The Benz grand prix racers of pre WW1 era had engines with the same displacement as the Rolls Merlin in the Spitfire of WW2.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_2745/article.html
My uncle bought two WW2 surplus P 38 Lightning engines (Allisons) with the intention of putting them in his wooden deadrise fishing boat, until he figured out the fuel consumption was over 100 gallons per hour at WOT, to say nothing of the structural integrity of the poor boat when you started tossing over 1200 horsepower at the propeller.
He paid $500 per engine. I remember him drifting his 4 speed Ford galaxie down dirt roads out in Middlesex County.
regards
mech