Continental V12 Tank engine first start after 20 years

Massive V-12 Engine

A team of mechanics was able to restore this Continental AVDS-1790 twenty years after its last start. 

The air-cooled engine has a displacement of 1,791 cu in and a dry weight of around 4,800 lbs. It can produce 750hp at 2,400rpm while consuming 296lbs of fuel per hour.

In its heyday, this V-12 tank engine powered an M88 Recovery Vehicle, one of the largest armored recovery vehicles operated by the USAF. These big tanks have been in service since 1961 and are used to extricate bogged-down vehicles on the battlefield.

Aside from the M88, the Continental AV-1790 can also be found inside the Howitzers, the T30, and the M103 heavy tanks. Moreover, the M60, M47, and M48 are powered by the diesel version named AVDS-1790.