[2] Dodd was an engineer by trade, who specialised in automatic transmissions; the subject that would lead to him meeting Paul Jameson, from whom he purchased the basis of what would become "The Beast".

[5] In his earlier life, Dodd was only able to finance his flying hobby by making contacts with people at Biggin Hill; effectivly promoting himself into a position he couldn't otherwise afford.

[4] On one of his many European flights, Dodd decided that if he were to become ill, he would need a co-pilot, so he began to teach his daughters Anna and Suzanne to fly.

Initially built around a 27-litre Rolls-Royce Meteor engine, as fitted to several World War II tanks, and latterly fitted with a non-supercharged 27-litre MK35 Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and the more commonly known Mark II shooting-brake body, which Dodd had commissioned using insurance compensation after the Mark I caught fire in Sweden.

[4] In 1966 Paul Jameson began the construction and testing of a prototype aero-engined vehicle, which would later form the foundations of Dodd's "Beast".

[7] It was after landing his plane at Biggin Hill in around 1970, that Dodd first met Jameson, who had been testing a prototype aero-engined vehicle on the runway; subsequently resulting in mechanical failure.

Jameson explained to Dodd of his struggle to find a gearbox which could withstand the immense torque of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine which was fitted to the vehicle.

[5] Following their meeting, Dodd designed a torque-converter system coupled to a GM TH400 three-speed automatic transmission, which enabled the transfer of the engines' torque to the rear wheels.

[8] The new body-shell, with the Rolls-Royce radiator grill still present, was reminiscent of a dragster, as Dodd commissioned it to be built by Roy Phelps[15] of "Fibreglass Repairs", in Kent, who specialised in building bodies for drag-race use.

[16]In 1998, "The Beast" featured in an episode of Top Gear in which Steve Berry drove the car, and interviewed John's son, Paul Dodd.

[4][17] In his later life, Dodd commissioned Currie Performance to modify a Ford nine-inch rear axle, which reduced the theoretical top speed to around 200mph, in view of achieving a competitive run at Santa Pod Raceway.

[8][18] In October 1974, Dodd was arrested after fleeing from a police car in excess of 100 mph along 21-miles of the A1, in Northamptonshire, only stopping due to a road block.

[19] Dodd, who allegedly originally planned to plead not-guilty, appeared in court on 29 September 1975, having missed the earlier hearing after his Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow broke-down in Paris.

On 8 April 1981, Dodd drove "The Beast" to London High Court, faking a break-down on Fleet Street to gain media attention.

[4] By this stage, the car had made its way back to Britain once again, as Dodd had wanted to attempt to achieve a sub-nine-second run at Santa Pod Raceway.

Subsequently, Dodd had commissioned a Ford nine-inch axle to be modified by Currie Enterprises at a cost of £7,000, which would lower "The Beast's" top-speed to around 200 mph, improving acceleration in preparation for his Santa Pod run.

[28] Since then, the new owner has re-fitted "The Beast" with a Rolls-Royce radiator grill and Spirit of Ecstasy, and repainted over the original Mark II paintwork, described by Jonny Smith as "prosthetic limb beige".