The zenith of the internal combustion engine was reached in 1955 with the invention of the Small Block Chevy. It’s not just about efficiency, but also about ease of manufacture, cost, reliability and suitability for use in mass produced automobiles. Ultra high tech and fuel efficiency are not substitutes for all of those things. So what if a modern engine goes twice as far on a gallon of gas? It costs 10 times as much!
They don’t mention cost, but i imagine it is rather costly. My other concern would be longevity
“The zenith of the internal combustion engine was reached in 1955 with the invention of the Small Block Chevy
Then there was Vega.
Now Volt.
You got that exactly right! Which is why my top priority is on durability when buying any car.
That may be true on the automotive side of things but as I tell my riding friends, the pinnacle of Harley- Davidson motor development is the Shovelhead. Especially one that is stroked, with a carb and 1 3/4 inch drag pipes with “beer can” baffles.
A quick reference to the engine specifications for 1955-57 will show the Ford V-8s ahead of the Chevrolet counterparts in displacement, horsepower and torque.
BTW, it was Buick that came out with the first OHV V-8. Chevvie has always been a second place copycat.
Smokie Yunick, who was no fan of Ford, stated in the early 1960’s that if Nascar rules were even-handed and fair, no Chevvie would have won a race after about 1954.
Interesting take; where does the 225 slant six rank on that scale?