Wildest Engine Swap: Andrew Thurnheer’s 19-Liter V12 German Tank Truck

Andrew Thurnheer didn’t just build a truck; he built a rolling rebellion against modern technology. While most truckers are worrying about DEF sensors and computer updates, Thurnheer is cruising the highway with a 19-liter air-cooled V12 originally meant for a German tank. It is a 3,000-pound industrial beast that transforms a standard chassis into the wildest engine swap on the road.

Chasing Simplicity

Thurnheer’s motivation wasn’t just to be different; it was to be self-sufficient. He grew tired of modern vehicles that require software updates rather than wrenches to fix. He explains his logic clearly: “I’m always going to lean in the direction of simplicity. Simplicity in my mind equals dependability, and air-cooled is simple.” Since he couldn’t find what he wanted stateside, he commissioned this massive engine from a manufacturer in China licensed to build the old-school German designs. He even detuned it to 450 horsepower to keep the cooling system basic, ensuring he can fix it on the side of the road if necessary, without worrying about radiators or water pumps.

Engineering The Wildest Engine Swap

The truck wrapped around that engine is a scrapbook of automotive history welded together. The hood is two Autocar hoods fused into one, and the steering linkage is a feat of pure improvisation. Thurnheer details the assembly, noting that the shaft runs through a trailer hitch ball and into a “piece of swimming pool ladder railing, stainless steel, which telescopically slides over a piece of Volvo steering shaft.” This free-form fabrication style liberated him as a builder.

Working For A Living

The rear section creates a double take, featuring a school bus body mounted backward that functions as a roll-off dumpster. Despite the mad looks, the rig gets surprisingly decent fuel economy, clocking in at 9.2 mpg when bobtailing. The engine’s torque is so immense that the driving experience is consistent regardless of terrain. As Thurnheer noted, “It doesn’t really recognize hills uphill or downhill.”

The Mechanical Connection

The sheer presence of the exposed engine stops traffic in parking lots. Thurnheer believes this reaction comes from people missing the mechanical soul of transportation. He observed, “We’re so detached from the power plant, and I think the fact that this power plant is making such a statement. It just draws the crowd.” It might be the wildest engine swap on the road, but for Thurnheer, it is just a dependable daily driver that puts the human back in control of the machine.