GM’s Small Block V8 is turning 70 and not going anywhere

While rivals are slowly phasing out V8 engines, GM has already confirmed a sixth-generation powertrain

People often talk about the death of the V8 engine, but it’s still alive and well at Chevrolet. That’s certainly clear, as the company recently launched the Corvette ZR1which features a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8, 1,064 hp (793 kW / 1,079 hp) and 828 lb-ft (1,121 Nm) of torque.

While that’s the latest and greatest, their small block V8 is celebrating a monumental milestone. The engine debuted 70 years ago in 1954 with a displacement of 4.3 liters.

More: GM confirms new Small Block V8 for full-size pickups and SUVs

A long-lasting legacy was almost predestined from the start when the engine was installed in the 1955 Corvettewhere it produced 195 PS (145 kW / 198 hp). This was a huge boon for performance fans, as it offered almost 25% more horsepower than the 3.9-liter inline-six.

The engine was also offered as part of the 1955 Task Force series, which included the Cameo Carrier billed as the “gentleman’s pickup.” Needless to say, this association continues to this day as small block V8 engines are prominently featured in the car Silverado lineup.

Although mapping the changes would take forever as there have been five generations and countless improvements, the latest range includes V8 engines of 5.3, 6.2 and 6.6 liters. They can be found in everything from pickups to performance cars, including the Corvette and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.

While rivals like Stellantis have largely moved on from the V8, General Motors has already announced plans for a sixth-generation small-block engine to be built at factories in Michigan, Ohio and New York as part of an $854 investment million. The automaker has remained tight-lipped on details, but promised the factory will showcase “power and efficiency.”