1953 Blastolene Tank Car

This 1953 Chrysler Tank Car, once known as the Blastolene Special, is powered by a 28.4-liter (1792 cubic inches) Continental-designed engine designed for a 120,000-pound M47 Patton Tank. It has been given twin turbochargers which boost the 800+ hp stock engine up to 1600 horsepower and 1590 pounds-feet of torque. The entire aluminum-clad roadster package is 20 feet long and weighs a staggering five tons. The car is currently in the care of former 'Tonight Show' host Jay Leno.

The car was built with 'just' the tank engine. This was not enough for Leno, who commissioned turbo specialist Gale Banks Engineering to create a turbocharger setup for the V-12 Hemi tank engine. Two TR 72T turbochargers, originally designed for Toyota's Champ Car racing program, were installed and each carried a price tag of about $10,000. The miles-per-gallon was 'improved' with a new Bosch fuel injection setup. It now averages around three mpg. A six-speed Allison transmission sends all that power to the rear-wheels

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2019