Throughout history, automobile V8 engines have become known for two things: high horsepower and large displacement. However, not all V8s were huge, and in this article we will remember the smallest displacement V8 that found its way into the engine bay of production cars.
The V8 engine was born in France 120 years ago. According to many historians, the first V8 engine, nicknamed Antoinette, was designed by Léon Levavasseur in 1904, but that engine was not used in cars until 1906. Meanwhile, Renault and Buchet also developed V8s for their racing cars in 1904, but those units were only experimental.
The first documented use of a V8 engine in a production car was in the 1905 Rolls-Royce, which featured a 3.5-litre unit.
Over the next few decades, this engine configuration became increasingly popular and eventually became the engine of choice in the United States, where it was the beating heart of everything muscle from the 1960s onward.
However, while powerful, large-displacement V8 engines have become iconic, other car manufacturers have proven that a good V8 doesn't have to be imposing.
Ford “Flat Head” 136
Photo: Mecum
The first example of a small-displacement V8 engine in series production was developed, somewhat surprisingly, in the United States.
Henry Ford, the king of automotive milestones, commissioned the development of the industry's first affordable V8 in the late 1920s, and thanks to the efforts of Carl Schmaltz, Ray Lard and Mil Zoerlein, the engine went into production in 1932.
Known as “Flat head“Thanks to its distinctive flat-head design, Ford's first mass-produced V8 originally displaced 221 cubic inches (3.6 liters).
In Europe, Ford introduced a smaller version in 1935. With a displacement of 2.2 litres (136 cu in), it was – and still is – the smallest displacement V8 ever produced by the Blue Oval.
With a rated output of 60 hp, it proved to be an even cheaper alternative to the standard US version, so from 1937 onwards the 136 was also produced in Detroit.
Thanks to its compact size and light weight (compared to other V8s), the 136 (also known as the 60 Horse Flathead) became a popular choice among race car enthusiasts and early hot rod enthusiasts.
Production of the 60 Horse ended in the United States in 1941, when Ford introduced a new inline-six engine for its lower-priced models; in the rest of the world, however, it continued in production until the 1960s.
Fiat Tipo 104
Photo: RM Sotheby's
In the early 1950s, Fiat decided to add a thoroughbred grand tourer to its otherwise plebeian range of family cars.
To achieve this, they needed a new, high-performance engine, so the engineers decided to build a V8.
Codenamed Tipo 104, the engine that debuted in the Fiat 8V (Otto Vu) in 1952 had a displacement of just 2.0 litres (122 cu in) and initially developed 104 hp.
Despite its size and rather modest power, the Tipo 104 was an all-aluminium 70-degree V8 with an overhead camshaft.
Produced from 1952 to 1954 in just over 100 examples, the Tipo 104 was constantly improved throughout its short life, reaching 125 hp with revised valve timing and fuel delivery.
In addition to the standard 8V model, the little V8 also powered the Ghia Supersonic, a car bodied by the craftsman, which remains one of the most beautiful cars ever produced by Fiat.
Alfa Romeo 2.0 litre V8
Photo: Stellantis NV
Introduced in 1967, the 33 Stradale became the most iconic road car ever produced by Alfa Romeo.
A road-legal version of the Tipo 33 racing car, it was the fastest production car over a standing kilometre at the time of its launch and is today considered by many to be the most beautiful car ever built.
Capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 260 km/h, the 33 Stradale was powered by a mid-mounted V8 engine, but not a huge one, as some might expect.
In contrast, its engine, derived from the Tipo 33 racing unit, had a displacement of just 2.0 litres (122 cu in). However, thanks to its cutting-edge construction, the all-aluminium engine, which featured four valves per cylinder, twin spark plugs, a dry sump lubrication system and a fuel injection system, could rev to an astonishing 10,000 rpm, spitting out a maximum of 227 hp at 8,800 rpm.
The 33 Stradale and its imposing V8 designed by Carlo Chiti were produced in just 18 examples, from November 1967 to March 1969.
Lamborghini 2.0 liter V8
Photo: Bring a trailer
In the early 1970s, Lamborghini was famous for its powerful V12, which powered its flagship Miura and the Espada grand tourer.
However, since Italian rivals such as Ferrari, De Tomaso and Maserati all had affordable, entry-level models, Lamborghini decided to join the club with the V8-powered Urraco.
Like the car itself, the Urraco's engine was completely new and became Lamborghini's second production engine.
Designed by the famous Giampaolo Dallara, the all-aluminium V8 was introduced in 1971 and, at the time, had a displacement of 2.5 litres.
Produced until 1988, during its life cycle the displacement was increased to 3.0 and 3.5 litres (184 and 213 ci), but it was also reduced to 2.0 litres (122 ci).
This last variant was added in 1975 for the Italian market in response to the very high taxes imposed on cars with engines over 2.0 litres.
Compared to his Double crankshaft The 3.0-liter sister model, also introduced in 1975, was Lamborghini's smallest-displacement production engine, featuring a belt-driven single overhead camshaft and producing a modest 182 hp.
While the 3.0-liter and later 3.5-liter versions were used in other Lamborghini models, the 2.0-liter engine was exclusive to the base Urraco P200 model.
Ferrari 2.0 Litre Dino V8
Photo: Mecum
Alfredo's idea “Dinosaur“Ferrari, son of company founder Enzo, the Dino engine family began with a small-displacement V6 racing engine in the late 1950s and became one of Ferrari's most productive engine series for the next half century.
In addition to the fantastic V6 versions that powered the Dino, Ferrari's base model, the engine family also included a series of V8s starting in 1973.
Launched in the 308 GT4, the first Dino V8 initially displaced 2.9 litres (177 cu in), but, just like Lamborghini, Ferrari also introduced a smaller, 2.0 litre (122 cu in) version that qualified the new 208 GT4 as an entry-level model.
for much lower taxes.
With smaller bores but the same piston stroke as the larger model, the 2.0-litre Dino produced 168bhp, versus the 2.9-litre's 188bhp.
This version also equipped the successor models of the 208 GT4, the 208 GTB (coupé) and the 208 GTS (targa), until 1982, when it was replaced by a more powerful, turbocharged version with a power output of 217 hp.