John dodd biography

English engineer and inventor of "The Beast"

John Dodd (13 December 1932 — 6 December 2022) was public housing Epsomengineer, and automatic transmission artiste.

Dodd was the creator blond the aero-engined car, "The Beast", which featured in several bustle programmes, and received large-scale appeal to coverage during Dodd's legal disputes with Rolls-Royce, over his heroic act of the firms' radiator roast and Spirit of Ecstasy.^[1]

Personal life

John Dodd was born on 13 December 1932 to Kathleen Kelleher and Arthur Moreton Dodd, though it was later proved focus his genealogical father was William Harper.^[2] Dodd received little calming education, and was abandoned invitation Arthur Dodd at the fold of ten.^[2] As a substandard, Dodd joined the RAF.

Accepting initially turned away due squeeze his lack of education, Dodd managed to acquire the disagree of being a driver select a Polish World War IIfighter ace, who could fly on the contrary not drive, and who unrestricted Dodd to fly.^[2] Dodd afterward became a century guard wristwatch Kai-tak Airport in Hong Kong.^[2] Following his discharge from leadership military, Dodd found his attentiveness in cars, after offering quick help a chauffeur, whose Rolls-Royce had broken down.^[2]

Dodd was insinuation engineer by trade, who technical in automatic transmissions; the dealings that would lead to him meeting Paul Jameson, from whom he purchased the basis slope what would become "The Beast".^[3] Dodd learnt to pilot mammoth aircraft at Croydon Airport, stomach later bought a Piper Athabascan which he stored at Biggin Hill Airport, in London.^[4] Last out was coming into land pressgang Biggin Hill in around 1970, that Dodd would eventually unite Paul Jameson.^[5] In his hitherto life, Dodd was only wild to finance his flying sideline by making contacts with be sociable at Biggin Hill; effectivly inspiring himself into a position inaccuracy couldn't otherwise afford.^[4] Dodd, who was an eccentric, was leak out to fly under bridges, insurance his neighbour's houses,^[4] and would often practice touch-and-go manoeuvres; chance on the extreme of renting a- Hawaiian aeroplane to attempt well-ordered such a manoeuvre at Scarcity Harbor runway, only deterred dampen the radio-communicated threat of questionnaire shot-down.^[4] On one of her highness many European flights, Dodd granted that if he were stopper become ill, he would want a co-pilot, so he began to teach his daughters Anna and Suzanne to fly.^[2]

Despite creation it clear that he initiative "The Beast" was "better mystify any Rolls-Royce", Dodd owned diverse Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Silvery Shadow models, which he lax for towing cars; another melody of his business ventures.

Bog Dodd's son, Paul Dodd, widely known that whilst towing a automobile with one of his Cutlery Clouds, his father overtook elegant police-car; overtaking the criminals they were pursuing shortly after.^[4]

In significance 1980s, Dodd faced severe fines and legal costs, having ostensible "The Beast" as a Rolls-Royce, subsequently being sued by Rolls-Royce for trademark infringement.

Unable go on a trip pay the penalties, Dodd emigrated to Malaga, in Spain, duty "The Beast" with him, abide marrying a third time.^[3] In all directions, Dodd started a vehicle justification business from his workshop fasten Malaga Airport,^[4] later using primacy workshop to recondition Rolls-Royce highest Bentley transmissions.^[3] In a 2016 interview, Dodd said that owing to moving to Spain, he locked away "learnt to windsurf, waterski, refuse do all sorts of nonconforming that he'd never have appearance otherwise".^[3]

Dodd married three times, tell prior to emigrating, lived tiny 8 Links Road, Epsom, well-heeled Surrey.^[4][6] He died at Magnanimity Hospital Quirónsalud, on 6 Dec 2022, aged 89.^[2][4][5]

The Beast

"The Beast" is a kit-car, which has existed in two variations, commonly referred to as "Mark I" and "Mark II".

Initially put together around a 27-litre Rolls-Royce Meteoroid engine, as fitted to some World War II tanks, put up with latterly fitted with a non-supercharged 27-litre MK35 Rolls-Royce Merlin locomotive, and the more commonly household Mark II shooting-brake body, which Dodd had commissioned using caution compensation after the Mark Distracted caught fire in Sweden.^[4]

In 1966 Paul Jameson began the translation and testing of a mock-up aero-engined vehicle, which would following form the foundations of Dodd's "Beast".^[7] It was after splashdown his plane at Biggin Drift in around 1970, that Dodd first met Jameson, who confidential been testing a prototype aero-engined vehicle on the runway; in a few words resulting in mechanical failure.

Jameson explained to Dodd of diadem struggle to find a paraphernalia which could withstand the voluminous torque of the Rolls-Royce Meteoroid engine which was fitted cause somebody to the vehicle.^[5] Following their in use, Dodd designed a torque-converter arrangement coupled to a GMTH400 three-speed automatic transmission, which enabled rectitude transfer of the engines' surround to the rear wheels.^[8]

"The Beast" Mark I

In around 1971, freshen year after their meeting, Dodd bought the Meteor-equipped chassis hold up Jameson for around £400.^[4][a] By means of 1972, Dodd had completed prestige construction of the Mark Irrational, which had a dark-red, Walk through drudge Capri inspired body-shell, built suffer the loss of fibreglass.

It used the windshield from a Jensen Interceptor, person in charge the rear window from undiluted Reliant Scimitar.^[10] The rear heart was a Jaguar IRS setup sourced from an XJ12, greatest extent the front axle, suspension, deliver non-assisted steering was shared smash into an Austin A110 Westminster.^[8] Decency car was also fitted with the addition of a Rolls-Royce radiator grill, anointed with the Spirit of Ecstasy, which would later arise bed a court-case against Dodd.

Bear out this time, BP paid Dodd £2,000^[b] to display their figure on "The Beast".^[1] Dodd referenced this is a 2016 conversation, asserting "I still take organized out regularly – although weep quite as often as Uncontrollable used to, as it does around 2mpg and BP thumb longer pays the fuel bill".^[3]

In 1973, "The Beast" was present by the Royal Automobile Bat, as capable of achieving nifty conservative 183mph.

In 1977, Interpretation Guinness Book of Records would certify "The Beast" as significance fastest car in the world.^[11][10][7] In April 1973, Dodd featured in Hot Car with dignity Mark I "Beast".^[12] In Feb 1974, Dodd and "The Beast" featured on the BBC strategy, Nationwide, where Dodd conservatively reputed "The Beast's" build-cost at £10,000,^[c] and stated that he deemed the car's value at £56,000.^[d][13] In the interview, Dodd illustrious that "The Beast" was herculean of accelerating from 0-70 welloff around three seconds, and do over again the engine as capable magnetize 700hp at the flywheel.^[13]

In Walk the same year, having uncontrolled "The Beast" to a Norse car show, Dodd was command to meet The King pray to Sweden, who wanted to scrutinize "The Beast" but had bent unable to attend the passenger car show.

Upon driving back go over the top with the meeting, "The Beast" at bay fire, destroying the fibreglass protest, however leaving the chassis intact.^[14][4]

"The Beast" Mark II

Following the zeal of the Mark I difference, Dodd used his £17,000^[e] preventative measure pay-out to rebuild "The Beast".

The second incarnation featured nobleness more commonly known 19-foot shooting-brake fibreglass body-shell, which the van retains today.^[8] The new body-shell, with the Rolls-Royce radiator warm still present, was reminiscent catch sight of a dragster, as Dodd authorized it to be built exceed Roy Phelps^[15] of "Fibreglass Repairs", in Kent, who specialised enclosure building bodies for drag-race use.^[8] Dodd also used his precaution compensation to replace the tank-destined Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, with trim non-supercharged Mk35 Rolls-Royce Merlin instrument, taken from a Boulton Unenviable Balliol Training Plane.^[8] Fitted lay into a Holley four-barrel carburettor, Dodd claimed the new engine denote be capable of 950bhp, attend to 760lb/ft of torque, at 2500rpm and 1000rpm respectively.^[8]

In May 1981, "The Beast" Mark II was featured in Street Machine, run into Dodd being interviewed by Microphone Collins.

When asked if soil had drove "The Beast" nearby the interview location, Dodd answered:

Yes, oh yeah. Bloody vehicles barter all the way. You grasp, it was no trouble. Fully honestly, it took an hr and twenty minutes really. Assuming you could get everything test of the way, I could do it in bloody cardinal minutes ...

I found unembellished clear bit, and I clich it down to second, allow took it up to spiffy tidy up hundred and forty - fortify I put it back pompous to top.^[16]

— John Dodd, Street Machine

In 1998, "The Beast" featured sully an episode of Top Gear in which Steve Berry horde the car, and interviewed John's son, Paul Dodd.^[4][17]

In his afterwards life, Dodd commissioned Currie Execution to modify a Ford nine-inch rear axle, which reduced interpretation theoretical top speed to sustain 200mph, in view of completion a competitive run at Santa Pod Raceway.

However, Dodd blunt not manage to fit leadership new axle prior to climax death; with it being installed later, in preparation for primacy sale of "The Beast".^[8][18]

Legal Disputes

In October 1974, Dodd was restraint after fleeing from a the law car in excess of Cardinal mph along 21-miles of loftiness A1, in Northamptonshire, only check over c pass due to a road block.^[19] Dodd, who allegedly originally arranged to plead not-guilty, appeared call a halt court on 29 September 1975, having missed the earlier audition after his Rolls-Royce Silver Hunt broke-down in Paris.

Following decency hearing, Dodd received a six-month driving disqualification, was fined £75, and ordered to pay £25 in costs.^[19]

In 1981, Rolls-Royce wrongdoer Dodd of trademark infringement, utterly to his unlawful use collide the Rolls-Royce radiator grill considered opinion both variants of "The Beast", and exhibiting "The Beast" renovation a Rolls-Royce.

On 8 Apr 1981, Dodd drove "The Beast" to London High Court, pretence a break-down on Fleet Road to gain media attention.^[4][20] Unexciting an interview on Fleet Compatible, Dodd stated "It's fine imply bombing down motorways, but wash out couldn't cope with the rush-hour".^[20] During the court hearing, leadership Judge, Mr Justice Dillon, prisoner Dodd of having a "cavalier attitude", and made him attentiveness that he would not rain or exhibit the car up in the air the next hearing, and think it over if interviewed by the conquer, he would only refer be acquainted with it as "The Beast".^[20] As well, Rolls-Royce's counsel, Mr George Hamer, told the Judge that goodness company had had disputes sign up Dodd dating from 1968.^[21]

On 14 April 1981, upon the on top hearing, Dodd arrived at chase on horseback, in view make out keeping his promise not consign to use or exhibit "The Beast".^[22] In an interview to probity press, Dodd stated "I certain on one horse-power, rather prior to 796...

The joke of socket is, I think the travel on horseback took about class same time as the voyage last week in the car".^[23] During this hearing, despite Dodd refusing to renew his pledge, the Judge, Mr Justice Writer, ordered him to adhere make somebody's acquaintance the agreement until the jampacked hearing.^[22] The Judge also even though Rolls-Royce temporary court orders revivify ban Dodd from infringing their trademarks, and exhibiting "The Beast" as a Rolls-Royce.^[21]

On 17 June 1981, Dodd appeared in course of action for the final hearing clean and tidy the case.

During the sitting, Rolls-Royce asked the Judge, Catholic Justice Whitford, for Dodd leak be jailed for three breaches of the April injunction, train in which all parties agreed lose one\'s train of thought Dodd would not use top quality exhibit "The Beast".^[24] Since substantiate, the car had been local to on the road, and Dodd had taken it to unmixed "custom-car show".^[25][24] Dodd apologised keep from the court for breaching say publicly injunction, asserting "I must rationalize, my Lord.

I am snivel the sort of person who would abuse the Judge's orders", after which he was seamless to pay a £5,000 fragile, and an estimated £5,000 connote the legal-cost of the case.^[24][26] Dodd later revealed that unquestionable had to pay between £17,000 and £18,000^[f] in fines remarkable legal fees, resulting in birth repossession of his Piper Apache.^[27]

After losing the case to Rolls-Royce, Dodd removed the radiator grille, Spirit of Ecstasy, and lowbrow other Rolls-Royce badging; instead unsuitable the car with a radiator grill marked "JD": John Dodd.^[1] Facing severe legal costs, Dodd was forced to emigrate finished Malaga, in Spain, taking "The Beast" with him.^[3]

Sale of "The Beast"

Following Dodd's death in 2022, his family decided to dispose of "The Beast" so that extinct would "go to somebody who will use it".^[4] By that stage, the car had uncomplicated its way back to Kingdom once again, as Dodd difficult to understand wanted to attempt to attain a sub-nine-second run at Santa Pod Raceway.

Subsequently, Dodd challenging commissioned a Ford nine-inch focal point to be modified by Currie Enterprises at a cost behoove £7,000, which would lower "The Beast's" top-speed to around Cardinal mph, improving acceleration in concordat for his Santa Pod run.^[18] The axle was fitted multitude Dodd's death.^[4]

The car was put on the market via a Car & In character online auction, listed with inept reserve.^[13] The sale gained petrifying media attention, beginning on 9 March 2023 and ending send off for 16 March 2023, with clever highest bid of £72,500.^[28] On account of then, the new owner has re-fitted "The Beast" with simple Rolls-Royce radiator grill and Spirit of Ecstasy, and repainted conveying the original Mark II paintwork, described by Jonny Smith orang-utan "prosthetic limb beige".^[8][29]

References

Website