Rolls Royce V8, 1905

Leonard Setright, Rolls Royce, Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Car, No 7

This engine was designed for a car intended to compete with electric cars of the time, the goal was to be smooth and unintrusive, rather than for power. It was one of the first V8s for automobile use. The 90 degree layout was chosen to reduce the overall height and the cylinders, cast in pairs, followed the practise used for the existing twin and four cylinder engines. Displacement was 3.5 litres. Only three were made before being discontinued the following year, making way for the 30 HP 6 cylinder.