Chevrolet’s V-8 models continued turning up the heat as the ’50s rolled on. In 1957, the big news beneath the hood included a displacement increase as the 265 was bored out to 283 cubic inches. A 162-horse 265 V-8 remained available that year, but much more popular was the new 283, which started at 185 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust.

Trading the two-barrel for a four-barrel, adding dual exhausts and boosting compression from 8.5:1 to 9.5:1 resulted in the Super Turbo-Fire 283, rated at 220 horsepower. Four Corvette V-8s also were available in passenger-car ranks, the first two fitted with dual four-barrel carburetors. Output was 245 horsepower with hydraulic lifters, and 270 with mechanical tappets. At the top of the list was Chevy’s legendary fuel-injected Ramjet V-8s, rated at 250 horsepower with a hydraulic cam, and 283 with solid lifters.