General Motors Once Created A V8 Engine So Insanely Powerful That Engineers Nicknamed It "The Killer"
What, How, And Why
When you hear an engine called “The Killer”, there must be a good reason. Well, here is the full story of what, how, and why General Motors named their powerful V8 engine so.
Experimental Powerhouse
Deep in the heart of Detroit's industrial jungle, the W-43 emerged as General Motors's ambitious experiment in power. Its massive V8 block roared with untamed horses; chrome valve covers gleamed under fluorescent lights while engineers whispered about its revolutionary combustion design. It was based on the Oldsmobile 455-CID V8 engine.
The Unmatched Strength Of The W-43
Innovation rarely comes without risk, and the experimental W-43 was one daring approach. Designed in the late 1960s, this V8 engine carried 7.5 liters of displacement and gave approximately 500-600 horsepower. That’s power enough to outmuscle most sports cars. Engineers dreamed of dominating racetracks with this one, for sure.
What About The Torque?
The toque was around 540 lb-ft. Such capabilities provide a car with exceptional acceleration and towing capacity. To show you just how advanced this advancement was, we have such high torques in several high-performance vehicles going above 600 lb-ft of torque today.
What Makes The W-43 Engine Special
Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile innovated in the 1960s, but their groundbreaking design set these engines apart. While Chevy toyed with overhead-cam technology and Pontiac refined its Ram Air cylinder heads, Oldsmobile went all in on experimental engineering.
