Let's Get Small

November 8th, 2024 Newsletter Archives

Seventy years ago, Chevrolet unveiled its model-year 1955 line of Task Force pickups. The new trucks introduced a new engine design to the world: the small-block V8.

That might not get your pulse racing, but the truth is that the small-block V8 represented a major shift in engine technology. True to its name, the small-block V8 is compact and lightweight, packing dependable power in a tidy package. This engine eventually found its way into vehicles across the Chevy lineup, making V8s available to everyday American car buyers. Over the years, GM has built more than 100 million of these engines for Chevrolet, and the 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 continues that tradition by offering the latest version of the small-block V8.

Meanwhile, while we’re talking about history, I have a recommendation: If you happen to find yourself in Kentucky, take a trip to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, where there’s a cool new exhibit on the ‘Vette and pop culture. Elvis! Prince! Reggie! Astronauts! You don’t want to miss it.

– Eric J. Savitz, editor-in-chief, GM News