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Friends, the world is a little crazy at the moment. Yes, we all try to help and sometimes that means sharing the story about a semi-truck capable of traveling 300 mph powered by a huge jet engine. What could be more thrilling for car enthusiasts than a huge rig racing quarter-mile drag strips with a famous American fighter jet engine strapped to its back. We present the Bone Shaker, appropriately named.
This monster was once an International Transtar 4300 standard. It technically is still a Transtar but you won’t find any big diesel under the long hood. You won’t actually find any under the hood except for bracing and miscellaneous parts, as well as menacing green light. The new powerplant, a J79 turbojet afterburning turbojet behind the cab produces upwards of 18,000 horsepower.
The same engine powered the F-4 Phantom, used by the U.S. Navy and Air Force for over 40 years. It still powers some Phantoms in the air forces of certain countries today. The J79 produced around 18,000 pounds thrust in top trim. However, Bone Shaker’s website states that it is only capable of producing about 12,000 pounds thrust. The Bone Shaker’s dry weight is just 3,300lbs. However, it could accelerate to a speed of 320 mph if placed on a launchpad. Rick Kopp, Bone Shaker’s driver, said that it can reach 300 mph with just 60 percent throttle.
Although the truck is most often seen at quarter-mile drag strips, it does a lot of exhibition passes. We’d love to see it open up on a lakebed for maximum fun. Aerodynamics could play a limited role in speed limits – the 1981 International Transtar doesn’t have a stellar drag coefficient, but it would be great to let it go.