When two hobbies collide…

Thrust SSC had a couple of Speys to power it so I suppose it was bound to end up with a aircraft type cockpit.

At the weekend I was at the annual Vintage Sports Car Club hill climb at Shelsley Walsh, near Worcester. The star of the event (in terms of sheer engine size, noise and tyre smoke) was the Napier Lion engined Bentley special. I think the commentator said that the engine was recovered from a barn and once saw service in an airship (though these facts may have been slightly confused due to engine noise 😮 ). Does anybody else know more about the history of this engine/ car combination, I will try to dig out some old pictures of it 🙂

PS It’s main claim to fame is the inscription on the engine cover..

‘NAPIER BENTLEY- The ultimate laxative’ 😀 😀

I’ve never heard of the Napier Bentley before, but I do know this one: the Napier Railton. Also a Napier Lion powered beast. Only one built and kept in running condition by the Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey.

Info: Brooklands Museum or the Brooklands Society

wasnt it the British Thrust SSC car the had an aircraft cockpit or something.

Here is a picture of the Tornado canopied “Topcat” courtesy of the March 92 “Street Machine”. Sorry about the scan quality !

Cool, I’ll take a pair of them please

At the weekend I was at the annual Vintage Sports Car Club hill climb at Shelsley Walsh, near Worcester. The star of the event (in terms of sheer engine size, noise and tyre smoke) was the Napier Lion engined Bentley special. I think the commentator said that the engine was recovered from a barn and once saw service in an airship (though these facts may have been slightly confused due to engine noise 😮 ). Does anybody else know more about the history of this engine/ car combination, I will try to dig out some old pictures of it 🙂

PS It’s main claim to fame is the inscription on the engine cover..

‘NAPIER BENTLEY- The ultimate laxative’ 😀 😀

Urgh…

Here is a picture of the Tornado canopied “Topcat” courtesy of the March 92 “Street Machine”. Sorry about the scan quality !

Can’t deny that, but now the aircraft is in a museum gathering dust instead of flying like it should have been all along…
Ah well, better it is still in one piece 🙂

Better still, they fixed the mistake. Rather better than the Stalin approach, eh?

Why not combine the two?

😀

That is such a sad picture 🙁

They should be shot for allowing an aircraft this beautifully restored to have to ditch through improper fuel management…

What, no Mustang jokes?

I’m surprised no one has made the obvious joke of doctoring a photo of a
P-51 and calling it a Ford Mustang.

Between 1979-82 I had a 79 Mustang..its license plate number? “P-51” (Idaho plate). I once had a cop pull me over and ask if I had one. 🙂

Anorack fact: The Mustang car was in fact named after the airplane, but when it came time for badges, they opted for the more obvious horse.

Absolutely! (although watch the fuel gauges!!!)

But I much prefer the “Stratoboat” to a few coke cans!

So you’d prefer this Eddie?

So would I!

In my opinion – it’s a shame it’s been converted to a boat. I’d much rather see it as a Stratoliner. However – at least it exists (if it hadn’t been converted to a boat, I guess there’s a good chance it would have been scrapped) and if someone with pots of money decided to rebuild it as an aeroplane, it would presumably be possible.

Nah. You can do better than that. Try this:

(From Airliners Net.)
N19904 Formerly owned/used by Howard Hughes (bought 1939 TWA).One of 10 307s built.1st high-alt. commercial & 1st 4 engine airliner in scheduled domestic service. Total of 500 flt. hrs over 25 years until hurricane damage in 1964.In 1974, wings/tail off, and fuselage converted motor yacht. The “plane-boat” features twin V-8 inboards incorporating the original aircraft cockpit controls that were used to fly the plane, propelling the vessel over 20 mph. Shame or Glory? I am not sure. Only in Miami!

Plane Car

what about a Starfighter F104 based car with front wheels like the Chrysler Prowler ??? 😎

I’ll take one!!! It would be a neat trike.
Maybe it could be the suject for Mark Evans Discovery Channel show “A car/plane/chopper/motorcycle” is Born series.

In the U.S. in the 80s there was a DC-3 converted into a bus-like thing. Last I saw of it, they had it painted as a Space Shuttle.

After restoring a Jeep and an old car, I’m tempted to do something nutty. Good thing I don’t live in Tucson (near the boneyard).

Many years ago there was a car called Topcat in this country. It was powered by a Jag V12 & made use of a Tornado canopy to cover the two occupants. The whole ensemble was painted metallic pink and strangely sponsored by the Ordance Survey for a while. I’ll see if I can find a piccie.

There was a Beech Baron converted to a car in this country… Believe it’s currently at Bruntingthorpe. Not in the same league but…

Bet it goes like a bomb! (Boom boom!) 😉 😀

Not cutting edge but…….

🙂 🙂