My Kind of Rolls Royce

[Mike 1017]

I Turned A Rolls Royce Into A Indy Racer | Watch

[NYLIBUD]

OMG,sick,that’s what pops into my head.I have seen this car,but only b/w photos.👍😁

[Bugatti Fan]

A Crazy conversion  of that Silver Shadow and very well executed.

Back in the 70's I think a UK customiser built a one off road going custom car with fibre glass body and stuck a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow grille on it.   Not only that.  But wait for it !   The power plant,  a Rolls Royce Merlin aircraft engine !

My neighbour had a Silver Shadow and I got to drive it to a local motor show where he was displaying a couple of his cars. Quite an experience. All that expansive Connolly leather interior, walnut veneered dashboard and that Flying Lady Mascot out front. Smooth and almost silent.

 

Edited March 2 by Bugatti Fan

[Ace-Garageguy]

Hmmm. Looks like a drag car to me, nothing at all like an "Indy racer". But what do I know?

If the interdwerbs say it's true, it is.  

[stavanzer]

11 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Looks like a drag car to me, nothing at all like an "Indy racer".

Indeed, I saw a 1/4 Miler as well.

[Big John]

Indy NHRA Nationals maybe.

[Bugatti Fan]

Further to my last post, a picture of the Merlin Engined Custom Rolls lookalike.

For those who are not into aircraft the Rolls Royce Merlin Engine powered versions of the Supermarine Spitfire and North American Mustang P51D.

[Matt Bacon]

It always surprises me that he actually used a Merlin. Adapting one to drive a ground-bound road car when it’s intended as a two-stage supercharged aviation engine that spends most of its time at altitude must bring a host of problems. Which had already been solved by Rolls Royce when they turned the Merlin into the Meteor engine for tanks… A lot of so-called “Merlin-engined” specials actually use Meteors, for that reason. But this one… didn’t.

best,

M.

[stitchdup]

Myself and Ace-Garageguy were discssing this very car (the beast) a couple of months back. It turns out it wasn't a proper merlin engine but a meteor from a tank. It was the press that called it a merlin because it sounded way cooler for a guy that rides a horse to court when Rolls Royce sued him. It also used a GM autobox which i found funny.  Also Mr Dodd only built the body, someone else did the chassis and engine (possibly the builder of the box) and a second with 2 engines was well under way, though i couldn't find more pics of it. The whole story of the car could make a decent comedy movie

[slusher]

That is a real cool Rolls Royce!

[89AKurt]

They speak better English, than I do theirs.   Looks like fun, and for 4 people is so sharing.

[Bugatti Fan]

Merlins to Meteors for tanks. Didn't know that. You learn something new every day.

Not being into AFV's what tank(s) will have been fitted with the Meteor variant of the Merlin ?

[Matt Bacon]

2 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Not being into AFV's what tank(s) will have been fitted with the Meteor variant of the Merlin ?

Later Cromwells, Comet, Conqueror (very big) and Centurion (very successful)...

best,

M.

[Bugatti Fan]

Thanks for the feedback Matt. Those engines got into quite a few tanks.

A Conqueror is at Duxford and not too far from where I live. It sure is a big old beast. Don't know of any other examples, so perhaps that might be the only prototype?

[Matt Bacon]

10 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Don't know of any other examples, so perhaps that might be the only prototype?

I think they built about 120 all told. But the concept of two kinds of tanks — heavyweight mobile guns and fast, lighter “cavalry” was becoming obsolete. The Conqueror was supposed to partner with the Centurion, but the latter could do everything that was needed, especially in the later versions, so the Conqueror became obsolete. The Chieftain was explicitly designed to replace both, and the “Main Battle Tank” was invented…

best,

M.