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Blastolene Special
The Blastolene Special is a unique, specially-built car, currently owned by the entertainer Jay Leno. Created from a military tank engine and a custom-made aluminium body, <ref name="blastoleneOfficialSite">Blastolene Special official site URL accessed 25 February 2007</ref> it produces 810bhp (@2800rpm) and 1560 pound-feet (@2400rpm) of torque.<ref name="carAndDriverArticle">Car and Driver article URL accessed 25 February 2007</ref> The car weighs 9,500 pounds (4,300kg) which is 1/11th the weight of the original tank from which the engine was used.<ref name="popularMechanicArticle">Popular Mechanic article URL accessed 25 February 2007</ref>
History
In 2001 a glass artist named Randy Grubb made the Blastolene Special with a [Continental AV179-5B<ref name="carAndDriverArticle"/>(A huge engine that weighs the same as a Volkswagen Beetle) used in a 51-ton M47 Patton Tank back in the 1950s, a Greyhound bus transmission and metal for the body. The glass blower figured he made about USD$125,000 selling it to Jay Leno to put into the extensive collection of cars he owns (84 cars and 73 motorcycles as of April 11, 2006<ref name="fabricator">theFabricator article on Jay Leno's cars</ref>).
After purchasing the car, Jay Leno made numerous enhancements to the roadworthiness of the vehicle including new gearbox (six speed Allison automatic), rear brakes, new electrical system, chassis work.<ref name="popularMechanicArticle"/> Recently, the engine has been upgraded with fuel injection and twin turbochargers from Gale Banks and his company, Gale banks engineering, estimated to produce 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) and 3,000 ft·lbf (4,100 N·m) of torque.
Interesting Facts
- Introduced as "The Jay Leno Tank Car" on Gran Turismo 4, it ended up in the game "by accident" when the game development team visited Jay's garage for some engine noises. They noticed the car and were so amazed they put it in the game.<ref name="channel4Article">Channel4 Interview with Jay Leno on "The Tank Car" URL accessed 25 February 2007</ref>
- During one of the first freeway test drives an unsuitable oil line blew and dumped the entire 17 gallons of oil onto the road<ref name="channel4Article"/>
- The car gets 5 miles per gallon (up from the original performance of 2-3 miles per gallon, after the transmission was replaced)<ref name="carAndDriverArticle"/>
- The engine red-lines at 2,900 rpm
- Jay Leno brought the car on his show when interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger and introduced it as "The Terminator car".<ref name="popularMechanicArticle"/>
- The engine emits so much heat that one can drive the car in short sleeves during the winter.
- Jay Leno had a tuning company, Gale banks engineering, add twin turbochargers to the engine, not for higher power but to get more miles per gallon
Blastolene has since made a similar car styled after a 1950s era Indy Car called the Blastolene Indy Special.
Specifications<ref>Car and Driver Blastolene Special Specifications</ref>
- Weight - 4,300kg / 9500 pounds
- Length - 640 centimetres /252 inches
- Transmission - 6-speed Allison automatic
- Quarter Mile - 14.7 seconds @ 93 mph (150 km/h)
- Top Speed – 140mph+
- 810 horsepower (600 kW) and 1,590 foot-pounds force (2,160 N·m) of torque
- Cost - USD$250,000 (estimate)
References
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