[ROVERNET - UK] Merlin-engined 1955 Chevy

[Sands]

There was a guy near Ararat (Victoria Australia) related to or a friend 
of the Motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner I believe, who built his own 
bike. The engine was a 2 cylinder affair, but the cylinders were sliced 
from a Merlin engine with a custom crankshaft machined up (don't ask me 
how, I'm not an engineer). The motor was in turn attached to a  Ford  
Cortina  gearbox.
Starting it was a bugger apparently, but i went like the clappers.

Sands  820 Vitesse   Norwich  ( formerly  Vanden Plas 3500,  Gawler 
South Aus)

Geoff Kirkpatrick wrote:

>This car was on display at the "Dream Machines" car show in Half Moon Bay,
>California either last year or the year before, I don't recall which.  It
>is quite simply the most insane vehicle I have ever seen in my life.  The
>engine takes up most of the passenger compartment, with the driver sitting
>more or less alongside.  The workmanship is to Pebble Beach standards. 
>This guy is the Leonardo da Vinci of hot rodders.
>
>Geoff
>
>
>  
>
>>Rod Hadfield from
>>Castlemaine here in Oz who put a supercharged Merlin V12 in a custom
>>built
>>'55 Chevvy which was supposedly the most powerful road registered car in
>>the
>>world! The website is www.rodshop.com.au/project55.htm. 
>>It would be interesting to hear of Rover's involvement with these
>>engines.
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>Cheers,
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>Ray Wilkins
>>Melbourne, Australia
>>1976 P6B
>>    
>>
>
>
>
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>
>"This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him."
>- William Lyon Phelps
>
>Geoff Kirkpatrick, 382 Riverside Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005, USA
>
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