The Jay Leno Tank Car '03 is a vintage tank engine-powered vehicle featured in Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo 5, and Gran Turismo 6.
Officially called the "Blastolene Special", it was designed and made by glass specialist Randy Grubb. It features a Continental AV-1790-5B tank engine, powering a custom-made aluminum body. The car currently housing this monstrous engine weighs just one-eleventh that of the M47 Patton Tank that it came from. The 810 BHP that the engine produces, coupled with the relatively light bodywork, creates an acceleration that compares to most modern day sports cars.
In 2003, Grubb sold the car to TV personality Jay Leno for the price of $125,000, who installed a new six-speed automatic gearbox, rear brakes, new electrical systems, and chassis work. Since 2003, it has been upgraded with twin-turbochargers and an enhanced fuel-injection to produce an estimated 1,600 BHP. It has since not been updated in the games to reflect this change.
Description[]
"Powered by an Army M47 Patton battle tank engine; an original car for adults who know how to play hard."
This unusual looking roadster is of course, not a production car. This is a car built by "Madman" Randy Grubb, a hot rod builder based in Grants Pass, Oregon. There's a reason this car is called the "Tank Car"; it's because the car is powered by a former US Army battle tank engine.
The engine is a continental AV-1790-5B, a SOHC aircooled V12 with a displacement of 1790CI[1] or 29333cc, normally aspirated. It is an engine that was equipped on the M47 Patton Tank, the main battle tanks used by the American Army in the '50s.
The maximum output of the engine during its tank days was 799 HP, but when transferring it to this car the intake and exhaust system was simplified, making it 900 HP. The maximum torque is a mind boggling 1500 lbs-ft, or 1492.7 ft-lb.
The chassis is full original, and the classic style aluminum body is mounted on a steel ladder frame. In the front is a parallel leading link rigid suspension using 1/4 ellipse leaf springs and a dead axle from a ford truck. In the rear is also a parallel leading link rigid suspension, combined with an air suspension for large trucks with Koni shocks.
The transmission is an Allison HT740 4 speed AT, and in the rear is a Rockwell differential with a pneumatic differential locking mechanism, all taken from large trucks.
The Jay Leno Tank car with its 888 BHP monster engine is definitely one of the most radical custom cars on the road today.
Acquisition[]
| Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 4 | --- | --- | Complete Driving Missions 11-20 |
| Gran Turismo 5 | Used Car Dealership (Lv. 12+) | 3,980,000 | Win the A-Spec American Championship |
| Gran Turismo 6 | Jay Leno Dealership | 1,900,000[2] | --- |
Trivia[]
- It is the heaviest and largest car in the Gran Turismo series.
- Although the car's length is not listed in the games, the car measures 6,400 mm (250 in) long, 2,300 mm (91 in) wide, and 1,460 mm (57 in) tall, making it the longest and widest car in the series.
- Due to its large dimensions, the player is not allowed to use this car in some Photo Travel locations in Gran Turismo 4.
- It also has the biggest engine displacement of any car featured in Gran Turismo, at 29,333 cc (approximately 29.3L).
Pictures[]
