities for automotive design.

In 1960. after 33 years, production of the De Soto car line came to an end. The same year, Chrysler introduced the 45 RPM automotive record changer with 14 record capacity. Three years later, Chrysler offered the industry's first five-year or 50,000 mile warranty on drive train components.

Chrysler experienced a number of transitions in the 1960s. On April 29, 1960, L. L. Colbert became Chairman of the Board, followed by George H. Love the next year on September 21, 1961 and Lynn A. Townsend on January 1, 1967.

In 1963, under Love's leadership, Chrysler introduced the Turbine. The vehicle was powered by a turbine engine, similar to today's jet engines. Only 50 of the vehicles were manufactured for consumer research and testing. The Turbine never went into full production, but the research results were incorporated into defense vehicle technology.

Chrysler innovation continued in 1966, when engineers modified engines to create the Clean Air Package, an exhaust emission control system. The front seat shoulder harness and the separate, self-contained rear window heater/defroster system were among Chrysler safety innovations in 1966.

As it became increasingly difficult to produce small cars in the United States profitably, Chrysler began importing and distributing small passenger cars and trucks built by its Japanese partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

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