Rolls-Royce Merlin: Alternative applications
Encyclopedia
The Rolls Royce Merlin, although designed as an aero engine, was used in other applications both on land and at sea.
, England
built the Swandean Spitfire Special, using a Merlin XXV engine acquired from a scrap yard for one hundred and forty pounds. The engine was installed in a home-brewed chassis confected from two Daimler
Dingo scout car
chassis. The car was run in the Brighton Speed Trials in 1953, and was sold to James Duffy of St. Louis, Missouri
in 1956. As of 2005, the vehicle is still in St. Louis, where it is undergoing restoration.
In the 1960s, Paul Jameson put a Merlin engine into a chassis he had built himself. He did not get around to building a body, and sold the car to Epsom
automatic transmission
specialist John Dodd, who fitted a fibreglass body based on the shape of a stylized Ford Capri
and named the machine "The Beast". The Beast, the engine of which came from a Boulton Paul Balliol
training aircraft, driving a General Motors TH400
automatic transmission
, was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most powerful road
car
. "The Beast" has used two different fibreglass bodies during its life; the first, in the shape of a stylized Ford Capri, was destroyed in a fire although the engine, running gear and chassis survived. Dodd rebuilt the engine and commissioned a new body, this time a tan 2-door "Shooting brake". In both incarnations the car used Rolls-Royce
grilles, badges and hood ornaments, none of which were authorised by the company. In 1974 "The Beast" was brought to the attention of Rolls-Royce, who took Dodd to court after he refused to remove their radiator grille, badges and "Spirit of Ecstasy" mascot. After appearing before court nine times, and serving a six month jail sentence for contempt of court, the Rolls-Royce trademarked features were removed and the grille was replaced with one bearing Dodds' "JD" initials. Dodd now lives in Spain and still owns the car, occasionally driving it to automotive shows. In the 1970's, Jameson built a second Merlin-engined car, this being a mid-engined six-wheeler. The engine of this vehicle was two-stage supercharged and was in 1988 reportedly in a museum in The Netherlands.
Recently in Australia, Rod Hadfield, of the Castlemaine Rod Shop, used the Merlin engine in a 1955 Chevrolet
BelAir Sports Coupe, which was named "Final Objective."
, given their relatively high power-to-weight ratio, reliability and availability. Starting with the MISS WINDSOR raceboat at Detroit in 1946, several ever-more-powerful variants of the Merlin were so used, over the next decades, in a heated battle against the equally popular Allison V-1710. In unlimited hydroplane racing, both were eventually supplanted by gas turbine
engines, which exhibit even more favourable power-to-size and power-to-weight ratios.
Some of the most significant Merlin-powered hydroplanes include:
was a tank engine developed from the Merlin in World War II. It was detuned, did not have a supercharger, and ran on lower-octane pool petrol (as did the early Merlins). Manufacture was transferred from Rolls-Royce to Rover, who developed the smaller Meteorite
V-8 engine from it.
Automotive
Michael Wilcock of SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
built the Swandean Spitfire Special, using a Merlin XXV engine acquired from a scrap yard for one hundred and forty pounds. The engine was installed in a home-brewed chassis confected from two Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
Dingo scout car
Daimler Dingo
-external links :*** has a Daimler Dingo in its exposition.* wwiivehicles.com**...
chassis. The car was run in the Brighton Speed Trials in 1953, and was sold to James Duffy of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1956. As of 2005, the vehicle is still in St. Louis, where it is undergoing restoration.
In the 1960s, Paul Jameson put a Merlin engine into a chassis he had built himself. He did not get around to building a body, and sold the car to Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
specialist John Dodd, who fitted a fibreglass body based on the shape of a stylized Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
and named the machine "The Beast". The Beast, the engine of which came from a Boulton Paul Balliol
Boulton Paul Balliol
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X....
training aircraft, driving a General Motors TH400
Turbo-Hydramatic
Turbo-Hydramatic is the registered tradename of a family of automatic transmissions developed and produced by General Motors. These transmissions mate a three-element torque converter to a Simpson planetary geartrain, providing three forward speeds plus reverse.The Turbo-Hydramatic series was...
automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most powerful road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
. "The Beast" has used two different fibreglass bodies during its life; the first, in the shape of a stylized Ford Capri, was destroyed in a fire although the engine, running gear and chassis survived. Dodd rebuilt the engine and commissioned a new body, this time a tan 2-door "Shooting brake". In both incarnations the car used Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
grilles, badges and hood ornaments, none of which were authorised by the company. In 1974 "The Beast" was brought to the attention of Rolls-Royce, who took Dodd to court after he refused to remove their radiator grille, badges and "Spirit of Ecstasy" mascot. After appearing before court nine times, and serving a six month jail sentence for contempt of court, the Rolls-Royce trademarked features were removed and the grille was replaced with one bearing Dodds' "JD" initials. Dodd now lives in Spain and still owns the car, occasionally driving it to automotive shows. In the 1970's, Jameson built a second Merlin-engined car, this being a mid-engined six-wheeler. The engine of this vehicle was two-stage supercharged and was in 1988 reportedly in a museum in The Netherlands.
Recently in Australia, Rod Hadfield, of the Castlemaine Rod Shop, used the Merlin engine in a 1955 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
BelAir Sports Coupe, which was named "Final Objective."
Boat Racing
In the mid-forties and early fifties, aviation engines gained in popularity as powerplants of choice for unlimited hydroplane racingHydroplane racing
Hydroplane racing is a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes and rivers. It is a popular spectator sport in several countries.-International Professional Outboard Hydroplane Racing:...
, given their relatively high power-to-weight ratio, reliability and availability. Starting with the MISS WINDSOR raceboat at Detroit in 1946, several ever-more-powerful variants of the Merlin were so used, over the next decades, in a heated battle against the equally popular Allison V-1710. In unlimited hydroplane racing, both were eventually supplanted by gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
engines, which exhibit even more favourable power-to-size and power-to-weight ratios.
Some of the most significant Merlin-powered hydroplanes include:
- Slo-mo-shun V (from 1954 on, 1954 Gold CupGold Cup (motorsport)The APBA Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the Gold Cup, is a hydroplane boat race and is the second official race of the 2010 H1 Unlimited season. The race is scheduled to be held July 9–11, 2010 on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
winner, first for Merlin power) - Miss Thriftway (converted in 1957, 1957 Gold Cup winner)
- Hawaii Kai III (1958 Gold Cup and National Champion, first Merlin powered National Championship)
- Miss Thriftway/Miss Century 21 (Gold Cup 1961-1962, National Champion 1960-1962)
- Miss Bardahl (Gold Cup and National Champion 1963-1965, 1967-1968)
- Miss BudweiserMiss BudweiserThe Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe...
(Gold Cup 1969-1970 and 1973, National Champion 1969-1972, 1977) - Atlas Van Lines (Gold Cup 1972, 1977-1979, 1982-1984, National Champion 1972, 1976, 1978- 1979, 1982-1983
- Pay 'n Pak (Gold Cup 1974-1975, National Champion 1973-1975).
Meteor
The MeteorRolls-Royce Meteor
The Rolls-Royce Meteor was a British tank engine of the Second World War.It was developed from the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero-engine by W. A. Robotham and his chassis design and development division at Belper, as they were not involved in aero-engine work...
was a tank engine developed from the Merlin in World War II. It was detuned, did not have a supercharger, and ran on lower-octane pool petrol (as did the early Merlins). Manufacture was transferred from Rolls-Royce to Rover, who developed the smaller Meteorite
Rolls-Royce Meteorite
The Rolls-Royce Meteorite, also known as the Rover Meteorite was a V8 petrol or diesel engine of capacity, and was derived from the Rolls-Royce Meteor. In essence it was two-thirds of a V12 Meteor, and it shared the Meteor's 60° vee angle...
V-8 engine from it.
External links
- Swandean Spitfire Special
- John Dodd RR-Merlin engined car
- Spitfire's Brighton Speed Trials
- Final Objective
- The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
- the Packard Merlin in Hydroplanes and Raceboats
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84Hadfield's machine on Youtube ex. 'Dream Car GarageDream Car GarageDream Car Garage is a weekly television show produced by Westward Wind Productions. The series is produced in Halton Hills, Ontario. Its hosts are Tom Hnatiw, an ex-racecar driver and commentator, and Peter Klutt, car enthusiast and the owner of Legendary Motorcar ltd...
'] - Haldyne Special on Youtube
