pyagid wrote:
they are both Rolls Royce engines
I don't think so. The Allison V-1710 (1710 C.I.) was a completely different engine from the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The V-1710 was on of the first American liquid-cooled V12s mass-produced. It powered such planes as the P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk, P-38 Lightnings, and early A-36 Apache/P-51 Mustang models. Early versions were non-supercharged (in the P-40 and A-36/P-51A) thus having good power output but dropping off above 20,000'. In later versions the V1710 was supercharged, capable of 1600 HP and could propel a P-38 to 420 MPH at 25,000'.
The Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650 was the premier liquid-cooled V12 produced in the late 30s and 40s. It powered numerous British fighters (Hurricane and Spitfire) and was even used on the Lancaster 4-engine bomber. When mated to the P-51 Mustang airframe, the combo led to the best all-around fighter of WWII. Speed of the -51 was boosted from 390 to 440 MPH, the 440 MPH being acheived at 30,000'. The Merlin was built under license by Packard in the U.S. during the war.
After the war, surplus Allisons and Merlins could be bought for $500. Art Arfons used Merlins in his "Green Monster" dragster in the late 50s and other had 4 of the beasts coupled for land-speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats.
