Merlin V12> Guy Martin

The V12, 27 litre Rolls Royce Merlin
It's probably the most celebrated piston engine of all time.....a true icon of British design engineering. It's also possibly one of the most important British technical achievements ever as it was effectively responsible, (as far as inanimate objects are concerned), for saving our collective bacon in the summer and autumn of 1940.


Nearly 150,000 units rolled off the production lines at Derby, Crewe and Glasgow at the Hillington factory - (also Red Torpedo's HQ) - until production ceased in 1950. The V12, 27 litre, 1600 bhp Rolls Royce engine powered some of the most revered aircraft in the world such as the Spitfire, Hurricane, P51 Mustang and Lancaster. It was also fitted into the Mosquito, as well as some variants of the Halifax, Beaufighter and Wellington.


Probably the most instantly recognisable aircraft in the world - the Spitfire.
One of these V12 monsters is also shortly about to be installed into the corner of Guy Martin's living room. Speaking recently, the Lincolnshire based Isle of Man TT hero, all round engineering top buff and Red Torpedo's favourite road racer said,:

"This is proper mint - I've just bought myself a Spitfire engine for the front room. I've been building a new house now for a few years and I've got a V12 1600 bhp Rolls Royce engine to go on display in the front room!


"It's going to need stripping and re-building and loads of work doing but it has to be one of the best engines ever made. I'm having a bit of trouble transporting it to mine, so I've got to look into that - but I can't wait. It's an amazing engine, a fuel burning V12 made by Rolls Royce and it has got to be one of the best sounding engines ever made - it's proper mint!"


Guy Martin - motorcycle road racer and engineering fanatic.
Well, if ever there are any problems with noisy neighbours, the V12 Merlin could be called into action!

source: Red Torpedo