Rolls-Royce Meteorite years to 1964 and was centred at the Acocks Green "shadow factory" near Birmingham Rolls-Royce Meteorite The Rolls-Royce Meteorite was a British V8 petrol or diesel engine of capacity, and was derived from the Rolls-Royce Meteor, which was itself based on the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine. In essence it was two-thirds of a V12 Meteor and it shared the Meteor's 60° vee angle. Meteorites were built for vehicles, for marine use and as stationary power units. It powered the Thornycroft Antar or "Mighty Antar" tank transporter and was used to transport two types of Meteor-engined tanks, the Centurion and Conqueror
Rolls-Royce Crecy fighter. Studies on the de Havilland Mosquito also showed it to raise complex problems with Crecy installation. In 1942 Rolls-Royce Hucknall received a North American P-51 Mustang for engine installation trials. This prompted a series of studies for a Crecy version and the Mustang turned out a more suitable mount than the Spitfire. However these studies were not taken further. As the possibility of a flight-worthy engine approached, on 28 March 1943 Hawker Henley "L3385" was delivered to Hucknall for fitting with a Crecy. However the engine never became available and the aircraft remained at Hucknall until when it was