Tuesday Twist: Merlin V12-powered Meteor Bentley For Sale

The infamous Meteor Bentley - as seen on a certain British motoring program - has been put up for sale by its owner.

Based on a 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom II chassis, it isn't really a Bentley but was instead engineered to feel like a pre-war Bentley by Bob Petersen Engineering, famed for its inter-war styled creations.

Alwyn Sambrook of the The Telegraph wrote in 2011 that the car sounded like "The Book of Revelation," such is the incredible noise.

The engine is out of one of the most famous aircraft of all time, the Supermarine Spitfire.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin V12, the Spitfire was instrumental in the Battle of Britain and the defence of the British Isles against the German war machine.

In the Meteor, the 27-litre V12 left Petersen Engineering barking out around 660hp (626kW) and 2166Nm - Spitfire pilots had 1096kW at their disposal before the Merlin was displaced by the 1528kW Griffon.

In its curret spec, the seller says it is producing closer to 635kW, but doesn't give a torque figure.

The Meteor is a hefty 6.3 metres and houses a gigantic 400 litre tank to feed the bent twelve's 80l/100km thirst. So the range is a paltry 500km.

The car bears a genuine 1930s registration plate of GJ 400 and is fully street-legal. It even has fuel injection and electronic ignition fitted.