If you dare to be different, go all the way.

Charlie Broomfield installed a 27-liter Meteor tank engine in his Rover SD1, but also wanted to test the big V12 on a dyno — supposedly to see if it can still pump its historical advertised 650 horsepower. But his Lincolnshire, England, neighbors may not be receptive to the noise and fumes that a dyno would shower on their little village. So he built a portable one that could taken into the countryside for uninterrupted pulls.

As this video demonstrates, Charlie is rather resourceful. While the identity of the brake is a mystery, the coolant system looks effective. And is that a beer keg for the fuel tank? We’re not so sure about the safety measures. Sitting inside a little sedan parked next an open dyno doesn’t seem to the best circumstances.

Results are not shared in the video, although there are stories on the web indicating it’s good for 1,550 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. 

So if local zoning rules don’t allow dyno testing in your backyard, take a hint and pack your dyno on a back of a single-axle trailer, then head for the open country.