750 bhp is not a rare power output in automobiles these days. Supercars and hypercars regularly achieve this output or even more. However, 27L (!) is not the usual capacity you find in a regular engine. 27,000cc is exactly the capacity of the engine powering 1972 John Dodd’s The Beast you see here.
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-1-1024x576.jpg)
John Dodd’s The Beast was listed as “the most powerful road car in the world” in 1977 by the Guinness Book of Records. And no, the engine isn’t a marine engine; it is the opposite. It is an aircraft engine, specifically the Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 that once powered the Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane.
The power output may not qualify it as a beast today but the engine capacity sure is. And it was pretty fast too. 1973 the RAC recorded the car at a top speed of 183 miles per hour (295 km/h).
But it is not going to break any record in the economy department. This monstrosity guzzles gas like a, well, hungry beast. It does a reported 2 mpg, which is roughly 118 liters per hundred kilometers.
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-2.jpg)
For context, a typical family-size SUV does about 9-10/100 km. Now, this is definitely not a ride for outback adventure where gas stations are far and few between.
This vehicle is a beast not only because of the engine capacity; this thing is pretty huge too. At 19 feet (5.7 meters), it is just about the size of a full-size pickup truck but as you can see, half of the length is the hood.
Other notables of this monster station wagon include a custom-built automatic transmission, front suspension featuring Austin elements, a Jaguar XJ12-derived rear suspension, a heavy-duty Currie rear axle, and a custom interior that boasts a bank of red switches which are used to initiate the starting sequence for the Merline engine.
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-4-1024x576.jpg)
The V5 still reflects the car owner as John Dodd and despite its legal dispute, it is still listed as a Rolls-Royce. Though it appears that the mascot and the Rolls-Royce grilled are no longer there.
Now for the good news. First, it is still in its running condition and second, the one-off ludicrous ride from the 70s will be going on the block on March 09, 2023, which over the 7 days, you can bid for the chance to own it. More information can be found on the auction listing on Car & Classic.
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-5-1024x576.jpg)
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-6-1024x576.jpg)
![1972 John Dodd’s The Beast Auction](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1972-John-Dodds-The-Beast-Auction-7-1024x576.jpg)
Images: Car & Classic.