The world’s fastest Rolls-Royce

The souped-up Roller is powered by a meaty 1,350bhp 9.4-litre Chrysler Hemi engine, which pokes through the bonnet in true hotrod-style. Understated it ain’t.

View more images of the world's fastest Rolls-Royce

Performance is boosted further thanks to a dual-bottle nitrous oxide system in the boot – a combustion booster normally only seen on fast and furious street racers.

With a nod to refinement, both the nitro boost and interior have been bathed in tan leather – a bespoke job which took four months to complete.

Extras include rear-seat DVD players, a reversing camera, air-con and a TV in the boot for entertaining crowds at specialist car shows.

The customised Rolls is the work of car enthusiast Tod Weston, who wanted something that would "stand head and shoulders above the normal, everyday cars on the US highways".

The choice of engine and the ‘HEMI RR’ number plate were poignant. "I owned various muscle cars back in the Seventies that employed 426ci (7-litre) Hemi power - examples being the Road Runner, Challenger and Charger - and I've always considered that iconic engine as the real deal.”

View images of a Rolls-Royce Phantom menaced by German tuner Hamann

Frivolities aside, modifications have had to be made to compensate for its newfound monster performance. These include fitting an interior roll cage and air suspension.

"The only remaining original components are the door-mounted window motors, as well as the windscreen wiper motor."

The unique Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is reportedly worth $500,000 – or £313,000.

There are more than 140 used Rolls-Royces for sale on Auto Trader.

In the words of Tod Weston, "Why drive a second-class car in a first-class world?"

Rhian Angharad Jones

Pictures courtesy of Andy Willsheer/Rex Features

Video: check out the Rolls-Royce Ghost at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show