How much are original Ardun heads worth?
The only drawback with the Ardun heads is cost. They’re made in USA, complicated and produced in small numbers and that is reflected in the price of approximately $15,000/pair.
How many Ardun heads were made?
The Ardun cylinder head is one of the most sought-after performance parts, as only 200 to 250 original sets were ever made; so it’s safe to say they factor into this engine’s “lofty” price tag.
What is Ardun?
Before we get to the tech, some history: Ardun is a contraction of Arkus-Duntov, a name well known among the Chevy faithful, especially Corvette owners. Before he joined General Motors, Zora Arkus-Duntov, with his brother Yura, operated Ardun Mechanical Corporation in New York.
What is an Ardun head?
The Ardun heads gained a mystic reputation as the ultimate evolution in speed equipment for the Ford flathead engine, which had enormous popularity in various forms of auto racing in the United States, before being made obsolete by larger and more efficient engines produced after 1950.
When was the flat head v8 made?
1932
Ford’s famed flathead V-8 was revolutionary when the automaker put the engine into production in 1932. It brought the V-8 to the mass market and ready power to hot rodders for decades to come.
Who earned the nickname Father of the Corvette?
Zora Arkus-Duntov (December 25, 1909 – April 21, 1996) was a Belgian-born American engineer whose work on the Chevrolet Corvette earned him the nickname “Father of the Corvette.” He is sometimes erroneously referred to as the inventor of the Corvette, whereas that title belongs to Harley Earl.
Did Henry Ford invent the V-8?
There, in Edison’s cramped old workshop, under Ford’s direct supervision and at a safe distance from the experts who knew it couldn’t be done, they developed the first Ford V8 in 1932.
Why did they stop making flat head engines?
In 1953, Ford made the final flathead V-8. It displaced 3.9 liters and made 110 hp. As engineers sought more power, Ford scrapped the design in favor of an overhead-valve engine. Thus the flathead V-8’s tenure came to end.
What cars did Harley Earl design?
A Look Back at Harley Earl’s Great Designs
- 1927 Cadillac LaSalle (Robert Tate’s Collection)
- (Robert Tate Collection)
- (General Motors archive)
- Chevrolet Corvette brochure (Robert Tate Collection)
- Harley Earl (General Motors archive)
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air (General Motors archive)
- (Robert Tate Collection)
Who is Zora Corvette?
Who created the V8?
Frenchman Leon Levavasseur was a 39-year-old inventor in 1902 when he took out a patent for the first V-8 engine he called the Antoinette. The V8 since then has become the most reliable and efficient internal combustion engine to power automobiles and to see extensive use in power boats and early aircraft.