Start your exhibition racing career with this jet-powered Mercedes Limo
Bring a Trailer has become wildly popular in the last few years, and the bizarre and interesting project cars that were common in its early days have given way to rare, low-mileage collectibles that bring big money. This listing, however, brings the site back to its roots, but you don’t need to bring your own trailer, as this jet-powered dragster comes with its own 44-foot gooseneck for transport.
The tube-chassis dragster has been fitted with a two-piece fiberglass body so that it resembles a Mercedes-Benz W126 limousine. Because why not? There’s no real race where a jet-powered dragster could compete, so it might as well look interesting, and this one looks like it came fresh from an early ’80s time capsule, complete with lightning graphics over neon colors. Even though it was built in the mid-1990s, this new paint job certainly fits the era of the W126. If the new owner does feel the need for jet-assisted speed and squeeze out a few more miles-per-hour, a more traditional dragster body is included.
Powering the block-long quarter-mile missile is a Westinghouse J34 turbojet engine, with an afterburner. We’re not sure which specific J-34 it uses, but even without an afterburner the turbine pushes out 3000 pounds of thrust. Depending on the application, the thrust with the afterburner could be as high as 4900 pounds.
There’s no simple way to convert thrust to horsepower, so it’s tough to imagine just how quick this contraption is. Luckily we found a video of what has to be this very same limo making an exhibition pass in New Jersey in 1995, where it ran 235 mph. The video touts the engine as producing more than 15,000 hp, but its performance, while impressive, isn’t in the realm of Top Fuel dragsters that actually are producing five-digit horsepower.
Despite the complex powerplant, the cockpit of the dragster is remarkably simple. Unlike the typical home of a turbojet, there are no controls for pitch or roll, just a steering yoke, three gauges, and levers for the throttle and parachute. Upkeep of a powerful jet engine may seem daunting, although it might be a whole lot easier than the kind of twin-turbo V-8s that would otherwise be necessary to match the performance of a jet. It’s also gotta be much easier on tires!
The vehicle is located in Waikoloa, Hawaii, which is on the northwest side of the big island, and comes with a bill of sale for the car and Hawaiian registration for the trailer. We’re not sure how much it would cost to get a 44-foot trailer shipped back to the mainland, but we’re sure that potential buyers will have that factored into the price. With nearly all of its week-long auction yet to go, bidding has barely started at $3500. You can be sure we’ll keep our eyes on this one, as we hope it makes its way back to the strip.
