Transcript
A fascinating feat of automotive engineering is set to be auctioned later this month. The 'Beast' is a 19-foot long, two-door station wagon made in 1972 by British engineer John Dodd, and combines an aircraft-derived engine in a custom chassis. Station wagons are typically 15 feet to 16 feet long.
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According to Historics Auctioneers, which will set the Beast free to the highest bidder on November 29, 2025, the unique car traces back to engineer Paul Jameson. In the late 1960s, Jameson made a custom chassis big enough to hold a Rolls-Royce Meteor, an engine initially developed to power tanks in the second world war.
Dodd, a transmission specialist, was lured to the unique project and worked with Jameson to make it happen.
Unfortunately, their efforts went up in smoke, literally, and a fire destroyed the car.
A few years later, Dodd set out to rebuild a more powerful version of the concept car and, in 1972, he unveiled the Beast.
The Beast swapped the Meteor for a 27-litre Rolls-Royce Merlin V12, which was better known for powering the legendary British fighter aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire and Avro Lancaster, also known as the Lancaster Bomber, WWII.
Dodd had to develop a heavy-duty automatic transmission to withstand the Merlin V12's immense torque.
The Beast's body was made by an outfit called Fiber Glass Repairs and included the Rolls-Royce radiator grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, or hood ornament.
While formal testing was never conducted under controlled conditions, reports suggest the Beast offered 750 hp to 850 hp. According to legend, Dodd hit more than 180 mph when he opened up the Beast on the German Autobahn. According to the auction house, this was a time when most supercars failed to hit 170 mph.
While it has been more than 50 years since its debut, Historics says the Beast remains "a singular testament to ingenuity, eccentricity, and the unbounded enthusiasm of the private engineer."
The 1972 Beast, with only some 11,000 miles on the odometer, could fetch a price north of $130,000.
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A fascinating feat of automotive engineering is
set to be auctioned later this month.
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The Beast is a 19 ft long, two-door station
wagon made in 1972 by British
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engineer John Dodd, and it combines an
aircraft-derived engine and a custom chassis.
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Station wagons are typically 15 ft.
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To 16 ft long, or at least that's what ours was
back in the nineties.
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According to historics Auctioneers, which will
set the beast free to the highest bidder on
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November 29, 2025, the unique car traces back
to engineer Paul Jamieson.
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In the late 1960s, Jamieson made a custom
chassis big enough to hold a Rolls-Royce Meteor.
00:41.549 --> 00:47.409
An engine initially developed to power tanks in
the Second World War.
00:47.669 --> 00:52.659
Dodd, a transmission specialist, was lured to
the unique project and worked with Jamieson to
00:52.659 --> 00:56.590
make it happen.
Unfortunately, their efforts went up in smoke,
00:56.959 --> 01:00.810
literally, and a fire destroyed their prototype.
A few years later,
01:01.479 --> 01:04.910
Dodd set out to rebuild a more powerful version
of the concept car,
01:05.029 --> 01:08.760
and in 1972, He unleashed the Beast.
01:10.250 --> 01:13.760
the boss.
The Beast swapped the meteor for a 27 L
01:13.760 --> 01:20.059
Rolls-Royce Merlin V12, which was better known
for powering the legendary British fighter
01:20.059 --> 01:24.699
aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire, and the
Avro Lancaster,
01:24.779 --> 01:28.139
also known as the Lancaster Bomber in World War
II.
01:28.419 --> 01:30.779
Dodd had to develop a heavy duty automatic
transmission.
01:30.974 --> 01:34.055
To withstand the Merlin V12's immense torque.
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The beast's body was made by an outfit called
Fiberglass Repairs and included the Rolls-Royce
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radiator grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot or
hood ornament.
01:43.974 --> 01:47.654
While formal testing was never conducted under
controlled conditions,
01:48.135 --> 01:54.214
reports suggest the beast offered 750
horsepower to 850 horsepower.
01:54.610 --> 02:00.860
According to legend, Dodd hit more than 180 MPH
when he opened up the beast on the German
02:00.860 --> 02:04.500
Autobahn.
According to the auction house, this was a time
02:04.500 --> 02:08.970
when most supercars failed to hit 170 MPH.
02:09.179 --> 02:12.940
While it has been more than 50 years since its
debut, historics,
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Says the Beast remains a singular testament to
ingenuity, eccentricity,
02:19.544 --> 02:23.285
and the unbound enthusiasm of the private
engineer.
02:23.544 --> 02:29.505
The 1972 Beast with only some 11,000 miles on
the odometer could fetch a price north of
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$130,000.
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I'm David Manty.
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This is manufacturing now.
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Bosh bosh.
