by Brad Anderson
- The Beast was reportedly driven at over 180 mph on the Autobahn.
- Its front end now features a distinctive Rolls-Royce grille.
- Iconic Auctioneers expects bids to exceed £100,000 ($131,000).
If the classic Jaguar E-Type’s bonnet was a Freudian flourish, The Beast took that idea, doubled it, and bolted on another few feet of ego for a full blown declaration. Two and a half years ago, one of Britain’s strangest automotive experiments changed hands, and it’s now heading back to auction.
Read: Legendary 27-Liter V12 Aero-Engined ‘The Beast’ Heads For Auction
The unique creation, known simply as The Beast, remains one of the most eccentric machines ever conceived, powered by the same 27-liter Rolls-Royce Meteor engine once used in World War II military aircraft.
If you’ve ever fancied owning something that blurs the line between mad science and motoring history, this might be your chance.
Origins Of A Monster
So, what exactly is ‘The Beast’? Its origins date back to the 1960s when Paul Jameson built a custom car chassis around Rolls-Royce’s 27-liter Meteor airplane engine. A man named John Dodd later got involved in the project and helped bring it to life. Bizarre doesn’t even begin to describe it.
To accommodate the huge engine, the team had to engineer a hood so long that it makes the Dodge Viper’s front-end seem short. A firm in the UK called Fiber Glass Repairs created the car’s bodywork, and it was originally painted an odd shade of yellow.
It has since received a metallic grey wrap, and the front end has been modified, now rocking a Rolls-Royce chrome grille. The car used to have one of these back in the day, but Rolls-Royce took them to court, which gathered a lot of publicity for Dodd and his creation.
A Proper Performer
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Beast is that it is not a stationary museum piece. It has been designed to be fully functional, with independent suspension, large disc brakes, and a new transmission to handle all the torque.
According to Historic Auctioneers, the engine delivers between 750 hp and 850 hp, enough to allow Dodd to reportedly hit over 180 mph (290 km/h) on the Autobahn.
In addition to the exterior receiving a thorough refresh, the cabin has also been updated. Gone is the car’s original yellow and orange cabin, and instead, it’s finished primarily with black leather and Alcantara. The auction house expects it to sell for between £75,000 ($99,000) and £100,000 ($131,000).
If you’ve got the nerve, the driveway, and a sense of humor, check out the listing over here and see if you’re brave enough to bid.
