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By: - 20th October 2004 at 20:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There was a six-wheeler that had a Merlin but the other, earlier, one that looked like a Ford Capri on Steroids with a Rolls badge had a Meteor from a Centurion tank.
MH
By: - 20th October 2004 at 20:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Might be wrong but was that not a new Merlin Jag at Duxford in Sept :rolleyes: Anna I might be wrong but, I spent time looking and dreaming ;) Anna :D :D
By: - 20th October 2004 at 21:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There's a bloke building a Meteor (ground bound Merlin) engined Rover SD1 in Practical Performance Car magazine.
By: - 20th October 2004 at 22:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There was a bloke at Chailey this summer with a Merlin in a modified Silver Ghost chassis. It was started up on several occasions, sounding very nice and drawing large crowds of onlookers. The same vehicle was featured on a tv programme earlier in the year.
By: - 20th October 2004 at 22:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for this report, Dave - do you recall if it had wooden bodywork? Wish I'd seen that TV programme you mention!
By: - 20th October 2004 at 22:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
No. The bodywork was all polished aluminium with a black chassis, the bonnet was very long (obviously!!) without any sides so that the engine was 'on show'. The exhaust pipes were attached at a pair of manifolds and travelled the length of the vehicle like two drain pipes (no silencers). It had two side by side seats and a manual gearbox. If you 'search' Chailey you may find something, there was definitely a website about the show.
Incidentally I read a newspaper report in the early eighties on the John Dodd car: he was taken to court by RR for using their 'flying lady' on the bonnet, they argued that they never had a hand in building the car. He mated the engine to an american automatic gearbox, as his business was in the overhaul of such items. He was pursued by the police in croydon for exceeding the speed limit, was apprehended and went to court, the police statement said that when they blocked the road to stop him 'Mr Dodd turned round and just disappeared'. It was also reported that he took the vehicle to Germany where he allegedly drove so fast down an autobahn that a ferrari driver going 160mph said he only had time to see the flying lady as the car whistled past him doing an estimated 200mph.
By: - 20th October 2004 at 23:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
One is said to have been owned by a John Dodds, another by a man named Jameson. Maybe others have been created too?Any photos and news of their fate/current whereabouts would be of interest to me for a current research project that I am assisting with.
Aah....John Dodds and The Beast , famous or infamous for the legal battle with RR over the use of the Spirit of Ecastacy he put on top of the RR grille back in the early seventies.
Like virtually all these 'Merlin' engined cars, The Beast was powered by a Meteor rather than a Merlin. John Dodds built several, one IIRC was destroyed when it caught fire... :confused: I saw recently that the last one is still tucked away in a garage somewhere and may soon be resurected.
Then there is of course that Aussie Hot Rod workshop that's built a Merlin/Packard engined car to look like a 55 Chevy, but painted to look like a P-51.......... :D :D
Merlin powered Chevy hot rod
By: - 20th October 2004 at 23:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I think that one of Mr Dodd's earlier incarnations was a Merlin powered (from a Mosquito) that was installed in an MG chassis (beefed up of course!)
The Merlin Jag Anna was referring too was a limited edition that I think was a fundraiser at Duxford for the Merlin over Malta project.
By: - 20th October 2004 at 23:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This is the one at Chailey...
Maarvin
By: - 21st October 2004 at 00:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There was a six-wheeler that had a Merlin but the other, earlier, one that looked like a Ford Capri on Steroids with a Rolls badge had a Meteor from a Centurion tank.MH
Try this.
The running chassis.
Paul Jameson in the driving seat.
Mark
By: - 21st October 2004 at 02:29 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I think that one of Mr Dodd's earlier incarnations was a Merlin powered (from a Mosquito) that was installed in an MG chassis (beefed up of course!)
The Merlin Jag Anna was referring too was a limited edition that I think was a fundraiser at Duxford for the Merlin over Malta project.
Sorry, forgot to add, the Merlin Jag was not Merlin powered!!
By: - 21st October 2004 at 07:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The Dodds car was actually built by Paul Jameson. John Dodds bought it unfinished as Paul Jameson was having trouble finding a gearbox to take the power.
I did actually see the beast in the flesh and on the road once. Dodds owned a garage at Locks Bottom on the A21 (? Bromley to Sevenoaks road). I called in for petrol one day and it was sitting at the pumps. There was a deal of thumping and banging as he started it up, he pulled out onto the road, a very loud growl and he was out of sight.
I think after the incident with this car, RR decreed that they would only sell replacement grilles and bumpers if damaged ones were produced first.
IIRC, Jameson was angry that Dodds always described it as having a Merlin and vowed to build a car with a real Merlin. Presumably that's the six-wheeler.
By: - 21st October 2004 at 09:13 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
IIRC, Jameson was angry that Dodds always described it as having a Merlin and vowed to build a car with a real Merlin. Presumably that's the six-wheeler.
dhfan,
Absolutely correct.
Mark
By: - 21st October 2004 at 09:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That bloke in the right hand seat looks familiar . . .
By: - 21st October 2004 at 10:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
That bloke in the right hand seat looks familiar . . .
Melv,
Thankfully the flared trousers are out of sight in the footwell. :cool:
Mark
By: - 21st October 2004 at 10:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I remember seeing the 'long bonnet' Dodds car at the Brighton Speed Trials. Very quick, in a straight line! After the runs, the police would allow a car with rear lights to return along the main road. Happy days.....
mmitch.
By: - 21st October 2004 at 10:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Melv,Thankfully the flared trousers are out of sight in the footwell. :cool:
Mark
Betcha still got 'em . . .
By: - 21st October 2004 at 10:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There were allegedly two Merlins under sheets in a garden in Herne Bay in the late 1980s - supposed to be going into a boat...
And I recall seeing a picture of US chat show host Jay Leno in a Merlin-engined Rolls Royce with quite the ugliest boat-body I've ever seen - mid '90s?
Adrian
By: - 21st October 2004 at 10:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Here's another Meteor engined "thing". They turned a rather nice c.1930 petrol wagon (I've got one in original form) into this: http://www.motorsnippets.com/cars/bonhams_3dec_2001/758_1%60.asp
By: - 21st October 2004 at 11:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Flares
Betcha still got 'em . . .
Dream on kiddo! :cool:
Posts: 222
By: Charlielima5 - 20th October 2004 at 20:43
Does anyone know anything about any motor cars built around R-R Merlin engines in the UK? There were at least two built some years ago - one powered by an ex Mosquito Merlin 35(?) which appeared at a motoring event at Brooklands Museum (I think in the early 1990s). One is said to have been owned by a John Dodds, another by a man named Jameson. Maybe others have been created too?
Any photos and news of their fate/current whereabouts would be of interest to me for a current research project that I am assisting with.