Video: Rap’em Pappy A 1964 GMC V12 Tribute To A WII Bomber

1964 GMC Truck V12 Twin SixScottieDTV found this wild 1964 GMC V12 nicked named Rap’em Pappy, and if her green & silver paint scheme reminds you of a WWII aircraft that’s because she’s meant to look like one.

Owned by Robert Wunderlin of Wisconsin, Rap’em Pappy was built as a tribute to the crew of a B-24 Liberator bomber that flew in WWII with the same name.

In order for the GMC to be an effective tribute to the bomber, it had to have power like one. This meant that not just any mill would suffice. In its engine bay is one of the wildest GMC experimental engines ever to be produced: the GMC Twin Six.

If you haven’t heard of the GMC Twin Six engine you’re not alone, only 11 of these engines were produced from 1960 to 1965. The Twin Six is a 702 cubic inch V12 engine that looks like two V-6 engines mated together. The fact that it uses four 351 V6 cylinder heads further adds to the two engine illusion. However, the Twin Six is in fact one large cast iron block that has one massive crankshaft and a single, long camshaft that runs its entire length.

This mountain motor makes 250 horsepower and an earth moving 630 lb-ft of torque. Its massive 702 cubic inches make it the largest gasoline truck engine ever built. Due to the engine’s size massive cut outs had to be made in the front fenders for them to fit.

1964 GMC V12 Twin Six

The Twin Six is so large that a longer front end had to be fabricated in order for it to fit.

The nickname Rap’em Pappy is painted on her tailgate in a font reminiscent of the original. Her interior has a few aviation inspired touches including a shifter that resembles an aircraft throttle, switches like an aircraft on the center console, and climate controls that look like trim adjusters.

Though not as well known as its sister the B-17, the B-24 Liberator was one of America’s workhorse heavy bombers during WWII. These aircraft were tasked with the dangerous mission of flying from the UK to bomb the hell out of targets in Germany, Italy, and other axis territory.

These missions were long, tiring and dangerous and in the early days of the war the bombers received no fighter escort for protection. This meant that when the B-24 was over the lions den it had to face the German Luftwaffe (air force) head on with only 11 machine guns operated by a few brave gunners for protection.

The crew of Rap'em Pappy and their B-24.

The crew of Rap’em Pappy and the B-24 herself.

The B-24 was Powered by 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engines, which gave the bomber a top speed of 310 MPH. It had a service range of 2,300 miles while carrying 5,000 lbs worth of bombs – as a present for Hitler.

Sadly the fate of Rap’em Pappy was a tragic one. In 1944 while flying a mission over Bernberg, Germany, she was shot down by a German fighter. Half her crew were KIA while the other half spent the remainder of the war as POWs. The crew was only 3 missions away from completing the 25 needed to go home. You can read the crew’s heartbreaking story here. This GMC is an excellent tribute to keep their spirit alive and flying free, as well as to remind us of the sacrifices that were made for everyone back home.1964 GMC V12 Twin Six rear

About the author

Josh Courter

Josh Courter is a Power Automedia freelancer with a serious passion for anything custom. Rods, classics, sleds, and even motorcycles provide inspiration for Josh along with his passion for automotive history.
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