Twin V12 Engines! Most Amazing Boat On Planet

Thunderbird starting up twin V-12 Allison aircraft engines, each developing 1100 horsepower

[robertgoff]

Rick Chiarello. The boat is a 55 ft vessel designed by John Hacker and built by Huskin boat works in Michigan in the late 1930s. George Whittell took delivery in 1940. George was one of the wealthiest people in the world and at one time owned 27 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline. He built a castle on the east shore of Tahoe where he kept the Thunderbird Yacht. Bill Harrah the casino owner bought the Thunderbird in 1961 and had twin Allison v-1710 v12s put in. Top speed is about 60mph. If you ever have a chance to visit Tahoe you can take a tour of the Whittell castle and the boat house where the Thunderbird resides. It is a tour you will never forget. At one time you could charter the boat for $5000 an hour 2 hour minimum. Not sure if they still offer that. But by all means take the tour. The money goes to the preservation society that keeps the boat and property in repairs.

[Random-rtec]

I was enjoying a quiet day on the lake when suddenly twin V-12 Allison aircraft engines happened. This is an awesome boat.

[Eric-gikg]

Sound, the Actual Beauty...WOW
Love wooden boats..
Though would have loved to see and hear her on plane

[johnferrarini]

Love the sound of those inboards. Sweet boat

[richardderosset]

Like a super model ! Georgious and beautiful, stunning to look at " B U T " very high maintenance !

[jameslane]

😎🌴😛 you would rule the Lake of the Ozarks with that boat

[harrybarry]

Thanks, 2, 200 hp, must have a nice top speed and smooth ride. Where can we see more of it. 18 seconds is almost worthless.

[gregorytimmons]

Ooh, i did not expect twin Allison's.

[lildelirddimention]

It sounds marvelous!!!
That's IT ?? THATS ALL WE GET IS TO LISTEN TO THOSE ENGINES ??

[repetitivemotion]

Very interesting boat. Can we see more?

[charlesparr]

Beautiful boat, those V-12's sound like a symphony.

[napili]

I use to see this boat on Lake Tahoe "North Shore" ALL the time. Beautiful Boat.

[ericmason]

It looks like the exhaust alone can almost propel this boat

[mikeh.]

That boat is absolutely gorgeous. It sounds awesome and I would guess it runs quite well with twin V12 engines. Now that's a nice boat.

[wingmanjim]

Before the V1710 aircraft engines, Allison actually built marine specific V12s - IIRC the made exactly eight of them. They were jewels of engineering, even more so than the V1710s in many respects.

[ragtowne]

I was fortunate to see this boat (right next to a Ford tri motor airplane and a large Jeep with a Ferrari 12 cylinder engine in it) inside a giant warehouse in Sparks Nevada when William Harrah was still alive - they were working on it and I was able to see the engines (from a P-38 Lightning aircraft) they said the originals were some kind of marine diesels it is and amazing work of art

[Kerros]

incredible sound 😱 absolutely awesome 👏 ❤️

[jimdooner]

Sounds great, looks like a old Chris Craft possibly a old rum runner boat used in the day of prohibition. Anyway good to hear and see an old girl still afloat and being enjoyed by her owners 👍

[gonebabygone]

PT boats at the time were 77' - 80' depending on builder with three 1200HP Packard V-12s. What an amazing bit of history this boat is.

[backachershomestead]

That things hauling ass and has even moved yet!