Tank-engined hot-rod and a Vette based Toronado

Impf · Jan 02, 2006, 12:12 AM

Jay Leno has a fascinating auto collection, but these two modified oddities really knock my socks!

Tank-engined hot-rod:

"All of my car-owning buddies used to kid me because I never had a real hot rod. Well, a little over a year ago, a guy named Randy Grubb showed up at my garage. He was hauling a trailer with a car on it that he and a pal of his, Mike Leeds, had built. Unfortunately, the car had no rear brakes, headlights or turn signals and was far from road legal. However, it did have a 190-in. wheelbase and an engine from an M-47 Patton tank. Naturally, it got my attention."

Long story short, he bought it, made it road-legal and gorgeous. 810hp, 1560 ft.-lb. of torque!

read the full story; http://media.popularmechanics.com/im...leno2-lg-2.jpg

Vette based Toronado:
This one is equally brazen, powerful and gorgeous.

Formula: Beef up a C5 Corvette transaxle, suspension, brakes. Mate to a prototype GM small block V8 producing 1070hp and 1000 lb-ft torque. Lighten the chassis and components with aluminum and cf, add racing fuel and a Toronado body and interior.....voila!

"The other night, I was driving down Sunset Boulevard. And, lo and behold, there was a brand-spanking-new Bentley Continental GT in front of me. I followed it onto the freeway. The driver stepped on it to pull away from me, so I stepped on it. I pulled up next to him, gave him a "nice car" thumbs up and absolutely smoked him. He was stunned. Mission accomplished."

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...o/1563517.html

wanna koenigsegg · Jan 02, 2006, 12:28 AM

A tank engine, That is amazing. I wonder how much the engine weighs.

Driftster · Jan 02, 2006, 12:32 AM

from what i hear the tank car is really deadly slow.....the toro is pretty cool though..

lame color..

p.s.

Conan > jay

Impf · Jan 02, 2006, 12:40 AM

zippo · Jan 02, 2006, 12:56 AM

I saw the Tornado on a show on TV called "Rides". It's amazing...

JoeProte83 · Jan 02, 2006, 1:00 AM

those cars have more than three years. the Tank car was made by a guy and when Jay saw it he just buy it from him.

Impf · Jan 02, 2006, 1:09 AM

^and your point was........?

I'm not a fan of Jay's show or comedy- but he is a passionate car nut, and he has the cash to buy and commission some crazy vehicles. That's what I enjoy.

JoeProte83 · Jan 02, 2006, 1:25 AM

point?..... none my friend. just informing u about those crazy creations. i think the guy of the TankCar was more than six year workng on the proyect and if im not mistaken made two or three but this one is the bigest and bader. The Toronado has it gears to reach more than 300mph.

xMustangManx 70 · Jan 02, 2006, 1:32 AM

Is the Tornado still FWD, or did he turn it into a RWD?

RoadHog333 · Jan 02, 2006, 1:34 AM

^ Well if those skidmarks coming from the rear tyres in the third picture in the first post are anything to go by...

wanna koenigsegg · Jan 02, 2006, 1:35 AM

You would assume it is a RWD, seems silly to keep it a FWD.

civckllr · Jan 02, 2006, 1:38 AM

it turned into rwd. if i remeber correctly the toranado is TT uses corvette-frame and leno has gone 230 in it himself. not too sure though

JoeProte83 · Jan 02, 2006, 1:40 AM

yes it is RWD and smoke the tyres in any gear with the power it has due that those are the same tyres the cars has from factory.

12 inch pianist · Jan 02, 2006, 1:54 AM

Of the times I've seen on the tank car it really isn't that quick, espeically in comparison with other, earlier, aero engined cars. And yeah it's an aero engine, just de-supercharged.

zeyk · Jan 02, 2006, 4:17 AM

i hate jay leno!!!!

Jan 02, 2006, 12:12 AM	#1
Impf Poster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 194	Tank-engined hot-rod and a Vette based Toronado Jay Leno has a fascinating auto collection, but these two modified oddities really knock my socks! Tank-engined hot-rod: "All of my car-owning buddies used to kid me because I never had a real hot rod. Well, a little over a year ago, a guy named Randy Grubb showed up at my garage. He was hauling a trailer with a car on it that he and a pal of his, Mike Leeds, had built. Unfortunately, the car had no rear brakes, headlights or turn signals and was far from road legal. However, it did have a 190-in. wheelbase and an engine from an M-47 Patton tank. Naturally, it got my attention." Long story short, he bought it, made it road-legal and gorgeous. 810hp, 1560 ft.-lb. of torque! read the full story; http://media.popularmechanics.com/im...leno2-lg-2.jpg Vette based Toronado: This one is equally brazen, powerful and gorgeous. Formula: Beef up a C5 Corvette transaxle, suspension, brakes. Mate to a prototype GM small block V8 producing 1070hp and 1000 lb-ft torque. Lighten the chassis and components with aluminum and cf, add racing fuel and a Toronado body and interior.....voila! "The other night, I was driving down Sunset Boulevard. And, lo and behold, there was a brand-spanking-new Bentley Continental GT in front of me. I followed it onto the freeway. The driver stepped on it to pull away from me, so I stepped on it. I pulled up next to him, gave him a "nice car" thumbs up and absolutely smoked him. He was stunned. Mission accomplished." http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...o/1563517.html Last edited by Impf : Jan 02, 2006 at 12:24 AM.

Jan 02, 2006, 12:32 AM	#3
Driftster Bimmer DBAG Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 29,007	from what i hear the tank car is really deadly slow.....the toro is pretty cool though.. lame color.. p.s. Conan > jay __________________ I would rather have a G35. because Driftster banged dudes chick on the hood of one-texas RIP Randy

Jan 02, 2006, 12:56 AM	#5
zippo Ev0LuT!0И Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,275	I saw the Tornado on a show on TV called "Rides". It's amazing... __________________ 1.Mitsubishi Evo IX MR 2.Ferrari F430 3.Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R 4.Porsche Carrera 911 997 GT3 RS

Jan 02, 2006, 1:00 AM	#6
JoeProte83 Go Kamui Go!!!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewere in the Sky Posts: 3,410	those cars have more than three years. the Tank car was made by a guy and when Jay saw it he just buy it from him. __________________ "La Tropa Naranja" 2nd Place on the USL Championship

Jan 02, 2006, 1:25 AM	#8
JoeProte83 Go Kamui Go!!!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewere in the Sky Posts: 3,410	point?..... none my friend. just informing u about those crazy creations. i think the guy of the TankCar was more than six year workng on the proyect and if im not mistaken made two or three but this one is the bigest and bader. The Toronado has it gears to reach more than 300mph. __________________ "La Tropa Naranja" 2nd Place on the USL Championship

Jan 02, 2006, 12:28 AM	#2
wanna koenigsegg Lord Stinkknuckle Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Southern Hemisphere, Earth Posts: 5,666	A tank engine, That is amazing. I wonder how much the engine weighs.

Jan 02, 2006, 12:40 AM	#4
Impf Poster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 194

Jan 02, 2006, 1:09 AM	#7
Impf Poster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 194	^and your point was........? I'm not a fan of Jay's show or comedy- but he is a passionate car nut, and he has the cash to buy and commission some crazy vehicles. That's what I enjoy.

Jan 02, 2006, 1:32 AM	#9
xMustangManx 70 Fukkin Rite Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: li Posts: 2,394	Is the Tornado still FWD, or did he turn it into a RWD? __________________ When I leave, come together like buttcheeks..

Jan 02, 2006, 1:34 AM	#10
RoadHog333 (not so) Experienced Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ipswich, QLD Posts: 560	^ Well if those skidmarks coming from the rear tyres in the third picture in the first post are anything to go by... __________________ RoadHog333: Mech Eng. 2nd Year.

Jan 02, 2006, 1:35 AM	#11
wanna koenigsegg Lord Stinkknuckle Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Southern Hemisphere, Earth Posts: 5,666	You would assume it is a RWD, seems silly to keep it a FWD.

Jan 02, 2006, 1:38 AM	#12
civckllr vers 5.3 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cary NC Posts: 928	it turned into rwd. if i remeber correctly the toranado is TT uses corvette-frame and leno has gone 230 in it himself. not too sure though __________________ lovin every moment of life

Jan 02, 2006, 1:40 AM	#13
JoeProte83 Go Kamui Go!!!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewere in the Sky Posts: 3,410	yes it is RWD and smoke the tyres in any gear with the power it has due that those are the same tyres the cars has from factory. __________________ "La Tropa Naranja" 2nd Place on the USL Championship

Jan 02, 2006, 1:54 AM	#14
12 inch pianist Forum Napoleon Complex Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: On the good ship SS 300 Foot Pianist Posts: 3,350	Of the times I've seen on the tank car it really isn't that quick, espeically in comparison with other, earlier, aero engined cars. And yeah it's an aero engine, just de-supercharged. __________________ I won't correct you if you're not wrong

Jan 02, 2006, 4:17 AM	#15
zeyk [ ready to race? ] Join Date: May 2005 Location: (xxxXxxx) Posts: 4,444	i hate jay leno!!!!

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