9 iconic engines that never quit: Chevy to Rolls-Royce
The most enduring car engines: Ford Modular to Chevy Small Block
9 iconic engines that never quit: Chevy to Rolls-Royce
Discover Autocar’s pick of nine enduring, iconic engines: Ford Modular V8, Ford Kent, Buick V6, Rover V8, Rolls-Royce L-Series, and Chevy Small Block.
2025-11-12T21:10:24+03:00
2025-11-12T21:10:24+03:00
2025-11-12T21:10:24+03:00
Automotive history is rich with big names, yet only a handful of engines have outlasted generations to become genuine icons. Autocar singled out nine of the most enduring powertrains, a list that underlines a simple truth: brilliant engineering doesn’t date. It’s a roll call that’s hard to argue with.Among them is Ford’s Modular V8, launched in the 1990s and still bolted into F-Series pickups. Its flexibility and stamina turned it into a cult favorite. No less influential is the Ford Kent, which debuted in 1959 and went on to underpin sporting efforts from Lotus and Cosworth.The Buick V6 stayed in service for nearly half a century, while the Rover V8—derived from America’s Buick 215—came to symbolize the British approach to robustness. The Rolls-Royce L-Series deserves its own spotlight too, spanning 61 years of production, from the Silver Cloud to the Bentley Mulsanne.The outright record-holder, though, is Chevrolet’s Small Block. In production since 1955, it has surpassed 100 million units, spawned countless iterations, and secured a reputation as the longest-lived internal-combustion engine anywhere.In an era dominated by electric cars, these engines serve as a quiet reminder that real engineering isn’t just about headline power figures; it’s about durability proven over time.
iconic engines, enduring engines, longest-lived engines, Chevrolet Small Block, Ford Modular V8, Ford Kent, Buick V6, Rover V8, Rolls-Royce L-Series, engine longevity, automotive history
2025
Michael Powers
news
The most enduring car engines: Ford Modular to Chevy Small Block
Discover Autocar’s pick of nine enduring, iconic engines: Ford Modular V8, Ford Kent, Buick V6, Rover V8, Rolls-Royce L-Series, and Chevy Small Block.
Michael Powers, Editor
Automotive history is rich with big names, yet only a handful of engines have outlasted generations to become genuine icons. Autocar singled out nine of the most enduring powertrains, a list that underlines a simple truth: brilliant engineering doesn’t date. It’s a roll call that’s hard to argue with.
Among them is Ford’s Modular V8, launched in the 1990s and still bolted into F-Series pickups. Its flexibility and stamina turned it into a cult favorite. No less influential is the Ford Kent, which debuted in 1959 and went on to underpin sporting efforts from Lotus and Cosworth.
The Buick V6 stayed in service for nearly half a century, while the Rover V8—derived from America’s Buick 215—came to symbolize the British approach to robustness. The Rolls-Royce L-Series deserves its own spotlight too, spanning 61 years of production, from the Silver Cloud to the Bentley Mulsanne.
The outright record-holder, though, is Chevrolet’s Small Block. In production since 1955, it has surpassed 100 million units, spawned countless iterations, and secured a reputation as the longest-lived internal-combustion engine anywhere.
In an era dominated by electric cars, these engines serve as a quiet reminder that real engineering isn’t just about headline power figures; it’s about durability proven over time.
