Allison V-1710 V12 Aircraft Engine Listed for Sale
A rebuilt, zero-hour Allison V-1710-35 V12 aircraft engine, capable of 1,150 horsepower, is being offered for sale on eBay for $49,500.
A fully rebuilt Allison V-1710-35 V12 aircraft engine is now for sale. The 28-liter powerplant, listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $49,500, has zero hours since its rebuild and is capable of 1,150 brake horsepower in stock form.
According to the source report from Silodrome, the engine is being sold by Hall Industrial Services out of Wichita, Kansas. Modified versions of this engine have historically been used in motorsport, often producing significantly more power.
A Wartime Powerhouse
The Allison V-1710 was a critical liquid-cooled aircraft engine for Allied forces during the Second World War. Over 70,000 units were built between 1931 and 1948. It was the only American-designed liquid-cooled engine to see combat service in the conflict.
This engine powered a range of famous aircraft. The list includes the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the Bell P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobra, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and early models of the North American Mustang.
The company behind it began as a race shop. James A. Allison, a co-founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, established the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company in 1915. After World War I, the firm gained a reputation for rebuilding Liberty V12 aircraft engines before being purchased by General Motors in 1929.
Engineering and Design
The V-1710 was a modular 60-degree V12 with a displacement of 1,710 cubic inches. It featured a single overhead camshaft per bank operating four valves per cylinder. A key design advantage was its flexible assembly. One core power section could be fitted with different nose cases and supercharger drives to suit various aircraft applications.
This modularity allowed for left-hand and right-hand versions, key for the twin-engine P-38 Lightning. The engine designed for the P-38G weighed 1,345 pounds and cost the U.S. Government $19,000 per unit.
Power outputs increased throughout the war below.
| Aircraft Model | Engine Variant | Power Output (bhp) |
|---|---|---|
| Early P-40 | V-1710-33 | 1,040 (take-off) |
| P-40E | V-1710-35 | 1,150 |
| P-39Q | V-1710-85 | 1,200 (1,325 max) |
| P-38G | V-1710-51 | 1,325 (max) |
| P-38L | V-1710-111/113 | 1,475 |
| P-63E | V-1710-109 | 1,425 (take-off) |
The Altitude Limitation
A significant factor in the engine's service history was the U.S. Army's initial specification for a single-stage supercharger, with plans to add General Electric turbochargers for high-altitude performance. The turbocharger system proved problematic and was dropped from aircraft like the P-39 during development.
Consequently, fighters like the P-40 and P-39 lost power rapidly above approximately 15,000 feet. This limitation meant they saw most of their combat in theaters like North Africa and the Pacific, and with the Soviet air force, rather than in high-altitude battles over Germany. The P-38, with nacelles spacious enough for turbochargers, was the primary V-1710-powered fighter to engage the Luftwaffe in large numbers.
The first P-51 Mustangs also used the Allison V12. The British, however, found the airframe so promising that they replaced the Allison with a two-stage boost Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, leading to the legendary P-51B.
Post-War Legacy
After the war, 250 F-82 Twin Mustang aircraft used Allison engines. Thousands of surplus units found new life in motorsport. Drag racers, tractor pullers, and unlimited hydroplane competitors favored the Allison for years.
One notable post-war achievement came in 1950. On June 26, Stan Sayres drove the Allison-powered Slo-mo-shun IV to a new world water speed record of 160.323 mph on Lake Washington.
The engine for sale is a V1710-35 variant. The seller, Hall Industrial Services, lists it with zero hours since its rebuild. The sale is being conducted via eBay, where potential buyers can submit an offer.
