MTFCA Forum

. It’s crazy to think, what might have been if Henry had been more open minded

It was a phenomena. http://my28chev.blogspot.com/2014/07/19 ... ngine.html
http://www.significantcars.com/cars/1917chevrolet/
Thanks for bringing it up.
Rich

I believe that Ford did some experimenting with engine configurations, including an X-8. Both Ford and Cheverolet stuck with the inline 4 as being the most practical engine for a low price car until 1929 in the case of Chevrolet and 1932 in the case of Ford. That thinking concerning 4 cylinder engines holds true today. Ford built a good many V8s in Lincoln cars, and went V8 gaga from 1932 onward. Unlike the early Chevrolet and Oldsmobile (?Pontiac?) V8s , Ford's early V8 was a roaring success, and the basic layout remained in production until the 1954 model year.

The early copper-cooled Chevrolet engine was introduced in (about) 1917. The cooling system was the issue. The earliest Oldsmobile and Cadillac OHV V8s were introduced in 1949; both were successful and were built for many years. Cadillac had a flathead V8 earlier then 1949 which was also a good engine (as were it's V-12s and even a V-16), but these are not considered to be modern engines.

Cadillac had a 70 hp V8 in 1914, and built thousands of them.

interesting thread...but, how or what does this have to do relating to/with hagerty

Do I get a deal on my insurance for the 26 Fordor If I have a 1917 chevrolet V8

They were recalled (Chevrolets), but a few are in private hands. The cooling fins were solid copper bar rings with cast iron poured over them. Since they did not "inoculate" as they poured the iron, the rings came loose in a short time in operation and cracked the cylinders. Interesting story from times past.

Hank