The Lively Set

Plot

Casey Owens (James Darren), a young mechanic, has developed a design for a turbine car engine, paving the way for a jet-powered auto certain to set a new land speed record. Wealthy playboy Stanford Rogers (Peter Mann) hires Casey to build the car for him to race in the Tri-State Endurance Run. Chuck Manning (Doug McClure), an engineering student Casey met in a drag race, discovers potential flaws in the car's design. After an unsuccessful test run, Rogers abandons the turbine-powered car for a traditional racing model, but Casey and Chuck rework the turbine vehicle to compete with Rogers in the endurance run. Pamela Tiffin plays Eadie, Chuck's sister who becomes Casey's love interest.

The Turbine Car

The turbine car used in the film is the famous 1963 Chrysler Ghia Turbine Car developed by George Huebner and his team. The car's engine is realistically described in the film, particularly Chrysler's use of heat regenerators which cooled the turbine car's exhaust to a temperature even lower than that of a traditional piston engine.

The Chrysler Turbine Car is mentioned in the opening credit of the film. Chrysler had to participate in the film's development, since the car was the exclusive property of the corporation and its patented engine design was extensively advertised as the "engine of the future."

Cast

Awards

Was nominated at the 37th Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing (Robert Bratton).