Did GM make a flathead V8?
Historical context
To understand the answer, it helps to know the basics of engine design. A flathead, or L-head, V8 uses valves located in the engine block rather than in a separate cylinder head, a configuration Ford popularized in its early V8s. GM’s early V8 program included flathead configurations as a cost-effective way to offer V8 power across multiple brands, a strategy that preceded the widespread adoption of overhead-valve (OHV) designs in the postwar era.
GM's flathead V8 family
GM produced a line of flathead V8 engines in the 1930s that spanned several divisions. The best-known member of this family, commonly referred to in sources as the V8-60, was used across multiple GM brands and powered a range of passenger cars and light-duty applications during that era. This approach provided GM with a competitive V8 option during the Great Depression and into the early war years, before more modern overhead-valve V8s came to dominate GM’s lineup.
Below is a snapshot of the GM divisions most commonly associated with these early flathead V8s.
- Chevrolet
- Pontiac
- Buick
- Oldsmobile
- Cadillac
The V8-60 family across these divisions illustrates GM's early experimentation with V8 power and its eventual pivot toward overhead-valve designs that would define GM’s V8s for decades to come.
Design characteristics and performance implications
Flathead V8 engines are known for simpler construction and lower manufacturing costs compared with overhead-valve designs. They typically offer smooth low-end torque and easier production, but they lag behind OHV engines in efficiency, high-RPM performance, and overall power output. By the 1950s, GM—and the industry at large—had largely moved to overhead-valve V8s to maximize horsepower and fuel economy, phasing out most flathead configurations in new models.
Why GM shifted away from flathead engines
Several factors drove the transition. Overhead-valve designs provide better airflow, higher compression, and greater potential for power growth. As consumer expectations and regulatory standards evolved, GM invested in modern V8 architectures that could deliver more performance with acceptable efficiency, leading to the gradual retirement of flathead V8s in GM’s mainstream lineup.
Timeline snapshot
To place GM’s flathead V8s in a historical sequence, the following condensed timeline highlights the arc from introduction to obsolescence.
- Early 1930s: GM introduces flathead V8 offerings (V8-60 family) across multiple divisions as a cost-effective V8 option.
- Mid-to-late 1930s: Flathead V8s remain in limited production as OHV designs begin to mature in competing lines.
- 1950s: Overhead-valve V8s become GM’s standard for most divisions, signaling the end of new flathead V8 development.
This timeline underscores how GM balanced rapid entry into V8 power with a gradual shift to more efficient cylinder-head technologies.
Modern perspective and legacy
Today, flathead engines are primarily of historical interest, collected by enthusiasts and studied by historians of automotive engineering. General Motors’ current and recent V8 programs rely on overhead-valve architectures with modern features such as variable valve timing and advanced materials. The legacy of the flathead V8 lives on in museum exhibits, restoration projects, and the broader story of GM’s early push into V8 power.
Summary
General Motors did produce flathead V8 engines in the 1930s, most notably the V8-60 family used across several GM brands. These engines embodied a transitional phase in GM’s engineering, offering a cost-effective entry into V8 power before the industry-standard shift to overhead-valve designs in the postwar era. By the mid-1950s, flathead V8s had largely disappeared from GM’s new-car offerings, supplanted by more modern, efficient OHV V8s. The flathead era remains a notable chapter in GM’s long history of engine development.
For readers seeking the full context, the story of GM’s flathead V8 sits alongside broader questions about automotive engineering, cost pressures of the 1930s, and the quick pace of postwar technological change in the U.S. auto industry.
When was the last flathead V8 made?
November 25th, 1953
This Week in Gearhead History: on November 25th, 1953, the Ford Rouge Engine Plant produced their last flathead V8! "You can't talk about cars, hot rods, and racing without mentioning the Ford flathead V8 engine. The significance and impact it had on the automotive world is undeniable, whether you like Fords or not!
What is the rarest V8 engine?
The L88 remains one of the rarest. And most coveted Corvette engines ever. Produced. 1965 Chrysler A990 race Hemi 203 units the 1965.
Did Chevrolet have a flathead engine?
Yes. Cadillac, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac all had flathead (side valve) engines. GMC until 1939, Cadillac and Oldsmobile until 1949 (although Olds had a flathead 6 available in '49 and '50) and Pontiac until 1955. Buick and Chevrolet never had flathead engines.
Why did they stop making flathead engines?
Flatheads only went away because you can't make them with high compression ratios (> about 8.0). This was circa 1950's well before fuel efficiency was prioritized.
