Named 'Turbinaro', this 2010 Chevrolet Camaro uses a Boeing turbine originally designed for drones and helicopters
A peculiar example of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, equipped with a Boeing T50 turboshaft engine for military use, is looking for a new owner through the auction platform Bring a Trailer. Named “Turbinaro”, the muscle car replaces the traditional V8 with an aeronautical turbine, fusing automotive engineering with aviation technologies in a project that took almost a decade to complete.
Construction was started by enthusiast Troy Mann, who dedicated nine years to developing the vehicle before passing away in 2024. The car gained global notoriety when it was acquired by influencer Cleetus McFarland, who documented several technical adjustments on his YouTube channel. The current owner, who purchased the model in February 2025, has implemented critical improvements to make drivability viable, including overhauling the electrical system and installing larger fuel tanks to power the turbine seat.
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The operation of the “Turbinaro” is technically complex and noisy. The Boeing engine, originally designed for military drones and helicopters, requires the use of aviation kerosene and operates in conjunction with a three-speed TH350 automatic transmission, adapted for manual shifting. The interior has been completely reconfigured with pressure gauges and aeronautical switches, necessary to monitor ignition and turbine pressures, in addition to having an afterburner system that projects flames from the rear.
Aesthetically, the Camaro sports a two-tone black and silver paint job with orange accents, 22″ wheels and a custom front end inspired by the first generation of the model. In the recent auction, bids reached the level of US$ 63 thousand, equivalent to R$ 321 thousand in direct conversion. Although it has regular documentation in the United States, the vehicle is described as a showpiece, given the impracticality of consumption and the deafening noise level.
