View Full Version : Charley's Merlin powered '55 Chevy will be at our SEMA Party!
This car is absolutely amazing. I think everyone who will be at the Lateral-g SEMA party will be in agreement!
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010016.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010017.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010018.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010019.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010020.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010021.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010022.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010023.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/P1010073.JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/55proj602_7.jpg
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/55proj602_8.jpg
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/55proj902_12.jpg
http://www.lateral-g.net/55merlin/55proj902_4.jpg
TravisB
10-08-2007, 08:00 PM
that thing is insane......quality is top notch as well.
Steve1968LS2
10-08-2007, 08:04 PM
The real question is can we talk him into starting it inside the building? :unibrow:
awr68
10-08-2007, 08:17 PM
Cant wait to see it Charley...I think you should bring down The Mule and Red Witch too...actually I want to see them all!! :thumbsup: :hail:
comp-spec
10-08-2007, 08:39 PM
Awesome
Bandit Ls-1
10-08-2007, 09:16 PM
holy crap that thing is sick has it been dynoed??? lol. will its power ever be tested or is it just gonna look amazing on display?
camcojb
10-08-2007, 09:46 PM
holy crap that thing is sick has it been dynoed??? lol. will its power ever be tested or is it just gonna look amazing on display?
I think it's in Guinness for the worlds highest hp street registered car; made over 3000 hp as I remember.
It does sound just like a P51 when it's started up, way cool!
Jody
Gordz32
10-08-2007, 10:00 PM
The real question is can we talk him into starting it inside the building? :unibrow:
I second that! One Word = SICK!!!!
bucks69
10-08-2007, 10:48 PM
Holy Hell Man!!!! Insane
Spiffav8
10-08-2007, 11:34 PM
If it sounds like the P-51 Mustang...it is the coolest sounding car on the planet!! This is one I am really looking forward to seeing!!:lateral:
monza
10-08-2007, 11:35 PM
I can't stop going over those pics, each time I look i see something else so insane... call security I'm crashing your SEMA dinner!
Does it ever hit the street? Looks surgically clean.
va72mlibu
10-09-2007, 07:08 AM
That thing is super-insano in the best possible way:hail:
clill
10-09-2007, 07:12 AM
Yes it sounds pretty cool. The hp record info was properly submitted to Guiness but I don't think we have ever heard back. Guess I will have to check the next book. The current record holder was a car with a Allison engine that Leno owns. To see this car in person is when you really get a feel for all the work that went into it. Those rivets painted on the outside were done one at a time with each one being masked and shot at least three times to get the shadowing. There are about 6000 of those rivets. To start the car you have to set the fuel mixture to full rich. That would be a great way to empty out the party . Maybe if there is a lighted area outside we could move it out and fire it up.
Musclerodz
10-09-2007, 07:23 AM
Can't wait to see it!!
Maybe if there is a lighted area outside we could move it out and fire it up.
We fired up Gil's 6 second pro-mod car last time (or was that 2 years ago?), I think it would be awesome. I'd love to hear that thing run.
Garage Dog 65
10-09-2007, 07:48 AM
Don't forget to get video of that and post for the less fortunate out here.
:thumbsup:
Stuart Adams
10-09-2007, 07:51 AM
The longer you look at the car the cooler it gets. Can't wait to see it.
xplantdad
10-09-2007, 07:52 AM
It's been driven on the street...it was on Dream Car Garage if I remember right...I have video at home...LOL:bow:
Stuart Adams
10-09-2007, 08:10 AM
I saw that also. Pretty cool. Probably can't drive this car with velcro shoes though!! LOL.
black2002ls
10-09-2007, 08:43 AM
I need to find a model with that engine and build this thing...it is AWESOME
The real question is can we talk him into starting it inside the building? :unibrow:
I'll wish for that too:thumbsup:
Man... thats nice !
Cant wait to see that either.
Oh my Gosh. I cannot believe I'm going to see that in person. :theresa: Charley - take me for a ride! That's an amazing car...
61Bubbletop
10-09-2007, 09:58 AM
OK, now I can officially start crying....:censored:
That is incredibly cool to have that there...man I wish I could see it.
Just an FYI, I believe out on YouTube, there is the "Dream Car Garage" episode, which show the car starting up...it is insane, and sounds just incredible...:thumbsup:
Whoops!, beat me to it....see above.
Diognes56
10-09-2007, 10:16 AM
You guys (and lady) just have to keep rubbing it in :( .
David
Bowtieracing
10-09-2007, 10:27 AM
Hello Clill !!!
Have you driven it much ? How it drives? And how is the throtle response:wow: ?
jannes_z-28
10-09-2007, 02:09 PM
I think this has been mentioned before but there was a guy in England who built a car with an Merlin engine. The one he used came from a tank. In 1973 he was showing it at the Hot Rod Show in Stockholm, drove it there in early March (winter and icy roads) on a record time.
When the show ended he fired it up and drove out of the hall and back to England. Unfortunatelly it caught fire on the return trip and was completely destroyed. I was there and saw it. As Charley says these engines start with rich fuel. After about five minutes on idle there was at least a two foot layer of black smoke in the halls ceiling. So you better stay outside if you start it.
I have another moment with those engines. When I went to tech-college we had one such engine in our lab. We had a project trying to start it up and we did it. What a sound. That one was a brand new spare that RAF had brought to Sweden after the WWII to fix stranded bombers that had made emergency landings. This engine was left over and donated to our school. It had been there for 30 years before it came to life. One memorable moment for sure.
Jan
customcam
10-09-2007, 03:56 PM
that was in every magazine here in oz :hail:
buickfunnycar.com
10-09-2007, 05:01 PM
Just sick Charlie...nasty,mean...and SICK!:thumbsup:
clill
10-09-2007, 05:20 PM
I've put about 5 miles on it. Drives fine but cars everywhere are pulling over to the side of the road. I tell people I don't drive it, I taxi it. I have not hammered it. The guy that built it said I could hammer it if I wanted to die.:willy:
xplantdad
10-09-2007, 05:37 PM
I tell people I don't drive it, I taxi it. I have not hammered it. The guy that built it said I could hammer it if I wanted to die.:willy:
You are too funny Charley:lol:
I am sooo jealous! Take some serious pictures and video! I saw the dreamcar garage with it a while back and remember when Charley bought it. Awesome car!
theKROOK
10-09-2007, 09:04 PM
I've put about 5 miles on it. Drives fine but cars everywhere are pulling over to the side of the road. I tell people I don't drive it, I taxi it. I have not hammered it. The guy that built it said I could hammer it if I wanted to die.:willy:
NOW Charlie is just showing off...:D :D :D
BRIAN
10-10-2007, 08:02 AM
The attention to detail just in the pics is amazing. The idea of fabricating every piece bumper to bumper to that level is some task. I think I would honestly stare at it more than drive it.
That is the guy from Castleman?? or something like that who built it correct? What was his follow up car???
Garage Dog 65
10-10-2007, 08:14 AM
I've put about 5 miles on it. Drives fine but cars everywhere are pulling over to the side of the road. I tell people I don't drive it, I taxi it. I have not hammered it. The guy that built it said I could hammer it if I wanted to die.:willy:
You'd need to put outriggers on it if you plan to full throttle that beast !!
Very common problem on the p-51 was torque role at throttle up. That monster motor torqued the aircraft so bad - literally spinning the aircraft around the center line - instead of spinning up those massive props. Many crashed on takeoff or on emergency go-arounds when they didn't catch the torque ramping up.
Very impressive piece of fabrication - and talk about packaging issues ....
Don't forget the videos at SEMA Charley ! We wanna hear Theresa screaming like a little girl during the big smokey burnout !!! :theresa:
:thumbsup:
Bowtieracing
10-10-2007, 08:56 AM
I think this has been mentioned before but there was a guy in England who built a car with an Merlin engine. The one he used came from a tank. In 1973 he was showing it at the Hot Rod Show in Stockholm, drove it there in early March (winter and icy roads) on a record time.
When the show ended he fired it up and drove out of the hall and back to England. Unfortunatelly it caught fire on the return trip and was completely destroyed. I was there and saw it. As Charley says these engines start with rich fuel. After about five minutes on idle there was at least a two foot layer of black smoke in the halls ceiling. So you better stay outside if you start it.
I have another moment with those engines. When I went to tech-college we had one such engine in our lab. We had a project trying to start it up and we did it. What a sound. That one was a brand new spare that RAF had brought to Sweden after the WWII to fix stranded bombers that had made emergency landings. This engine was left over and donated to our school. It had been there for 30 years before it came to life. One memorable moment for sure.
Jan
What a school project Jan:bow: I remember having "fun" with totally revolutionary honda ALB brakes and 4 wheel steering...:rolleyes: during my tech shcool days..
NRV051
10-10-2007, 07:58 PM
All I can say is that Rod Hadfield is a true Australian genius. Dam us Australians are good.
Bowtieracing
10-10-2007, 11:19 PM
All I can say is that Rod Hadfield is a true Australian genius. Dam us Australians are good.
Yes you are!! And not to mention high tech turbo cars, LSx stuff etc :thumbsup:
clill
10-11-2007, 07:33 AM
I know Rod...and I can say he is a genius and a nut:willy:
GvEman
10-11-2007, 01:03 PM
That.. that... thats just inzane! Awesome idea and what a great person to make it come true aswell!
Charley posted this in the SEMA Party thread and I didn't want it to get missed. It's an amazing car. :bow:
Add my 67 Shelby GT500 SuperSnake to the list of cars there. If you don't know what it is go to www.supersnake.org (www.supersnake.org)
xplantdad
10-12-2007, 06:09 AM
Charley posted this in the SEMA Party thread and I didn't want it to get missed. It's an amazing car. :bow:
It sure is!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/xplantdad/Super%20Car%20Reunion%208/tn_DSCF1659.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/xplantdad/Super%20Car%20Reunion%208/tn_DSCF1657.jpg
Stuart Adams
10-12-2007, 08:06 AM
:yes: :yes: :yes:
clill
10-12-2007, 08:07 AM
I saw somewhere in a SEMA thread guys bringing poster tubes. I'll bring a bunch of posters of the 55.
61Bubbletop
10-12-2007, 08:19 AM
I saw somewhere in a SEMA thread guys bringing poster tubes. I'll bring a bunch of posters of the 55.
You think, maybe 1 could make it into the mail??:unibrow:
jimbo
10-12-2007, 01:54 PM
I would be interested in one also.
Diognes56
10-13-2007, 09:39 AM
You think, maybe 1 could make it into the mail??:unibrow:
+1 ;) .
David
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