The Fascinating World of Charlie Broomfield's Rover SD1

In the last couple of years, I've had the privilege of hitching rides in two of the most incredible cars on earth. First, it was Andy Frost's red Victor, which won a 1972 Voxel Victor and reached an astonishing 189 miles an hour in just eight seconds and cracked sixty miles an hour in one second. More recently, I met up with York Sherman John Sleep and his Audi coupe, another street-legal car that boasts over 2,000 horsepower under the bonnet. What's fascinating about these vehicles is not their speed or power, but the dedication and passion of their creators.

Take Charlie Broomfield, for example. He's a genius engineer who has spent years beavering away in his lockup, quietly creating the ultimate masterpiece vehicle. Despite having a million quid to spend on a supercar, it just wouldn't hit the sweet spot. Charlie's car is special because it's an old Rover SD1, and under the bonnet lies a 27-liter Merlin V12 engine from a tank that was used in World War II aircraft like the Lancaster bomber. The engine was produced in large quantities during the 1930s and 1940s, with over 170,000 Merlin engines being manufactured for various military vehicles.

When you stick a Spitfire engine into an old Rover, something magical happens. Charlie's car is not just fast; it's also remarkably stable at low speeds. The engine's low rumble is soothing, almost meditative, and the air conditioning and electric windows are a welcome touch. But what makes this car truly unique is its top speed, which would be unimaginable in any standard vehicle. And that's where Charlie comes in – the genius engineer who has developed a system to multiply the RPM from the engine three times onto the back axle.

This clever solution allows Charlie's Rover SD1 to travel at incredible speeds while still maintaining stability and control. The car has already reached 120 miles an hour, and with further modifications, Charlie is aiming to hit 200 miles an hour in the next 12 months. The only place where this is possible – a runway in Germany – speaks to the level of dedication and expertise required to achieve such incredible speeds.

So what's it like inside Charlie's car? Imagine being surrounded by the sound of a V12 engine, feeling the vibrations through every inch of your body. It's an exhilarating experience that's hard to put into words. The acceleration is instantaneous, and the speed is breathtaking. But even with all this power, the car feels remarkably stable and responsive.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Charlie's creation is its origins. The 27-liter Merlin V12 engine was originally designed for military aircraft, but it's been repurposed for a road car. This is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of engineers like Charlie, who can take something old and turn it into something new and extraordinary.

As I watched Charlie start his car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration. The sound was unmistakable – the low rumble of a V12 engine that seemed to vibrate through every molecule in the air. It's an experience that's hard to forget, and one that leaves you wanting more.

The tax implications of owning such an extraordinary vehicle are relatively modest. With Charlie's car being over 10 years old, the annual tax bill is just £205, a fraction of what it would cost to own a modern supercar. But despite its age and relatively low running costs, this car is truly one-of-a-kind.

As I sat inside Charlie's Rover SD1, surrounded by the sights and sounds of this incredible machine, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement. The experience was nothing short of magical – a testament to the power of human ingenuity and creativity. Whether you're a car enthusiast or just someone who appreciates innovation, Charlie Broomfield's Rover SD1 is an experience not to be missed.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enin the last couple of years I've managed to hitch rides in two of the most incredible cars on earth first Andy Frost's red victor won a 1972 voxel Victor which hit 189 miles an hour in eight seconds and cracked not sixty in one second then last year I met up with York Sherman John sleep and his Audi coupe a another street-legal car that happens to have over 2,000 horsepower under the bonnet there's something deeply fascinating about a bloke that spends years beavering away in a lockup quietly creating the ultimate masterpiece vehicle because at the end of the day even if they had a million quid to spend on a supercar it just wouldn't hit the sweet spot take this man for example his name's Charlie Broomfield and he's got a rover sd1 and what makes Charlie's car so special well I'll let him start it up because that could give you a clue if you're around in the early 1940s you might recognize that sound as because under the bond is a 27 litre Merlin v12 engine from a tank to save engine that was used in a lot of World War 2 aircraft like the Lancaster bomber and the spawn fire during the 1930s and 40s more than a hundred and seventy thousand Merlin engines were produced for all types of military vehicles including the fighter planes that led us to victory in the Battle of Britain so what happens when you stick a spitfire engine in an old Rover well I'm about to find out such an amazing delivery of power I've never never been in a vehicle so located so low revving we're really chuck it into cornices it's actually pretty stable out of it I love the fact that it's got air conditioning electric windows yeah a chafing sure oh there it is just put the a/c on back home yeah it is cold trying my eyes out yeah he bought the engine from a military breakers yard setting him back just a thousand pounds and because it's a pre 2000 on one car the tax is only 205 quid a year does he actually owe you very much money no not really our best less than 10 grand really yeah it's the car finish now is that it I'll never be finished I'll be finished before is really yeah reckon Charlie's biggest problem has been making the car go fast you see despite having way more torque than a Bugatti Veyron the engines Rev limit of around 3,000 rpm would give a measly 50 mile an hour top speed through the standard cars gearbox to overcome this dilemma genius engineer Charlie has developed a system using a gearbox from an old Leyland bus what that does is multiplies the RPM from the engine three times onto the back axle which means you can travel really fast but with very low rpm so far Charlie's had his Rover up to a slightly whirring 120 miles an hour today's mission however is to go faster much faster who knows above 120 miles an hour this thing could take off we'll spend a lot good eighty already we're doing 9 2015 15 pounds feet v12 27 litre we would have been on this runway in an aeroplane with this engine and it will be taking off around the bar now but we're staying on the ground I hope a 1500 rpm is to 120 we're now doing 128 miles an hour 35 miles an hour under the 30 41:45 Wow well 47:49 just under 2,000 undred 50 now 150 what does you want wanted to do what every 57 150 a 159 160 160 162 I can smell your brake pads yeah I'll bet you can oh that's really good very much that is great pleasure it felt like a miracle but Charlie's not stopping there he's aiming to hit 200 miles an hour in the next 12 months and the only place in Europe where this is possible a runway in Germany Charlie you're a ruddy hero unwind the lock hitting the rev limiter no time to change gear give them back on their brakesin the last couple of years I've managed to hitch rides in two of the most incredible cars on earth first Andy Frost's red victor won a 1972 voxel Victor which hit 189 miles an hour in eight seconds and cracked not sixty in one second then last year I met up with York Sherman John sleep and his Audi coupe a another street-legal car that happens to have over 2,000 horsepower under the bonnet there's something deeply fascinating about a bloke that spends years beavering away in a lockup quietly creating the ultimate masterpiece vehicle because at the end of the day even if they had a million quid to spend on a supercar it just wouldn't hit the sweet spot take this man for example his name's Charlie Broomfield and he's got a rover sd1 and what makes Charlie's car so special well I'll let him start it up because that could give you a clue if you're around in the early 1940s you might recognize that sound as because under the bond is a 27 litre Merlin v12 engine from a tank to save engine that was used in a lot of World War 2 aircraft like the Lancaster bomber and the spawn fire during the 1930s and 40s more than a hundred and seventy thousand Merlin engines were produced for all types of military vehicles including the fighter planes that led us to victory in the Battle of Britain so what happens when you stick a spitfire engine in an old Rover well I'm about to find out such an amazing delivery of power I've never never been in a vehicle so located so low revving we're really chuck it into cornices it's actually pretty stable out of it I love the fact that it's got air conditioning electric windows yeah a chafing sure oh there it is just put the a/c on back home yeah it is cold trying my eyes out yeah he bought the engine from a military breakers yard setting him back just a thousand pounds and because it's a pre 2000 on one car the tax is only 205 quid a year does he actually owe you very much money no not really our best less than 10 grand really yeah it's the car finish now is that it I'll never be finished I'll be finished before is really yeah reckon Charlie's biggest problem has been making the car go fast you see despite having way more torque than a Bugatti Veyron the engines Rev limit of around 3,000 rpm would give a measly 50 mile an hour top speed through the standard cars gearbox to overcome this dilemma genius engineer Charlie has developed a system using a gearbox from an old Leyland bus what that does is multiplies the RPM from the engine three times onto the back axle which means you can travel really fast but with very low rpm so far Charlie's had his Rover up to a slightly whirring 120 miles an hour today's mission however is to go faster much faster who knows above 120 miles an hour this thing could take off we'll spend a lot good eighty already we're doing 9 2015 15 pounds feet v12 27 litre we would have been on this runway in an aeroplane with this engine and it will be taking off around the bar now but we're staying on the ground I hope a 1500 rpm is to 120 we're now doing 128 miles an hour 35 miles an hour under the 30 41:45 Wow well 47:49 just under 2,000 undred 50 now 150 what does you want wanted to do what every 57 150 a 159 160 160 162 I can smell your brake pads yeah I'll bet you can oh that's really good very much that is great pleasure it felt like a miracle but Charlie's not stopping there he's aiming to hit 200 miles an hour in the next 12 months and the only place in Europe where this is possible a runway in Germany Charlie you're a ruddy hero unwind the lock hitting the rev limiter no time to change gear give them back on their brakes\n"