Extremely rare GM V12 engine from the 1960s appears on Facebook Marketplace in a once-in-a-lifetime find

For those who are trying to track down a rare and sought after part, such as the GM V12 engine, it might seem odd to suggest looking at Facebook but two of these have been listed in the last 12 months.

The GM V12 engines are now over 60 years old, meaning they’ve hit the ‘vintage’ level for car parts, and finding one that could be in working order or only need repairs is rare. With just 5,000 ever made, it’s now thought that there can’t be more than 1,500 in semi-serviceable condition.

Finding one is arguably one of the hardest jobs, but it seems social media is the best resource to turn two with one found in Ohio and another in Wyoming in recent months.

Yet it’s worth being cautious as not everything on Facebook is a great buy, like the man who found a weird discovery after buying a Cadillac on the platform.

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A rare GM V12 engine

To give some background on the GMC V12 – and to understand why it’s so rare – only 5,000 of these engines were made and were created in a short five-year window from 1960 until 1965.

Nobody’s sure quite how many are left in the world but most guess that there can’t be any more than 1,500 in semi-serviceable condition.

A modified 425-hp version of the original Twin Six has estimated there might actually be only around 200 to be found, with many considered to be irrepairable.

So to find one of these engines is a hard enough job, and even then it appears they will need work.

Two have appeared on Facebook marketplace, but will set you back just under $5,000 and you’ll still be prepared to put some elbow grease in to get it working again.

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Rust and damage are likely

One of the GM V12 engines found in Casper, Wyoming came complete minus the starter with the Facebook advert describing it as ‘very rare’.

Pictures show the engine has significant rust and damage, but then it is over 60 years old so it was never going to be pristine was it?

It’s listed for $4,500 and still marked as available, so if you’ve been trying to hunt one of these rare engines down then now could be your chance.

Another in Ohio was sold earlier this year for $2,900, and was noted to still be in running order but only being sold due to the owner ‘losing interest’.

The Facebook Marketplace advert read: “GMC TWINSIX V12 engine mounted on heavy duty stand with casters. I bought this a couple years ago and have lost interest.

“Runs good with gas down the carbs. Comes with original air cleaners. $2900 OBO AS IS if it’s listed it’s available.”

Sought after specification

Now if you’re looking to source one of these engines yourself then you’ll be need to be prepared to put the graft in and hunt far and wide for them.

They are highly sought after, which is thought to be down to the high specs it offers.

The 11.5-liter V12 featured four cylinder-heads, four exhaust manifolds, two distributors, two intake manifolds, an oil sump holding four gallons of oil, and a high-volume oil pump capable of circulating 17 gallons. 

Weighing just  1,485 pounds, it’s also a light model allowing the vehicle to run easily. The engine could reach 275 peak horsepower at 2,400 rpm, which might not seem huge compared to today’s standard.

It was highly relied upon for farming, first responder, military, and trucking sectors as well as industries where torque was utilised.