Muscle Cars


Mickey Thompson’s Wild V8 IndyCar engine!
Designed in the mid-1960s, this engine was a unique collaboration between legendary hot rodder Mickey Thompson and Chevrolet. It featured a radical design for its time using a 3-valve-per-cylinder layout, comprising of two intake valves and one exhaust valve.
Thompson’s goal was to challenge the dominance of the Ford DOHC V8s and Offenhauser engines at the Indianapolis 500. The engine was compact and lightweight, displacing 255 cubic inches (4.2 liters) to comply with IndyCar regulations.
In 1967, the engine made its debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, powering Thompson’s low-profile rear-engine car and showed great speed and promise in testing. However, the project was plagued with mechanical issues, including reliability concerns and difficulties adapting to the unique demands of IndyCar racing. Despite its promise, the engine failed in practice sessions in the lead up to official qualifying for the race and in 1968 another attempt was thwarted by an accident in pre testing. The project was ultimately shelved.
Although short-lived, the Mickey Thompson 3-Valve Chevy V8 remains an example of Thompson’s fearless approach to engineering and his relentless drive to push boundaries.
(On a side note, I knew Mickey. He was involved with GM "Pontiac" as a primary sponsor. They funneled tons of cash to the MT race team. I was racing a 1965 GTO, and visited MT often for Pontiac parts and chat. Mickey was able to build a very nice home using some of the leakage from Pontiac funds. My wife and I were rabid viewers for the MT short course racing. Still have the hat and the hat pins. Sad when he was killed.)

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