The Oldsmobile/Buick 215 V8 was a small 215 in³ aluminum engine for midsize
cars of the 1960s. It was introduced in the 1961 Buick Special, Oldsmobile
Cutlass F-85 (where it was called the Rockette), and Pontiac Tempest and
retired by General Motors just three years later due to high production costs.

The tooling was sold to Britain's Rover Group, and this Rover V8 engine saw
widespread use by many manufacturers. This engine was the basis for a 198 in³ V6.
The 198 was the forerunner of the 225 which was sold to and bought back
from Jeep in the 1970s, became the current GM 3800 engine.

An 8.75:1 compression version produced just 155 hp and 210 ft.lbf,
while a 10.25:1 model produced 185 hp and 230 ft.lbf.

Applications:

1961-1963 Buick Special
1961-1963 Oldsmobile F-85
1961-1963 Pontiac Tempest

photo made public 07-31-2009