Crafted in an period when no 1 bothered about “numbers matching” and fanatics developing custom cars only cared about pursuing the most recent and craziest developments and outdoing the next person, The Beast was even regarded by the Guinness Reserve of World Information as the world’s most potent vehicle in 1977.
Famous for its monstrous 27-liter (1,650 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin motor – the similar employed in the Spitfire and Hurricane fighter plane that played a critical job in the air victories in the Battle of Britain – the vehicle also impresses with its abnormal seems and elongated proportions.
Image: Motor vehicle and Typical
It could possibly sound like a crazy idea nowadays, but placing an engine created for aviation in a highway auto was not a thing that unconventional in the 1970s. If we dig even deeper in history, we discover the 1905 Darraq V8 Exclusive or the 1933 Napier-Railton that prove the concept has been an interesting a single for a extensive time. Nevertheless, John Dodd’s generation is unique since he didn’t develop it with the intention to enter races or break records but purely as a own challenge.
The Beast you see in the shots attached to this posting is actually the next iteration of the just one-off vehicle. The initial 1 suffered extensive injury to the physique and motor in a fire in 1974 even though Dodd was returning from a go to to the King of Sweden, who required to see the bonkers car or truck in person.
The Beast started out existence in 1966 as a personalized rolling chassis created by fellow engineer Paul Jameson and initially highlighted a Rolls-Royce Meteor tank motor. Dodd was the man contracted to build an automatic transmission for the motor vehicle, and he finished up purchasing the task and ending the car himself.
He endowed it with a massive fiberglass system made by a enterprise named Fibre Glass Repairs and painted it crimson, along with a Rolls-Royce Corniche grille and emblem. Because the engine and the grille up front have been bearing the Rolls-Royce manufacturer, Dodd called the resulting vehicle a Rolls-Royce (what else?), which didn’t sit perfectly with the luxury car or truck maker who afterwards submitted a lawsuit against him.
Picture: Automobile and Classic
Soon after the fireplace incident, Dodd made the decision to rebuild the car or truck working with the insurance payout. He mainly had to build each element of the auto from scratch, and this time, he fitted it with the aforementioned Merlin V12 aero motor and a Silver Shadow grille. The car’s human body was built by the identical Kent-primarily based corporation that manufactured the initially one particular. This 2nd fiberglass entire body attributes a distinctive entrance stop, although the rear usually takes inspiration from the well known capturing brake layouts of the period. It also got a fresh new paintwork in the legendary beige it offers now.
When Rolls-Royce gained the court circumstance, Dodd flew to Spain. His beloved development joined him a few a long time later on, and that’s when the grille was altered to what you see on the motor vehicle right now, with John’s initials entrance and centre.
Outfitted with the new Merlin V12, the car or truck was rumored to be capable of producing amongst 750 hp and 1,000 hp (761 and 1,014 ps), with 760 lb-ft (1,030 Nm) of torque. It is also reported to be capable of double that total if refitted with the initial supercharger. When the Guinness Guide of Planet Information named it the most powerful automobile in the globe in 1977, it said The Beast “exceeded 200 mph [322 kph] on many instances on Continental streets.”
What we know for positive is that the RAC measured the vehicle at 183 mph (295 kph) in 1973, but there are stories claiming it could hit a optimum speed of 260 mph (418 kph). The actual effectiveness in its existing state is not recognised.
Image: Auto and Vintage
As for the interior of the vehicle, it characteristics just two bucket seats, and given that the rebuilt overall body is more time than the first, there is a lot of rear load area. There is also a custom made sculpted dash, a lender of purple rocker switches to management the significant mill, and a bespoke steering wheel with the “JD” letters embossed in the heart.
John Dodd handed absent at the finish of past year, and his household is now on the lookout for a new property for his beloved auto. Showing just over 10,000 miles (16,093 km) on the odometer and in total jogging ailment, The Beast is scheduled to roll across the auction block on March 9. We unquestionably want the greatest bidder would regularly use it on the street as John Dodd did, but we cannot enable but pity them for the dent fuel charges will put on their funds.
More Stories
Norwalk’s Blackbridge Motors can build the car of your dreams
Custom Car Builds by autoTECH Blackhawk Now Available in Danville and Contra Costa County
The Next Wave of Custom Car Culture Arrives At Electrify