We’re all for power. Power is good, power is fun. But, we miss the linear delivery of power found in naturally-aspirated performance engines. In a world full of forced induction, there’s something about the up-top power burst that will never get old.
Mercury Marine is an expert in such engines with no turbo or supercharger and a dual overhead cam design. And as you probably know, it once built one for the Chevrolet Corvette, specifically, the C4 Corvette ZR-1.
Popular Mechanics explored an alternate reality where Mercury Marine still builds a DOHC V8 for the Corvette, and it’s the SB4 7.0-liter DOHC V8 engine.
The publication tested the engine in a British kit car, an Ultima GTR, and found big-bore displacement and high airflow is utterly tantalizing. At 7,500 RPM, the 7.0-liter engine makes 750 horsepower. No turbos, no supercharger, all engine. And it sounds wonderful. It’s almost peculiar to hear an engine of this size rev to 8,000 RPM, but we love it, and we long for these engines once again.
Mercury Marine will sell anyone the engine for a not-so-inexpensive price of $29,000. But, for those that have the means, it should definitely be an option. Head to the link here to see the video.
Comments
Would be awesome in a pre ’75 car here in the gold coast state. otherwise it’s “E”at “P”otatoes “A”u-gratin time every two years!
GM could build the same thing if it weren’t for those potato heads!
This Mercury Marine engine is a beast.. a naturally aspirated 7.0L DOHC-4v V8 making 750hp @ 7000 rpm; one can try imagineing a twin-turbocharged or supercharged variant that might make over 1,100 horsepower as such an engine would change the entire personality of a C8 Corvette or Cadillac ‘halo’ sports coupe.
That would be the ultimate engine for a lightweight C8 Vette.