A V8 engine is something we can almost guarantee every single car enthusiast knows and loves. Even non-car guys have heard about arguably the most famous type of engine in all of existence, and a big part of the reason why V8s are so famous and revered boils down to American muscle cars.

For decades, muscle cars have been some of the most popular vehicles in the automobile industry, and one of the most prominent features of a muscle car is a big, bulky V8 hiding under the hood. European manufacturers also developed their own versions of V8 for their supercars and we got the likes Ferrari F40, Koenigsegg CCR, Saleen S7, and many more.

Apart from amazing cars, V8 engines have powered everything from airplanes, motorboats, and even freakin’ motorcycles! Recently, we have been seeing more and more manufacturers either willingly or unwillingly opting to go eco-friendly and favor smaller engines with forced induction. Some have even planned to go all-electric. The way that things are projected to head in the future, these hungry engines that feed fuel to 8 cylinders will become archaic. But before that time finally comes, let’s relish the iconic power plant, and take a look at some facts every enthusiast should know about the V8.

9 The Aviation Industry First Used A V8

The First V8
Via - Writework

All the way back in 1904, a French company called Antoinette designed and developed the very first engine model that would use 8 cylinders in a position we are all familiar with today. For 10 years, we saw V8 engines in planes and boat races before Cadillac made the L-Head V8 in 1914.

via Warbird Tales

Ford’s Flathead V8 introduced in 1932 was the one that made V8s popular. Turbochargers and V8 Engines are among the most popular components in a car, and they both originated from aviation.

8 A Motorcycle Once Broke The Land Speed Record Using A V8

via Odd Bike

In 1907, 3 years after the first V8 engine was made, a guy named Glenn Hammond Curtiss who was a pioneer in many modes of transport, dared to do something very few ever could. He built a motorcycle, installed a 4.4-Liter 4-HP V8 engine in it, and made an unofficial land speed record of 136 mph.

via thevintagent.com

This was the only time in history that a motorcycle was able to ever break the record. 136 miles per hour on a motorcycle may seem normal today, but that was a pretty big deal more than a century ago.

7 Ferrari Made The Smallest V8 Engine Ever

The small engine with lots of power
Via Hagerty

We usually see muscle cars and supercars flaunting big V8 engines with anywhere between 4 to 8-liter V8s. There's also a 9.4-liter V8 engine currently on the market! Ferrari being Ferrari, they decided to step out of the norm. They wanted to make a small and nimble car, but it needed to be fast, because… Ferrari.

via Zeroto60Times

So they tried to make a small and lightweight V8 since the engine is one of the heaviest parts in a car. They put together a 2.0-liter V8 for a few of their little cars in the '70s. Ferrari also turbocharged the little engine so it then made 251 HP.

Related: The Best V8-Powered Ferraris Ever

6 The Bank Angle Is More Important Than We Think

Koenigsegg Jesko 5.0-Liter Twin Turbo V8 Engine
Via: YouTube

One might assume that the angle of the two rows of cylinders in an engine would play an important part in the engine’s size and the room it takes, but there is more to it than meets the eye. The engine's design relates more internal processes such as sound and vibrations.

Related: These Are The 5 Most Powerful V8 Engines Ever Made (5 That Were Garbage)

For: Here's What Most People Don't Know About V8 Engines
via Porsche Newsroom

Although some larger V8 engines use smaller angles, a 90-degree angle is generally the most efficient in minimizing vibrations and producing a great sound that we all know and love. Your V8-powered car is more likely to have a 90-degree angle than not.

5 The Relation Between NASCAR And V8 Engines Is Deep

NASCAR
Via NASCAROnNBCSports

NASCAR is one of the biggest racing series in the world. They might not be America’s favorite anymore, people seem to love the Indycar series much more these days. Regardless, we owe it to V8 engines for essentially giving birth to the NASCAR racing series.

NASCAR Racing Cars
Via NASCAR

In the late ‘40s, moonshine runners started racing their V8-powered illegal or banned cars. They started organizing these races, and Voilà! Believe it or not, that’s how NASCAR started! Since then, they have used V8s as their main power source.

Related: Here's What Doesn't Make Any Sense About NASCAR

4 The Chevy Small Block V8 Is Still In Production 65 Years Later

267 Small Block V8
Via Race Car Network

It might be a bit of a stretch to say it like that, but it’s true nonetheless. Chevy started making small-block V8 engines in 1955. GM kept on producing small-block V8s for their production vehicles all the way up to 2002. After that, GM’s Chevrolet Performance division continued the production and development of small block crate engines, blocks, heads, and components.

Chevrolet-Performance-350265-Base-crate-engine-Chevy-Small-Block-V8-002
via GM Authority

Moreover, they are factory-made brand new components, not refurbished stuff. At the time of writing, GM is still making it rather than ditching the V8 in favor of smaller capacity engines or electric motors like many other manufacturers.

Related: Ford Vs Chevy: Who Made The Best Small Block Engine?

3 What The Small Block And Big Block Actually Means

LS7 engine, unit by itself
Via: Chevrolet

Ah, the age-old question: What’s the difference between a Small Block V8 and a Big Block V8? In simple terms, it all comes down to displacement vs size. If you want to fit a V8 in a compact car, or in a big car but the engine compartment is cramped behind the passenger seats, then you need a small block.

Via: Chevrolet

If you got the room, and want more displacement, then a big block is the way to go. Since you know about bank angles now, you should know that big-block engines are bigger and heavier, featuring larger bores and strokes and resulting in larger displacements. However, because of their sheer size, they often cannot achieve the 90-degree angle. Hence, they are louder and emit more vibrations.

2 They Are A Great Mix Of Power And Efficiency

Ford 5.4 Triton V8
Via Factorydirectengines

Today, it is comical to say that V8s are efficient at all. We are at a pivotal period where cars are becoming greener faster than ever. But there used to be a time, where V8 engines were considered as the perfect middle ground between small albeit less powerful 3-4 cylinder engines and big hefty fuel-hungry V16, V12, or W16 engines.

267 Small Block V8
Via Race Car Network

Even Formula 1 race cars were powered by V8s for a while. But now, even motorsports started using smaller powerplants or went completely electric to help create an eco-friendly environment (or so we think).

1 A 1.6-Liter Was Almost Made By Suzuki Once

Cappuccino scale size by car civic other
via flickr.com

If you think Ferrari’s 2-Liter V8 was unusually small, wait till you know about this one. Remember the Suzuki Cappuccino? Well, the Japanese manufacturer fancied a better-looking, more stylish version of that little 2-seater with an equally small V8 underneath it.

Related: Here’s Why The 650cc, 60hp Suzuki Cappuccino Is Worth Saving

via All Car Index

Enter the Concept C2. In 1997, Suzuki unveiled it with the intention of making it into a unique sports car as its USP. To their dismay, it never went into production, otherwise, you would have these little Cappuccinos with 1.6-Liter V8 engines running around on streets today. What a weird world we live in, huh?