Oregon man opens 70-year-old Rolls-Royce crate that's been left unused and is left with a serious task
Published on Jan 07, 2026 at 12:07 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Jan 07, 2026 at 12:07 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An Oregon man thought he was buying a mystery ‘scrap value’ engine at a local auction, but instead, he was faced with a strange old Rolls-Royce crate and a serious task.
He had to haul home a 70-year-old Rolls-Royce crate motor that had been sitting untouched for decades.
The wooden crate looked like it had survived several lifetimes outdoors, with rot, missing labels, and water damage.
What he found inside was both better and worse than expected.
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Oregon man opens 70-year-old Rolls-Royce crate
The YouTuber was originally shopping for excavator parts when a grainy auction listing caught his eye: a ‘4-cylinder crate Rolls-Royce car engine.’
The listing didn’t offer much else, but the crate itself looked like it belonged to another era, and that was enough to make him curious.
Once he got it home, it didn’t take long to see how rough the storage conditions had been.
The bottom of the crate had started rotting away, the outside labels were scratched or missing, and the interior wasn’t sealed from moisture.
When he lifted the lid for the first time, he spotted water pooled in the spark plug wells, and the engine inside was locked solid.
At that point, the best-case scenario would have been a complete breakdown and a parts sale, and a 70-year-old Rolls-Royce engine left outdoors doesn’t usually come back from that.
He had a serious job bringing it back to life
Instead of tearing it down immediately, he decided to investigate further, and the results were shocking.
The cylinders looked remarkably clean with only minor dirt and light surface marks, and according to the manual he found online, the engine uses chrome cylinder liners, which may explain why it didn’t rust.
The serious task was still unavoidable, though: the sump contained water, sludge, and ancient oil, and the engine needed cleaning before it could ever work again.
After soaking the cylinders, he eventually freed it up, and cleaned the oil pan.
Then came the real surprise: after fixing the starter and ordering rare spark plugs from the UK, the 70-year-old unused engine started and ran.
Now, he’s left with one final problem: deciding what to do with a rare Rolls-Royce crate engine from the UK.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
