Driving The Beast! 27-litre V12 Spitfire engined car on the street

Hi Jonny, when I was a teenager I worked at a garage in Orpington, John Dodd had his garage just up the road on the A21. He used to road test it up & down the A21, and did he used to give it some beans..!!! The loudest and quickest car ever at the time. I spoke to John at the petrol station once, in my overalls so he said do you want to see the engine, well... half an hour later, and with a crowd now blocking the petrol forecourt, he was still happily explaining bits and pieces he'd made etc to me. I've never forgotten it 40 odd yrs later. Hope someone buys it to enjoy its individuality, what a build by a special British engineer, well done Mr John Dodd.. Alex.

Well how about that, I was the engineer that cut and made the gears for the first gear box. I was one of 5 apprentice tool makers that worked for J.L. Jamieson back in the late 1960's and Paul Jamieson used all of the apprentices to make the parts for the car that he built. That engine was in the yard for years before he fitted it. I've got lots of memories of working at was the the number one precision engineering company in the area, we built 4 axis machine tools which cut the spiller ring for the RB211 Rolls Royce engine. I wonder if anyone else out their worked at Jamieson Engineering company

Ah yes, the 27 liter WWII aircraft engine that complies with ULEZ. Just as intended.

We need more people like John Dodd. completely crazy and genius at the same time.

I can correct you on a few aspects of the Beast and some more details. The doors were originally from a Ford Capri Seats are Lotus Europa. The exhaust manifolds were made by Alan Herridge ( known as Bootsie) he was a drag racer who died at Santa Pod ,sincere apologises for miss spelling of his surname if I have. How do I know? The car was refurbished in my bodyshop in Spain near where John lived. Despite my badgering him to change the colour he was having none of it. He wanted to preserve the car as close to original as possible in memory of the people who worked on the car . The left front headlight bezel got damaged and was repaired in another bodyshop, as by that time the company that I was part of no longer existed. For some reason they were unable to match the prosthetic limb colour ( which is exactly how I described the colour to John in an attempt to get him to consider a change) Hopefully the Beast goes to a good home. RIP Cpt John Dodd

It's not a car, it's a rolling cathedral for eccentrics. Love it!

I clicked on this just to skip to the driving part and found myself watching the entire video. Fascinating and very well made

Legend has it that the Beast is Greta Thunberg’s favourite car.

The fact that he got insurance to pay for a fire in his custom built Merlin engine powered car is truly amazing.

Hi Jonny, as a car mad 19 year old back in 1972 / 73, I worked in Tilbury Docks as a 'shipping' clerk for a Swedish company who ran car ferries to Gothenburg. Knowing my passion for cars the dockers would call me from the office for totally spurious reasons whenever an interesting car or cars were either being shipped to or returning from Sweden on our car ferries. Over the years I drove or was a passenger in a number of exotic cars, such as a Jensen FF, Emerson Fittipladi's F2 Lotus 69, The London Mexico Rally Winner (FEV1H), the most memorable event though, was being allowed to sit in the passenger seat of the original spec beast for the short trip across the terminal to the ship. Every part of the vehicle shook or vibrated, the noise inside the passenger compartment was ear shatteringly loud, as was the constant whine, I believe it was on the journey back to the UK the car caught fire. Some events stay with you for life, this is one such event.

As a student at the time I remember reading about the court case. The Guardian reported that when the fine was issued, John Dodd pulled out a wad of notes and paid up in full, in cash. Thank you for bringing this iconic piece of engineering back to our hearts. John Dodd, a true British hero.

I love the blue trail of "ULEZ compliance" in the air all the way back the entire street

John Dodd was a genius and a humble man who was always willing to give advice. He once spotted me buying a socket set in a Bromley car parts and tool store in In the early ‘70s - told me to forget the chunky 1/2in drive and go for the 3/8in: “much easier access in confined spaces and tough enough for most jobs.” Good advice. 50 years and several rebuilds later the 3/8in socket set is still in service. RIP John.

For fear of sounding like a bit of a know it all, here's some interesting facts about putting a Merlin in a car. The engine in Johns car had the supercharger removed which meant he could then run the engine the other way or anticlockwise as most automotive engines do ( a Merlin runs clockwise). Obviously you cannot do this with the supercharger still fitted as it would become a sucker not a blower! It also meant he probably changed the cams to Meteor ones as Meteor engines run anticlockwise too. Merlins are also pretty low compression (around 6:1) as they are supercharged, so with the blower removed there would be little issue with running a lower octane fuel. I think most of the clattering and whine is the overdrive between the engine and before the transmission, if I'm not mistaken it's a spur gear set up and straight cut. The reason I know all this is I have spent the last six years working out how to put a supercharged Merlin 66 in a car. I'm pretty close now largely thanks to Peter Grieve. If anyone's intersted take a look at 'The Fighter Ace Project' on FB

This is absolutely amazing! I'm from Washington state USA not too far from Everett (not far from Seattle) which is where Boeing is located. These engines seemed to have been surplus around here and were used in the old Hydroplanes that raced on Lake Washington. Now days they are turbine powered but the old school hydros had these Rolls-Royce Merlin V12s and I've been fortunate enough to see one of these engines ran on a trailer... And what an experience! From the moment I saw one I immediately thought "it would be so amazing to build a car around one of these!"... I'm just now discovering The Beast and feel gitty to see my thought is actually reality. I love everything about The Beast from the name to the styling, I love all things classic automotive and the 70s styling makes this even cooler and more wild to me. Excellent video! I had a blast watching, learning and going on a virtual drive with you in The Beast. I love how sophisticated and elagant it looks parked but how wild and chaotic it becomes when it's awaken! Definitely subscribed, great video, great presentation 👍 Cheers!

I had the privilege of driving The Beast shortly before you at the same location and its an experience I shall never forget. I know exactly how you felt. My thanks to S and A for the opportunity.

This car was in Spain for many years in Fuengirola, as a kid in the 80s John was living in the same area as my parents had a holiday home. He told us out as a family in it a few times and would start it often. Amazing car and it's a shock to see it all these years later. Thanks for sharing, I'm 47 now and it took me back to when I was 14 being in the passenger seat with John driving .

RIP John Dodd. Couldn't think of anyone else to drive and showcase the car. I'm sure the family felt the same too. Good job Johnny & thank you so much!

That opening line about the grill and JD going to court over it, losing and then deciding the leave the country, says so much about his conviction to right and wrong. He was no doubt disgusted such a thing could play out the way it did, and stood by his beliefs it seems. That itself makes him a legend.

Saw the car this weekend at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC. Now painted silver, and now sporting a remodelled front with a Rolls-Royce grille again! Looked good 👍