I understand the claims that Chevrolet actually built a V-8 prior to 1955. Some think it was a twin four or so I have read. Which is true?

ChevyChip,

Chevrolet introduced a production V-8 in 1917 and officially put it in the 1918 model year, calling the car the Chevrolet Eight. Labeled the D-Series, this ran in production from late 1917 though early in 1919. I found conflicting production numbers for these years.

The engine was a 90-degree V-8 with overhead valves. Displacement was 288 CI.

The cars were priced in 1918 were around $1,550 new, rising from 1917's prices in the $1,350 range.

Jim

Chevrolet's official records indicate 511 Model D's built in calendar year ending 1917; 2199 built in year ending 1918, and 71 built in Flint during January 1919 for a reported total of 2781 cars. In addition to this can be added the 4 Model D show cars built in January 1917 that were not recorded gives a final count of 2785 cars. We had 5 of the estimated 20 Models left at the Springfield Meet last July.

Does anyone have one of the show cars built in January 1917?

I always find it's interesting when an early Chev 6 enthusiast shows an interest in the pre 25 Chev 4's [and Twin 4's]!

NO! There are no 1917 Model D's known. The so-called 1917 D4 Chummy Roadster at the Springfield Meet, CAR No. 1-600, I estimate was built in June 1918 with the 1918 D5 that was for sale at the Springfield Swapmeet, CAR NO. 1-478 I estimate was built 2 months earlier in April 1918.

The oldest 1918 Model D known is a D5, CAR NO. 9-458, I estimate was built October 1917 [the 9th car built at the Oshawa, Ontario Plant is today owned and on display at the Elkhorn Automotive Museum in Elkhorn, Man., Canada

I am a Stovebolt 6 enthusiast. I do find the first Chevy V8s interesting. Does anyone have technical specs? I have read/heard that the block was cast in two halves that were bolted together. Is that true?
Just curious,
Thanks

Yes - this engine was designed from the start as a 2-piece block so conventional 4 cyl tooling could be used. It is split N to S - so both left and right halves are the same. The cylinder heads can be switch left to right with the exhaust coming out the back of the heads and coolant being suck out the front of the heads by a single waterpump.
The bore is 3 3/8" x 4" stroke for about 286 CID and is rated 55 hp @ 2700 RPM. I call these OHV, 90 deg V-8's "Twin 4's" partly because the instruction manuals tells the owner to adjust the 2-barrel Zenith carb by idling on one bank by pulling the spark wires off the plugs off the other bank - and running on only 4 cylinders until the idle is smooth - then switch banks and do the same. With a 90 deg V-8 configuration and a 180 deg, flat plane, crankshaft - it is like the second 4 cyl engine following a 1/4 of a turn (firing) behind the first 4 cyl engine. These were the second Chevrolet engine design not built in Flint [the Chevrolet Sixes were built by the Sterling Motor Co. in Detroit in 1913-14], with some 2900 Chev Twin 4's built in the Chev Bay City plant.
You must of miss seeing my 1918 Twin 4 on last summer's National Chev 4 Tour in Paducah, where we tour around Western Kentucky for several days.

This site has a couple photos of a 1918 Chevrolet V-8.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/billd1/webdoc2.htm

Sunday was our regular club meeting, we have a bunch of what I call flatheaders (Ford owners) in the club, I made a copy of photo of the Chevy V/8 and labled it "WHAT IS THIS" passed it around at the meeting and only one person a Chevy owner positively identified the engine, one ford guy says he remembered seeing something like this once in a museum and thought it might be a Chevrolet.

Bob G. Thanks for that site. It's great!
Tim.