Merlin V12 Powered 55 Chevy

[@ivymike83]

Having seen this car in the flesh I can tell you at idle it literally picks up any dirt on the road/ground and sandblasts anything within 5-10m from the exhaust at IDLE!

[@wmden1]

Yes, I think one of the engineers, on Jay Leno's Garage, stated that the exhausts were pointed down and to the rear of the planes so as to add considerable thrust to the thrust of the propeller.

[@dannymccarty344]

Sandblasted stuff, for real? You have no idea, dude! I've got a real sandblaster for you. My uncle worked for NASA and got me one of the "lunar module" rocket engines. One of the loud ones, right? I put it into my Mustang last spring, and the chicks really dig me.

[@dannymccarty344]

@@LMBee00 especially the blonde chicks....

[@No-tn8ou]

You alive

[@catey62]

@@wmden1 Yes. your'e right. they used the thrust from the exhausts to help increase the planes speed by up to 15mph if I remember right. I've seen it mentioned in other videos about the Merlin here on KZbin as well.

[@SnakeRiverFishing]

Born and raised American here to say I have always loved the ... " is that all ya got mate ? " Aussies, makes me proud to be an Earthling ; )

[@VirtualR]

Seen this car in person when I was 17, at my first summernats visit in Canberra, the sound of this thing is beyond deafening, loudest car I've ever heard, super impressive though

[@VirtualR]

I was a regular at the drag racing nationals in Melbourne, Australia back in the 90's. Seen jet cars, top doorslammers, nitro funny cars, etc, trust me this thing is on another level. It genuinely sounds like a war plane.

[@elbee1992]

No, he made an incredible piece of engineering, and judging from that painstaking paintwork, a piece of art.

[@ScottEJ1AWD]

Hands down... Mad props to the owner, and anyone who put their time into this. This car makes me have a loss of words, but beautiful car and great craftsmanship. Everyone should agree that every last seconds and cent was well worth the idea to build this car. Great job!

[@No-tn8ou]

You alive ?

[@Salpeteroxid]

The sound of the Merlin is one of the best ever created.

[@wjwmorrow]

Amazing! The thing actually sounds like a Spitfire. Love the start sequence.

[@Monkey80llx]

Who’d have thought?! 😆

[@FiveCentsPlease]

It's a heavy engine with a lot of torque. Several racers experimented with aero engines in the early days of drag racing and they were more suited for burnouts than fast ET times. There have been several Merlin-engined cars and they have never held up well when driven by leadfoots. Jay Leno's Merlin Roll Royce had lots of transmission troubles according to him.

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

During the course of the build it was in a few car magazines here in Australia. It was always interesting to see the progress of the car. The bloke who built it, Rod, had his hotrod shop in Victoria. He retired a few years ago & I think he sold his shop too. I had no idea where the car went as it was only allowed one days worth of rego for an event or some sort of carnival & disappeared as quickly as it was featured in those magazines.

[@MuscleCarLover]

I saw it in person in Adelaide, though that was fairly soon after it was featured in Australian Toughest Car mag when I was a kid

[@MuscleCarLover]

SwissArmyBumpkin I wasn't quite as lucky, but it sure was a sight to behold

[@roblostandlate.6005]

OlympusHeavyCavalry. Google - Rod Hadfield's Warman, to see what he did next with a RR V12, a work of art.

[@michaeledwards8058]

last i heard Rod sold it to Jay Leno

[@catey62]

@@michaeledwards8058 No, Jat didnt buy. some other cashed up american guy did apparently. Jay does have several cars though that are Merlin powered.

[@kolgy1]

They say"too much power is never enough".What a monster car.Great job.

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

That is one SICK ride...!! Before you go for a ride you should contact the control tower

[@trev711]

Best and most legendary V12 ever made! Awesome video!

[@catey62]

I'm a girl and I love it!! by the way,the last versions of the merlin v12 were rated at close to 3000 hp.I do know a little more than you think about cars,owned 2 chev's,a 58,307 powered,61 belair with a little 283,68 holden,307 powered,and a 70 holden,253 powered.Helped do a couple of v8 conversions on friends cars,owned a modified hq holden panel van,hot fj holden,triple carbs,VERY low,hot grey motor,and a couple of chargers as well,6 cylinder hemi powered,both very quick.

[@DIOSpeedDemon]

That what America was like in the 50 and 60's before we have millions of rules that prevent us from being creative unless you pay a fee, have a license , multiple permits and a whole host of money stealing, extortion laws and rules, that absolutely KILL THE AMERICAN SPIRIT. Good one Mate. I am making you and honorary American and the best 55 I have seen in a long time. RH DSD

[@vinnie4g63]

I hate to say it, because I love my country, but its true. you want to do something cool, fun, maybe even innovative and it seems that someone is just chomping at the bit to say you can't. since when did that become the American way?

[@DIOSpeedDemon]

Since agencies found a way to tax and fine and permit every facet of our lives. Rules and Laws are like cobwebs to the Rich, to be pushed aside at will. The Laws are like solid steel chains to the poor and ordinary Joes in my America.

[@Xantosh82]

+vinnie4g63 you do know that here in Australia, by law, he can't drive that beautiful beast full time, to drive it on the road at anytime he has to pay exstortion level fees to get it on the road for 3 days to be able to drive it to a show, sadly there are alot of beauties like this locked away because it is too much of a pain to bring them to light, including a burnout car that is a Goggomobile with a 440 magnum motor and the drivers seat in the back of it! you think we have freedom here you are poorly mistaken, hell in QLD (where i live) i can't even do a quarter of the stuff you can in America mainly because they make it too painful and cost/time consuming to find out the rules and regulations without paying through your ring hole (ass), unless you go to a QUOTE certified technician UNQUOTE who will rip you off and tell you you can't do that only to try to steer you towards something that he can sell from his own stock so he can make even more of a profit on! FFS i had a clutch for my car, i wanted to get it installed (due to lack of tools i couldn't myself) no one would do it, you gotta buy the clutch through them!

[@burrowssj]

+TRAV HEX Australia has to have the most fucked up road rules I've ever come across. You guys can't even run a bov to atmosphere there lol. I get why but it just seems retarded when you know all the pollution from the mining equipment is probably 1 million times worse than every turbo car running a venting bov. p.s how's your video game industry going lolololol aids, australia is aids.

[@Xantosh82]

Sam Burrows that is incorrect, we aren't allowed to run wastegate gas direct to atmo, BOV's vent clean oxygen from the charge pipe and are completely legal

[@zedex1314]

I read an article where Rod was asked that question, his response was that he saw one of the planes flying once that had that engine in it and he thought to himself 'imagine if you could get that engine/sound into a car'. He set that goal and worked towards it and accomplished it

[@flyinsossers]

Amazing car. The engineering that went into that frame is incredible. Truly awesome build.

[@clill8567]

Rod Hadfield sold it to me as 3000 hp. The Magazine he had it published in that I have a pallet full of copies of says 3000 hp right across the top. It is a special edition of "Cruzin" that is published in Australia. There are about 27 pages in the article devoted to the 55.

[@1rollandrock]

absolutely INSANE ! thanks for the colossal waste of money and time ! it needed to e done and nutty dudes like me are so glad you did, awesome work, she is perfectly crazy wild

[@D1cko888]

I have seen this car in real life and I must say the attention to detail it outstanding. I just wish I got to see it running

[@naumanjaved5927]

3:55 did the dude on the left pick his last name out of a box of scrabble tiles? How do you even say that?!

[@naumanjaved5927]

weird ass way to spell a sneeze...

[@AVportau]

+Nauman Javed what a pair... the scrabble guy with the unpronounceable name and the dude from the klutts family.

[@GoodTimesChopShop]

right there with ya, I ride and rip mine up all the time! Sure it looks pretty, but feels even better ripping through the gears wide open! I'm more into old bikes, but I like merlin engines! long live p51!

[@TBustah]

Cool, but he should have put it in a Mustang. Don't get me wrong: I'm a GM guy. But the end result would be a Mustang with the engine of the plane that gave it its name, the P51 Mustang.

[@englandman2008]

Better in a spitfire ;) griffin engine also Mosquito had two of these and Lancaster had 4..POWER!! Bentley made a car with a similar Merlin engine in ,worth a look

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

lewistjo Bently NEVER made the car it was a hot rodder that converted it. Also there is a Packard Bently, see video here on You Tube used 4M 2500 Packard PT Boat engine..No relation to a Merlin... FYI

[@12121149]

Good point,but the fit would not work.

[@ricktaylor3748]

How would putting the Merlin engine in a 55 Chevy make it a Mustang ? Doesn't make sense.

[@KUSHDFIFA]

Yeah, the mustang actually used an american version, this engine is from a spitfire

[@imaginedauthority9455]

Always loved seeing this thing at the nats. absolutely insane

[@jaggass]

I cant imagine the lbft of torque this has

[@Scoobydcs]

+michael jagger assuming a rev limit of 3k rpm (stock merlin lmiter) and assuming it makes the 3k hp at the limiter then it has AT LEAST 5252 lb ft!!! and thats only if it makes peak torque also at 3k rpm. its very likely peak torque is below the rev limit which means it has MORE than 5252 lb ft of torque lol

[@jaggass]

eatthisvr6 5252lb ft!!! that's insane if this does make 3000hp.

[@ppipowerclass]

I would put money on the fact that the motor has had some work done to it. That 3000hp mark, probably is on the LOW end.

[@jaggass]

You could probably keep it at 50mph all day in 1st gear.

[@nhraandnascarfanatic5907]

More than a warehouse full of mother in-laws

[@orgillmathew]

Just down the road from me, in Victoria, this guy had some great stuff for Holdens.

[@thedapperllama6579]

18 gallons a mile.

[@ppipowerclass]

0 fucks given.

[@colehara]

It's about smiles per gallon not miles per gallon.

[@erikthoren4152]

in engine oil yes but in fuel is 0,5 miles per galon

[@topsecret1837]

What about if you’re considering all the power comes from the torque? So it’s revving real low and not running too rich.

[@martinharris5017]

If you could drive it. Not really road legal in Aussie, they just gave it a "special dispensation" to get it in the record books.

[@NickHey]

Well, having seen the car in the flesh and had a good chat to Rod, i can definitely tell you that this car looks WAY better in person.

[@gamblemadman]

This is why I like people.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Wow!

[@dannymccarty344]

That is so cool! I put a real jet engine in my Mustang last spring, and the chicks really dig me.

[@Splunker0013]

Now that is some serious naturally aspirated HP!! I need to be able to "Like" this video a few thousand times! Gotta love an Aussie with endless time on his hands, a dream and a thick wallet, they tend to fabricate some outrageously awesome machines.

[@Scoobydcs]

The merlin was supercharged, there was an na variant called the meteor that they put in tanks

[@cavekritter1]

@cameron170 - 2 stage supercharger at that!

[@av8bvma513]

@@cavekritter1 2-stage, 2-speed.

[@warbirdfotos]

and from the drawings on a napkin to final production, the Mustang was flying in less than 90 days........ beautiful automobile

[@nevillemason6791]

I remember a mechanic in the UK managed to shoehorn a Merlin into a Rolls Royce car (where it truly belongs!). It would do 180+ mph but Rolls Royce washed their hands of any guarantee on car parts due to the sheer amount of power involved. Stopping quickly would be another large problem!

[@Boerharms_Manta]

The Beast... :D. that was a Rolls Meteor right?! (same a merlin, but without supercharger and more iron parts)

[@derekstocker6661]

That was John Dodd, I believe there is some film on YT somewhere about the car, it had a Rolls-Royce grille as well.

[@jaggass]

@@derekstocker6661 Rolls Royce took him to court because he refused to remove their radiator grille, badges and Spirit Of Ecstasy mascot. He lost the court case.

[@jaggass]

Charlie Broomfield managed to shoehorn in a Rolls Royce Meteor engine into an SD1. He wants to try and get it to do 200mph but needs a long enough runway to do it.

[@1953beetle]

@@jaggass And a huge set of gonads to much,right?

[@dirtydogvideo]

5 years to build the frame, 6 months to paint, a year for this and a year for that, then when it was done.....it took 6 years to get a big enough set of nuts to push all three of those buttons at the same time and start it...

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

that had to be the worlds slowest mechanic man i swear

[@naturalyshocked]

in faq i did, 17 years ago, i rebuild a ford sierra, i used 3 cars to build 1 new. from pushrod v6 to fuel injected inline 4, the inline, overhauled partly by myself and parts where outsourced(lappings) was faster and more rev friendly, rear axle with drum brakes, replaced with disc brakes and fully funcional ABS on a '82 car and GHIA interior. and more recently i did a paintjob myself in a professional paint booth, i also did the sanding, primer, some subtle tuning on the body.

[@IchibanMoto]

I agree... it should have been a Mustang. I also agree that Peter Klutt is annoying.

[@The_Gallowglass]

Nah. Ford is shit.

[@The_Gallowglass]

@John McHumanson you first, nerd

[@rainbowrailroadcrossing7798]

@@The_Gallowglass And you second pal

[@Latushka]

I have seen this car in person. It was at a car show and this thing is a beast and the paint on it is perfect.

[@TWill16]

"don't break my stuff" lmfao EPIC

[@farnthboy]

There used to be a red FJ Holden that used to run at the drags at Riverside in Port Melbourne in the mid 60's. From memory it run under the name of Thunderball & had a Hudson bomber motor in it. You always knew when they fired it up by the incredible noise it made but also the ground used to shake! Used to run a bulldozer clutch but by meetings end they were usually fride.

[@helenevillemure9178]

Hahaha the poor Merlin wonders why it cannot even go to flight idle :) :D

[@Bankable2790]

Ikr. Like WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME

[@Spartan043]

That car is unbelievable. It's like a cartoon brought to life.

[@jaggass]

Spartan043 chuck norris's version of wacky races

[@jaggass]

Andy Foster yeah but chuck norris is strong and powerful and can sustain anything bruce lee was killed by a headache

[@Xantosh82]

+michael jagger and you do know that CN competed in point karate which pitting him against bruce lee is like having a lazer tag gun vs a real sniper rifle, "i had you in my sights 1st i win" "Who's missing half their head?"

[@tonyz5178]

..Just AMAZING !!!!!

[@MrBowtie95]

God damn this thing must have a monstrous transmission to be able to hold up to that gigantic V12 Merlin!

[@kaktotak8267]

3000 HP? I thought WW2 liquid cooled fighter engines were in the range 1000-1500 hp. Is it actually a Spitfire engine or something else?

[@spawnof200]

+Kakto Tak British liquid cooled engines made a lot more horsepower than teh american ones, late merlins made near 2000hp, griffons were a bit over 2000hp, and sabres were about 2500hp

[@spawnof200]

+soaringtractor well firstly i were comparing them to the american inline engines (*cough*allison*cough*) and secondly those radials while they did make more horsepower, also had a significantly higher capacity (merlin 27 litre; griffon 37 litre; sabre 36 litre compared to the r2800s 46 litre.

[@heavyhauler1734]

+soaringtractor that's the way the world works if you build something another firm designed you are supposed to pay royalties. Unless it seems you are American, a little story for you, during WW1 the British designed and developed the depth charge . when America entered the war they requested the design drawings which the Admiralty duly sent them in 1917. two "gentlemen" from the firm chosen to produce the American version promptly patented it!!! Is that America,s idea of fair play?.

[@rileykirk11]

Its probraley not 3000 hp, the only way is if he runs full boost with 140 full lead no bullshit avgas which is also unlikely. most likely 1500 hp

[@russg1801]

You are correct; a supercharged Merlin was around 1600 HP, on high octane gas. The engine was superceded by the larger Griffon. The AVRO Shackleton was based on the Lancaster and had four Griffon's. They were in service with the RAF for decades water the war.

[@off_jawaggon]

I want one of those engines just to listen to hater a long stressful day... That is a sweet as any music

[@justcarcrazy]

And it's in right hand drive, which means I can legally own one. Where do go to buy mine?

[@sstroh08]

cough up a couple million and wait a few years and it could be done lol

[@edwilko8819]

That is fantastic first time ive ever seen this car and im 41 amazing 55 merline Chevrolet

[@justincooper5189]

I'm interested in seeing how fast this beauty is. Bring that beast to Bonneville and let's see the wide open throttle top speed of this car, and hope that the engine doesn't actually yank the car over, like the guy said it wanted to do.

[@goobfilmcast4239]

Not really designed for TOP speed potential. Despite the shape...not enough downforce and horrible ground effects. The windshield and overall poor aerodynamics actually would make this dangerous if you fully opened the engine.

[@jamesp.rogers5156]

Nothing on Earth sounds like that Rolls Royce Merlin V12 , nothing . That thing is incredible to say the least .

[@crystalwhite4685]

what possible clutch and transmission could possibly handle that

[@ramairgto72]

Looked like a Dana 80 rear.

[@Don.E.63]

Giant engine only 3000 hp, any good racing tranny with proper rating, i would love to know how much torque she has though, i bet its enormous!

[@Scoobydcs]

@@Don.E.63 if the rev limiter is the stock 3k then it has at LEAST 5252 lb ft lol

[@barbraabsalom4531]

Not many will handle the torque

[@wmden1]

Imagine 2 of these engines in a wooden fighter/bomber. The Mosquito is generally considered to be one of the best prop driven planes in WW2. This engine, if I remember correctly, after a couple of years of modifying the fuel system, had around 2500 horsepower. Along with the Mosquito, it was in the Spitfire, and a licensed Allison build of it, was in the P51 Mustang. The RR Merlin is considered, by many, to be the engine that won the war, especially in Europe. In the beginning, it was fast, at low altitude, but not very maneuverable, and had a low ceiling, all because of the fuel system. I don't remember the whole story, but a 2 stage supercharger was designed and built and applied to it, and made it one of the baddest ass engines on the planet, at any realistic altitude. Powered up, and under load, of course it is very loud, but sounds beautiful, from what I have heard in some of these videos.

[@GeneralG1810]

HOLY SHIT those engines get a P51 to nearly 500 mph, I cant even imagine how fast that thing would go 8-O

[@Milner62]

@Milner62, but I hope the engine runs good though, cause without a doubt those cylinder walls were scratched by the rings. Sitting that long oil wont still be clinging to the cylinder walls and without a doubt there would have been accelerated cylinderwall wear from your start up. But that is the least of your concerns if that is how you start all your engines thats sat by pouring gas down the throat of the carb where it can backfire and catch the car on fire.

[@reddsun1]

1:16 - LOLOL! "Don't break my stuff." :-D

[@somesillysap]

These guys dont tell you half of what this guy has built, hes had some awesome hotrods with twin superchargers, salt lake racers and more..... he has his own mini museum of awesome cars he built for himself. Every one of them would be a dream car for a normal person.

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

Make the quad .30 calibers functional- then I'll think about it.

[@Mechknight73]

HUBBABUBBA DOOPYDOOP Those things are actually the exhaust pipes

[@NewEnglandboy453]

+Mechknight73 Exhaust is under the sides

[@itsmail9817]

If you can find the ammo😂🤣😂🤣😂😂

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

@@itsmail9817 ? .30 is M1 7.62, very plentiful. Are you just a zero Sub/Zero content Troll?

[@Valueclown]

actually a Lenco is just a series of clutches. It has manually engaged clutch packs that resemble those found in an automatic transmission and a set of planetary gears for each clutch pack. So instead of swapping gears you are simply engaging the next fixed gearset via clutch engagement.

[@Borderline5440]

Guessing this thing won't pass emissions...

[@biteme3989]

its a 55 chevy what emissions

[@jaggass]

+Borderline5440 Cleaner than a VW TDI though.

[@rcscaler78]

When it was first completed it passed epa testing & had full street rego

[@clill8567]

@smncutler414 It already has a 2 step supercharger on it. The supercharger is what allowed it to do combat at high altitude.

[@davidbillyard6629]

Probably no good for going round twisty roads at speed - much like most old U.S cars...

[@NYConnoisseur]

@ShadowwwLFS well it sure looks like it would fly. truly a marvel to see that engine wedged in there...

[@Offroadcircus]

"youll never see the outrageousness of this again" LIES! lol go search up the Brutus car its like a 42(?) litre v12 on a 1907 new york fire engine chassis

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Or also see the PACKARD Bently, a 2500 Cu in PT Boat engine..video here on You tube or Google .....There are also Tractor pullers that use up to 3 Allison Merlin or Griffon engines...not rare...

[@InNeedOfSpeed]

@Offroad circus Not as powerful though :)

[@darkcide1959]

Rod lives just up the road from me in Chewton, near Castlemaine Australia.He drove this into Castlemaine once and my whole house shook and i live about 500 meters from the road..its something you have to see to believe..

[@Duckyistrippin]

I dont see how itd cost over a million to build that car, unless a merlin v12 costs 950k.

[@BFKAnthony817]

Well it is a very rare WW2 fighter plane engine. It was in everything from the Spitfire to the P51 Mustang. But yes, you could get one of them that runs for about $58,278, or £35,000. I am guessing the instrument panel, the custom built frame and the work he put into it would be at least a few hundred thousand. www.milweb.net/webverts/67632/

[@kimberleewalker100]

True, yet.... You are a grammar Nazi, so no one listens to you.

[@ian-c.01]

BFKAnthony817 What about the power increase ?

[@BFKAnthony817]

Ian Clarke What about it? The horsepower for one of those things is between 1,030 and 2060HP depending on the variant. For something as light as a tiny car, that thing should be WAAAY faster than Jay Leno's Tank roadster.

[@ian-c.01]

BFKAnthony817 The commentator states it has 3,000 hp. Wringing an extra 1,000 hp out of an already tuned up engine is not cheap

[@scrfce123]

If you don't like the car, then that's fine. It isn't for everybody. That said, the fact that it has such intricate fabrication to begin with and also, the amount of labor and commitment that went into building it, make it worth alot more than the raw materials alone - it can't be replicated with any less effort. The guys who built this monster were the best of the best - an ordinary person would probably waste 20+ full time years attempting the same feat.

[@Robert111]

@Dulein I like how it spews exhaust from every crevice.

[@bcrane449]

I saw this car at a show in brisbane AUS , back when Rod Hadfield owned it ,he told me he opened this thing up on the Hume hwy ,he didnt tell me how fast he went only that it had around 3000hp its twin turbo and supercharged 27.5litres off awsomness

[@hd150]

ohhhh yeehhh!!!craftmanship at it finest...beautiful machine!!...I LOVE IT!!!

[@shotfirer1972]

Rod Hadfield is in Castlemain Victoria, been to his shop 100s of times. He has a few units around the place

[@jasongardiner7285]

Great vid, always wanted to hear Rod's 55 Chevy running!

[@rockeroller]

A truly thundering machine.

[@clill8567]

I wish I would have had video running when I tried to start it once and someone had opened the fuel bleed valve. It had a lean backfire and destroyed one of the air filters. Was pretty funny seeing my friends running.

[@Heartofthacity]

Geeze!! I'd attempt to drive that monster everywhere!! Could you imagine pulling up to Walmart in that and hopping out all Nonchalant X)

[@StLouisEarl]

Man, that car has some balls for sure. But, finding a driver with bigger balls to put that pedal to the wood is another story! lol

[@Kyle_Evers]

That engine not only sounds good and gives great power, it looks fucking sick.

[@GoodTimesChopShop]

I want a merlin in my garage just so I can sit beside it drinking beers and starting it up ;D I'm sure my neighbors would love me.

[@MrTonyozzie]

@tamenga88 It also powered the best fighter of the war and the most famous in the world. The legendary Spitfire. The Hurricane had one as well and the Lancaster Bomber had four of them. The fantastic Mosquito had two. Unfortunately the P51 was a real lame duck in it's original state with the Alison engine but it was transformed into the perfect escort fighter with the Merlin.

[@DGeorgeR]

Hatfield should have got someone like you to build the chassis, you must be an auto engineering genius. But then he's a perfectionist, he's a little particular about not having the wheels falling off on the first start up.

[@Milner62]

@clill8567, really and when was this car built. I remember first seeing it on cardomain after I joined around 1999 and there were companies selling 55 - 57 chevy bodies back in 1999. Like wise what about wipers, unless their hidden I didnt see any, what about working lights and turn signals, what about license and registration. What about emission testing. Every place is different and have different requirements.

[@catey62]

I've spent over 1/2 hr reading many of the comments about this car,and some of the not so nice comments...we're all different...we all like different things...people will like this car,others wont..I love it for the engineering...it's incredible..but if someone told me they dont like it,thats ok...we're all entitled to our own opinion,and should respect others right to have their own..please,dont fight...

[@68firstlove]

I recognize the "air bus" from Woodland California / is the '55 Chevy in Woodland also? My parents live there and my dad " a war vet " would love to see that 55...

[@guysoceanharmonics]

I have seen this car before it was sold and shipped to America, the craftsmanship is simply outstanding, the builder Rod Hadfield was awarded an Honorary Engineering Degree due to his engineering excellence regarding Street Machine/Hot Rod products his company produced, With reference to persons claiming he performed bad workmanship, this is a perpetuated myth by others who tried to copy his products and then tried to sell them as Rods work.

[@Milner62]

@clill8567, yep deadly backfire, you ever have an engine back fire through the carb. Without a flame arrestor which is also known as a aircleaner, which I bet you knew that also, it raises the risk of a backfire during starting. Yep 3 seconds is the longest you are supposed to hold the starter down you can take it up to 4 seconds or 5 but 3 is the general avg. Longer than 3 seconds you build up heat in the starter causing more amp draw as well as draining your battery

[@K2SKIER112]

@noriceformeplz yeah a blown nitro 500ci that will run for 25 seconds (5 full throtlle) before it needs rebuilding

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

I was lucky enough to see this car in the metal and it does not come across in the video just how well finished it is.

[@zaxsouthern79]

The biggest engine I can think of that GM put in a truck was the 502 (used in the late 90s to mid 00s). Gm didn't even have a v8 over 400 cubic inch until 61 when the 409 debuted. The only large displacement engines they had in the 40s and 50s was the 351 V6 and the 702 V12. The 702 was 2 351 blocks cast together using a common crank. Research it, its actually very interesting how they built them (4 exhaust manifolds, 2 distributers, 2 intakes, ect). They were primarily used in GMC heavy trucks

[@Goblintom]

I was once in a car exhibit and there was a car made ´20 style and it had aeroplane motor, he only started it, didnt move at all, but man, that was LOUD

[@phillipallen6212]

I used to watch this show every day on public tv. 💚 🇨🇦 Tv

[@seahorse1945]

Good job mate-- I was wondering why the driver was on the right -- but the hosts answered that one - You Australians have a lot of old Fords and Chevy's I believe. Did you have the Mercury Cougar Eliminators from 1969 and 1970??? Thanks for posting this video

[@scrfce123]

Rod dropped out of the scene for a while and now he's back with another one - a V12 meteor powered beach racer. Unbelievably talented guy. Glad to hear that the 55 is in good hands. A car like this deserves the best.

[@GGigabiteM]

@Dude1337jeeb These huge engines use like 2-3 liters of fuel a minute just idling, I think the MPG would be flipped to GPM.

[@lakecrab]

The air foil effs up the legendary appearance of the '55. Otherwise A+.

[@jayeastanglia]

@LFSvidMan There a quite a few engine with the timing chain by the bellhousing of the engine..ford galaxy mpv V6 2800cc is 1 of them

[@grandadsfishingboat7455]

The first one to be built here in the uk has just sold for£72500 its called the beast and was built in 1972.The guy used it on the road its legendary all over the world.

[@MrUltraworld]

I once saw a Merlin engine in a flight Museum. The block had to be 5' tall. The engine was enormous. There's no chance I would drive it.

[@berndpfe]

wow... 3000 PS underneath the hood.. amazing thought. how fast it would be able to go without limiting ???

[@The18Jake]

seeing this thing actually drive is wayy more than worth seeing a burnout done.

[@JungleYT]

Sweet... What a Honey! Sounded and ran great...

[@Hrdtop75]

I've got one of these motors in my ford festiva, It does a great job warming up the cigeret lighter. very quick!!!!! LOL. li7in6..... this can work... derrrrrr... hows about turning the motor back to front... how do you like that?????? Guess you would prefer it if the drive shaft come out of the magneto. would that make you happy li7in6? The only question that you should be asking is WHERE'S THE COOLING SYSTEM? how do you like that one homeboy?

[@LotteStarck]

... Credit to such piece of work! And I would like to add, that if you turned the 'notches' outside the 'body/coach' into same quarter and angel - it would look just awesome in a close upp! :))

[@davidaitken4157]

I've Rod Hadfield for many years, he sure is a master craftsman and key person in the Street rodding scene and rod capoital of Aus

[@RebelStangII]

I'm a Ford Man, But that is one Heavy Chevy! I Like It! Try & keep it between the ditches!