Low level Merlin

[Mudge]

A "VIRGIN" '55 Chevy. Now just what the he-- does that mean? Once it's been driven, it ain't a "virgin" no more. That's what my daddy told me, anyway.

Mudge the experienced

[Second Air Force]

I was thinking of his 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom that has a Merlin in it, but I can't find any pictures of it online.




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I didn't know (or forgot ) that Leno had a Merlin powered auto. It doesn't surprise me, though--he is a true enthusiast. I like to see how excited he can become when he's describing one of his projects. Hmmm......I wonder if he'd like to bankroll my fighter project........

[K5DH]

I would have at least used a Mustang!

A few years ago, one of the Mustang magazines I read had a brief article and some in-progress photos of a 1970 Mustang SportsRoof ("fastback" to the uninitiated) being built up with a Merlin engine! It is (was?) here in North Texas somewhere, but I don't recall where. I've never seen any more about it since that one short article and a couple of photos that accompanied it.

Cheers,

[Rossco]

Man how old I am.This beast seems to pop up every couple of years.Built by Rod Hatfield down at his Castlemaine RodShop in Victoria Australia about 10 years ago.A legend in Australian modified cars circles.

[ZRX61]

Here is what Leno built, powered by a tank engine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQHRNeY9zUU
Scott

He didn't build that, he bought it & then added fuel injection & Banks turbos

He also has a car with a Hispano Suiza (sp?) V8 engine from a Spad in it.

Lots of vids here:
www.jaylenosgarage.com

[SaxMan]

There was a guy in the late 60s - early 70s who built a Rolls Royce "Special". It was a car based around a Rolls Royce Merlin. The body was a fiberglass body to make it look like a fastback coupe. He had the engine governed down so it could be street legal. The owner also had a "regular" Rolls Royce.

The car was featured in the "Weird and Wonderful" book series. This was a set of books aimed at kids. There was one for airplanes as well...maybe even ships, I wish I kept those books.

[SaxMan]

Google is my friend...

http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/2008/12/26.html#a2563

[gregv]

found another Merlin powered special:

http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ ... re_Special

and Leno's nice looking roller:

http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/15 ... BRET%5D=20


Anybody find any quarter-mile times for any of these aircraft V-12 engined machines? I'd love to know!

greg v.

[ZRX61]

and Leno's nice looking roller:

http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/15 ... BRET%5D=20
greg v.

That's not Leno's one.

[gregv]

and Leno's nice looking roller:

http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/15 ... BRET%5D=20
greg v.

That's not Leno's one.

correct you are; I didn't think it was either, but I scanned and saw his name in the attached copy without actually reading it. I actually can't find any pics of it on-line anywhere, what's up with that?

Here's a cool 70's one named "The Beast"; the linked videos are great!

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/barracks/1 ... peter.html

And of course, who can top four Allisons?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... p?t=160101

greg v.

[Mudge]

Man how old I am.This beast seems to pop up every couple of years.Built by Rod Hatfield down at his Castlemaine RodShop in Victoria Australia about 10 years ago.A legend in Australian modified cars circles.

I thought that was Jack Dugan. He was from Castlemaine. He was his mother's pride and joy and his father's only son.

Mudge the obtuse

Sorry...couldn't help myself.

[bootlegger]

The 55 was built here in Australia as mention before by Rod Hadfeild and his team at Castlemain Vic.

The Merlin came out of a racing Unlimted hydroplane named Miss Bud (ex US Miss Budweiser). The motor was pretty modified (counterbalanced crank ADI etc) so may well have put out more than the standard Hp.
Im pretty sure the engine wouldnt have been any good to go back into an aircraft.

I think the engineering feat to put this thing together is awsome but the claim that it was legally street registered had me wondering.
My interprtation of legally registered implies that some other person with an equal amount of skill could build this car and put it on the road. Im in this game and know that its not possible.

I was told the car was registered as an item of plant or a tractor.
The other thing is it really only just idled around. It hasnt really been wound out as far as I know on any roads or the track. I saw on you tube a clip of it driving but again only just cruising around.

I personally dont think the engine is wasted in this project. Its a rolling sculpture.