Going from abandoned American orphan to British legend in just a few short years, the all-alloy motor we’ve come to know as the Rover V8 was initially launched as the Buick 215 engine and first fitted to the Buick Special, Oldsmobile F-85, and Pontiac Tempest in 1961. Light at just 144kg and producing as much as 200bhp, the 3.5-litre V8 engine sold well, with 377,000 215-powered cars built. However, all-alloy engine construction was in its infancy and accordingly, expensive. Furthermore, an aluminium engine’s specific requirements in terms of oil and coolant meant radiator clogging, overheating, and oil and coolant mixing were relatively common, leading to Buick dropping the 215 V8 from its range by 1963.
When visiting Mercury Marine to potentially arrange purchase of a V8 for its British saloons,…
