Many important engines have come and gone over the course of vehicle history. As new technology is developed, older blocks are often discarded in favor of engines that feature streamlined performance or better mechanics. It’s rare for any engine to see continual use for more than a few years, much less a few decades. However, from 1967-2003, General Motors-Chevrolet did just that; one of their blocks was so well-received and widely used that they continued to rework and improve it again and again. If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking about none other than the legendary Chevrolet small-block 350 engine.

Chevy’s work on the small-block V8 first began in 1955 when they developed their 256 cubic inch engine for use in sports models like the Corvette. However, when Ford unveiled their high-performance 289 cu. in. V8 small block as an option for the 1965 Mustang, the GM engineers knew that they had to build something that could compete. The result was the 350, a small but powerful block that first powered the 1967 Camaro. The very first 350 (also known as the L48) was also a high-performance variant, sporting 295 bhp at 3200 RPM and outstripping the HiPo Mustang’s estimated 271 bhp. Ford had begun the performance pony car trend, but Chevrolet had fired back with a new example of what a powerful small block could be.

However, Chevy was not content to put their new creation in just one of their models. Over the ensuing years, different retunings of the 350 would become standard options for almost all Chevrolet models, including sports and muscle cars like the Bel Air, the Corvette, the Chevelle, and the Nova, and everyday family sedans and utility vehicles like the Caprice, El Camino, and Impala. The 350s made in the 60s would range from 255 to 380 bhp, meaning that the increasingly iconic 350 was available in various configurations to everyday drivers and gearheads looking for a thrill.

General Motors didn’t stop with cars, either. When the 350 began to fall from its position as the company standard in the early 1980s, it continued to power various General Motors trucks like the Chevy C10 and the GMC Sierra. Throughout the next two decades, the engine would expand further to power vans, boats, and even small planes. Right up until its official discontinuation in 2002, the 350 was helping power millions of vehicles.  According to some estimates over 25 million Chevy 350 engines were produced between 1967 and 2002. And you can still get them by themselves; a GM subsidiary in Springfield, MO still produces the 350 under the company’s “GM Genuine Parts brand,” and GM Powertrain still manufactures it as the “Vortec”--an option for large industrial vehicles and boats. Considering how widespread the 350 is throughout time and space, there’s a good chance that sometime in your lifetime, you have ridden (or will ride) in a vehicle powered by this engine. 

The wide availability of the 350 blocks made them popular choices for vehicle owners looking to swap out their engine for upgraded performance. Throughout the 1980s and early 90s, a 350 was solid gold for anyone looking to build or modify a hot rod. Official Chevrolet power ratings could be pushed significantly past their limits in the hands of a skilled mechanic. This movement was so great that “put a 350 in it!” was the solution that most mechanics gave aspiring racers trying to increase a car's speed. The officially recorded numbers of 350 purchase and production is staggering, but there’s no telling how many more thousands of people were impacted by a 350 during its second or even third lease on life. 

Different engines are beginning to take over the workshops of the world. Multiple car companies, including General Motors, have stated that their lineups will soon be all-electric. However, it is hard to believe that appreciation for the internal combustion engine will ever fade away. Automotive enthusiasts will continue to collect and drive cars powered the good old-fashioned way in the years to come, and classic blocks that have already made their mark on the world will become even more important. When you look at the full scope of internal-combustion history, it is hard to imagine that the legacy that any one block leaves will be more widespread or heartfelt than the legacy left by the Chevrolet 350 engine.

References:

350 Chevy Engine: A Detailed Look - VehicleHistory

The Chevy 350 Engine: Everything You Need to Know - CarsDirect

Chevy 350 V8 Engine : Engine Facts.com

Chevrolet small-block engine (first- and second-generation) - Wikipedia

Chevrolet Camaro - Wikipedia

Chevrolet 350: GM's Most Enduring V8 Engine - Autotrader

1973–87 Chevrolet/GMC Truck buyers guide - Hagerty Media