In 1949, Cadillac and Oldsmobile introduced revolutionary modern overhead valve V8 engines, with more power but lighter and rev’d higher, making their competitors’ engines obsolete. They also had the benefit of the GM HydraMatic automatic transmissions that were the best of their type for a generation. Here are details on the Oldsmobile Rocket engine.  The 1949 Rocket 88 was the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 and tore up the stock car circuits. This car is at Custom Car Crafters, link at right.

First year for Toronado, a very innovative car, the first American front-driver since the Cord in the ’30s. GM took seven years to perfect this powerful engine/transmission/drive unit into GM’s first subframe.  It was overbuilt and subsequently used for the GMC motorhome built in the ’70s.  Remarkably heavy for a FWD car but had ample power from 425 cu in cranking out 385 hp and 475 ft·lb of torque.