Part 1: The story behind creating Chevrolet's first small-block V-8 In this first part of a three-part series on the innovative 1955 Chevrolet, David Temple looks at the development of the small-block V-8 engine that was engineered for the all-new '55 Chevrolet — and went on to power more than 100 million Chevrolets in total. Chevrolet took the number-one sales position from Ford in 1927, and for the majority of the succeeding years, Chevy stayed at number one via continuous innovation and keeping up with market trends (and even establishing market trends). However, Ford presented a threat to Chevrolet's sales supremacy in the early '50s. From 1949 to 1954, Chevrolet built approximately 7.5 million cars with Ford trailing by as much as 40 percent in calendar-year production through 1951, at which point the sales gap narrowed to about 25 percent. By 1954, Chevrolet's advantage over Ford was gone. Ford actually bested Chevrolet in model-year production by a little more than 15,000 cars for 1954. Ford beat Chevrolet to the marketplace with an overhead-valve (OHV) V-8 — the Y-block OHV engine — that was new for Ford's 1954 model year. Even Studebaker was offering a V-8! Within General Motors, only Chevrolet and Pontiac lacked a V-8. Demand for a V-8 engine was 26 percent of the new-car market in 1950, but quickly grew to 33 percent in 1952 and to 50 percent by 1954, proving that the V-8 was a paramount consideration among buyers of new cars. |
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The Ferrari Speciale prototype of Aldo Brovarone designed for Pininfarina was introduced at the 1966 Paris Motor Show. It was nicknamed Tre Posti and Guida Centrale for it's innovative central driver position is on loan courtesy of the RQ Collection. Saratoga Springs, NY - Wow! Just Wow!!!...is the most common reaction to this stunning example of Ferrari engineering and Aldo Brovarone design for Pininfarina. The Speciale is a prototype to demonstrate the thinking and possibilities for Ferrari automobiles going forward, anchored to the practice of race derived technology. This prototype is also linked to the engineering and design of two other cars in this exhibition, the Dino and the Daytona. This mid-rear engine machine was introduced in Gardenia White at the 1966 Paris Motor Show, featured by Pininfarina. Nicknamed Tre Posti and Guida Centrale for it's innovative central driver position. Italian manufacturer, Lamborghini, brought to market its own idea for a mid-rear engine design in the Miura that same year. After its worldwide show tour concluded in 1967, Tre Posti was sold to US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti. He sold and bought back the car twice, it was in the Chinetti family until 2014 and was even on loan at the Saratoga Auto Museum in 2009. |
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Old Cars honors the collector car hobby's top club publications and editors for their excellence. Shifts in the old-car hobby power the advance of collector interests as recovery mode continues in the wake of COVID. "Several significant shifts in club publications are logical as costs for paper and publishing have significantly risen," says Dr. Gerald Perschbacher, chief judge for the annual Golden Quill Awards issued by Old Cars. "Additional efforts in publishing have opened doors for regional clubs to simultaneously present their publications via email. Either way, clubs are active in the hobby even despite financial and operational ills that slowed the advance during the pandemic and beyond." He adds that a club's publication is a timeless record of the hobby in a set region or on a specific slice of the hobby, such as fire engines, mid-1950s Chevrolets, Ford Thunderbirds, Chrysler 300s, CCCA Full Classics, and professional cars (for use by police, ambulance service, etc.)—and that large clubs often dedicate salutes to special segments of interest nationally and internationally. So the scope of coverage is healthy and booming. |
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How much is your vintage ride worth? You can now join the Old Cars Price Guide Membership and find out online. Pricing right at your fingertips. |
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