For more than a decade after the Corvette’s initial release, the true American sports car was motivated, most notably, by small-block power. In fact, the 265 cubic-inch V8’s 1955 introduction was largely responsible for the Corvette’s validation as a sporty, performance-minded vehicle.
However, by the mid-1960s, those behind the scenes at Chevrolet had begun developing a new powerplant, which would eventually make its way into the Corvette. This engine would become the first big-block V8 to be used in Corvette production, setting a trend that would continue for the following decade.
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