The 10 Smallest Displacement V8s Ever Made

All V8 engines are not equal. Some V8 powerplants are just on another level, combining high power with high revolutions. The examples include the Ferrari F40’s legendary 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged engine, producing 478 hp. Or the original Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, with a race-bred 2.0-liter eight-cylinder mill producing 227 hp.

Small-capacity V8 engines obviously entail smaller pistons, meaning less rotating mass, which, in most cases, results in higher redlines. This is the world of small-displacement, mostly big-power V8s.

This list is a deep dive into the world of small-capacity V8 engines in production cars. For the record, the tiniest V8 engine is reportedly a 28 cc powerplant that revs to 12,500 rpm.

10

Ariel Atom 500

Capacity: 2,998 cc V8

Oh, the conundrum. You have two Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engines in the shed. What can you possibly do with them? If you are American racing engine builder John Hartley, you can craft one 500-hp powerplant from the two mills.

That’s exactly what Harley did, fusing two Hayabusa powerplants to create a bespoke V8 engine that powered the bonkers Ariel Atom 500. The version of the Atom weighed around 1,300 pounds, so its performance was staggering. It was able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. The mill revved to more than 10,000 rpm, and the sequential gearbox sent all the output to the rear wheels. Ariel built just 25 examples of the Atom 500.

9

Ferrari F40

Capacity: 2,936 cc, twin-turbocharged V8

The Ferrari F40 debuted in 1987 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the greatest supercars ever made. The F40 was created to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari cars. The vehicle featured a composite body and a racing-car-like suspension. The mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V8 produced 478 hp at 7,000 rpm and powered the rear wheels.

With a top speed of 200 mph, the F40 dethroned the Porsche 959 as the fastest production car in the world in 1987. Ferrari initially planned to produce only 400 cars, but due to huge demand, a total of 1,315 cars were eventually made. And the world is a far better place because of it.

8

BMW 501/502

Capacity: 2,580 cc V8

BMW’s all-aluminum, 2.6-liter V8 engine powered various models from the Bavarian car company, dating back to the mid-1950s. In the large 501, the engine made 100 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, allowing the model to reach a top speed of just over 100 mph. A four-speed manual gearbox sent the power to the rear wheels.

The BMW 501, and later the 502, was at the cutting edge of luxury, quality, and performance in its day. However, the cars also had a hefty price. The vehicles failed to reach BMW’s ambitious sales targets. It nevertheless served as a precursor for BMW performance engines. And we all know how that is going.

7

Daimler SP250

Capacity: 2,548 cc V8

The Daimler SP250, originally called the Dart, made its public debut at the 1959 New York Auto Show. Unfortunately, it got off to a bad start, apparently being voted ‘the ugliest car’ at the show. For the production version, Daimler renamed the car SP250, the company’s internal code for the project. Pretty or not, the SP250’s 2.5-liter V8 engine produced 140 hp, which was impressive by the standards of the early Sixties.

The Daimler soon became the preferred weapon of choice for British police interceptor duty. The law enforcement vehicles were black, and came with a three-speed automatic gearbox. They were primarily used for chasing down street racers, which was quite a thing at the time.

6

Tatra 603

Capacity: 2,545 cc V8

The Czechoslovakian company Tatra produced the 603 sedan between 1956 and 1975, and its main party trick was a 100-hp, 2.5-liter air-cooled V8 engine mounted in the trunk. The car had a checkered history. At the time, the country was a socialist state, so the vehicle was roped in for governmental duties and allocated to important officials. The 603 went on to compete in various motorsport events around Europe, often dominating its class.

Tatra planned to enter the 1960 Rally of Monte Carlo with its cool and quirky car. Apparently, the government wanted in on the deal, insisting that its nominated drivers compete, rather than letting Tatra get on with the job. In the end, the 603 didn’t take part, ending a great opportunity for the model to make a splash on the international stage.

5

Simca Versailles

Capacity: 2,351 cc V8

The Simca Versailles was a dressed-up Ford Vedette, designed to offer a blend of European styles, topped off with a healthy dose of American automotive aesthetics. The Versailles is powered by Ford’s 2.4-liter Flathead V8, with a three-speed manual gearbox sending the drive to the rear wheels.

Big and bulky, and with 80 hp under the hood, the Simca was never going to threaten any speed records. Instead, the sedan was stately, reasonably luxurious, and looked the part as a car for an executive. It was still able to manage 90 mph – quite a thing in the 1950s. Simca made cars until 1970, when the automaker closed its doors for good.

4

Fiat 8V

Capacity: 1,996 cc V8

In the early 1950s, the Italian car company Fiat began developing a smaller-displacement V8 engine for a new luxury car. However, when the company canceled the project, it already had the powerplant ready. Fiat decided to do the right thing and created a new sports car powered by this mill. The magnificent 8V debuted in 1952.

Fiat named the model the 8V because it believed another car company owned the commercial rights to “V8.” With around 110 cars made, the 8V was not a commercial success. However, with 125 hp in a light body, it proved quite a weapon on the racetrack. Fiat management canceled the non-profitable sports car in 1954, but the 8V continued to find success in the Italian GT championship for several years.

3

Lamborghini Urraco P200

Capacity: 1,995 cc V8

The rare Lamborghini Urraco premiered in 1972 and was on the market until 1979. Total production was less than 1,000 cars. The Urraco was available with various V8 options, but the P200 is most relevant to this story because of its 2.0-liter eight-cylinder engine. The model existed because of an Italian tax law that slapped hefty fees on vehicles with powerplants larger than 2.0 liters. The crossplane engine made 180 hp, revving to 8,000 rpm. It could propel the Lamborghini from 0 to 60 mph in around 7.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 135 mph.

However, affluent Italian sports car enthusiasts apparently didn’t care about the extra taxes. Of the 790 Urraco models produced, only around 70 units were P200s.

2

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Engine capacity: 1,995 cc V8

Ah, the beautiful Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, arguably one of the prettiest cars ever made. It doesn’t only look like a million dollars because this Alfa has the go to match the show. Power comes from a 2.0-liter V8 engine, originally from a race car, producing 227 hp at 8,800 rpm. The engine has a flat-plane crankshaft and can rev to more than 9,000 rpm, providing all the visceral feel goods to go with its exotic look. Based on Alfa Romeo’s Tipo 33 racing car, the powerplant came with dry-sump lubrication and fuel injection. The vehicle is capable of reaching 160 mph.

Alfa Romeo only made 18 examples of the 33 Stradale, making this one of the most sought-after cars on the planet. Yes, there is a modern iteration of the 33, but the original one is still the icon.

1

Ferrari 208 GT4

Capacity: 1,991 cc V8

Ferrari also tried to make a model that complied with Italy’s tax law, which effectively doubled taxes on cars with engines larger than 2.0 liters. It introduced the 208 GT4 in 1975. The V8 powerplant displaced 1,991 cc, making it the smallest mill of its kind in a series production car. The engine produced 170 hp at 7,700 rpm and connected to a manual gearbox with a beautiful gated shifter, sending the power to the rear wheels.

With a top speed of 137 mph, the 208 GT4 had plenty of bite to go with the bark. Ferrari sold more than 800 of them, making it one of the more successful examples of the brands that created a model specifically to comply with the two-liter Italian tax legislation.

Sources: Ferrari, Tatra, Bonhams Cars, Lamborghini, Ariel, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Fiat, Daimler, DIY Garage.