Taking a page from the American playbook.
The typical train of thought is that large displacement, V8 engines are solely for American cars because they need huge displacement to make the power. Thing is, a big V8 might be an American calling card, but there is a worldwide allure that comes from hearing a V8 rumble.
This is but a small selection of big V8s that were crammed into European bodies.
DeTomaso Pantera
Want a mid-engined, Italian exotic with an engine from Dearborn? Then the Pantera and its 351 Ford V8 is the car for you.
Mercedes 500E
The 500E was built in collaboration with Porsche, which saw the cars shipped back and forth between the two companies. What resulted is one of the most sought after sport sedans to ever come from Germany.
AC Cobra
A simple formula: Take a beautiful English roadster, add a 289 or 427 Ford V8, have a car that is a legend. Job done.
Jensen Interceptor
Jensen went with Chrysler power, which means some models had an engine that displaced as much as 7.2 liters. That's the right way to make power.
Sunbeam Tiger
Like AC, Sunbeam called up Ford, got some 260 and 289 V8s, and stuffed them in the classically beautiful Tiger body.
Facel Vega
The French had the same idea as Jensen: Stuff a giant engine in a lovely coupe. Also, if you didn't know, French author Albert Camus was killed in one.
Bizzarrini GT5300
Corvette engine, Italian body. Gorgeous.
TVR Griffith
Nothing spells reliability like a TVR with a Rover V8.
Iso Grifo
Giotto Bizzarrini did the mechanicals for Iso Grifo, so it should be no surprise that there is also Corvette V8 under here.
Bitter CD
Source: Road and Track
