Chevrolet introduced the small-block V8 to the Corvette for the 1955 model year.
The engine was a 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V8, replacing the Corvette’s less powerful 235-cubic-inch six-cylinder as the model’s headline engine. It produced 195 horsepower when equipped with the optional four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts.
The V8 transformed the Corvette’s performance and helped establish its identity as Chevrolet’s dedicated sports car. The 1955 Corvette could also be ordered with a three-speed manual transmission, although the two-speed Powerglide automatic remained available.
The 1955 engine is often called Chevrolet’s small-block V8 because it began the long-running small-block family that later included engines such as the 283, 327 and 350. The 265-cubic-inch displacement is distinct from the 265-cubic-inch V8’s later derivatives, which shared the same basic architecture but gained different bore and stroke combinations.