The 27 Liter ‘Beast’ is the coolest and coolest car you’ll find on sale today
For sale: an airplane-engined monstrosity based on a Rolls-Royce that was one eccentric Englishman’s obsession.
Now for sale at Cars & Classic in the UK, ‘The Beast’ is a special custom car with a 27-liter V-12 engine. Yes, twenty-seven. It’s not a typo.
The beast’s owner, the late John Dodd, was famous for his legal battle with Rolls-Royce. At one point, this was certified by the Guinness World Record as the fastest production car in the world, clocked at 183 mph.
In 1972 the most popular car in the UK was the Ford Cortina.
If Sir or Madam has sporty intentions, the combined Capri offers Mustang-like coupe styling and a 2.0-liter engine for 86 horsepower.
Imagine you’re speeding down the M1 in your new Capri, feeling like you’re having a bit of a blast when this 19-meter monster roars past with its mighty V-12.
It will be like going back to the Battle of Britain.
In fact, it will be the first sound of the Battle of Britain, as the 1972 beast is powered by the same Rolls-Royce engine in the nose of the Spitfire. Its creator, the late John Dodd, died last year at the age of 90.
His car is now up for sale on the UK Car & Classic website. The Spitfire is still considered one of the most beautiful piston fighter planes ever to fly.
The beast was much lighter, with a hood so long you could put a Spitfire on it. Or take a 747 down on it. In fact, this thing has a bigger nose than Cyrano de Bergerac.
Under that long hood is a Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12, a version of the Spitfire’s coveted engine. The first engine of this vehicle was obtained from a Centurion tank and the second from a trainer aircraft.
It displaces 27 liters and produces around 700-800 bhp at just 2,500 rpm.
If you think it’s crazy, watch out. The monster that appeared first had a square structure built by the most dangerous creature, the British had a bathroom. Paul Jameson built a special car – he also built another car with a Merlin engine, a six-wheeler – and built the monster around a war surplus engine he got for a fortune of scrap.
Dodd was an auto dealer and brought a three-speed car with Jaguar parts. Later, he was surprised to receive a call from Jameson: Would Dodd want to buy the Rolling Hulk? Will Dodd, went on to get fiberglass.
The finished beast is said to have a 55:45 front-to-rear weight balance and excellent handling.
That can’t be entirely true, because the car is as long as an aircraft carrier, and the Merlin V-12 downsized is heavier than the two Chevrolet LS V-8s. Most of the information on the beast is more guesswork than explanation.