A conversation with my buddy Rob regarding V8 motors this morning made for a good Monday morning knowledge soak.
The V8 engine is oft-credited to Henry Ford, especially the monoblock V8. That's not the case though as it was first developed by Leon Lavavausser as the Antoinette V8 for airplanes It was then adapted to Renault and Rolls Royce in small numbers in the early 20th century. In 1914 Cadillac developed the l-head V8 and mass produced it, selling 13,000 V8 equipped models in that year alone. In 1916 Oldsmobile began use of the V8 followed by Chevrolet in 1917. In 1932, Ford introduced the V8 that was popularized by Bonnie and Clyde. Although several other manufacturers had developed V8s prior to this, the Ford incarnation was the first reliable V8 that made power in the same vein as V8s today. Based on what was to come of V8 motors, especially in the post-1965 muscle car era, the Ford was the first that would lead the way and not be an overweight/underpowered "monstrosity."
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