10 of our favorite Ford V-8s

7. Indy V-8 (1963–1971)

Ever heard a Lotus scream down the straight at Indy? That’s Ford’s 256-cubic-inch DOHC V-8 doing its thing.

Built for mid-engine race cars, this tiny-but-mighty V-8 helped Jim Clark win the 1965 Indy 500—the first for a mid-rear-engine car and the beginning of the end for the legendary Offenhauser.

It looked great, sounded better, and marked a turning point in American open-wheel racing.
Why it matters: It brought Ford to the winner’s circle at Indy.