TorqueList Original Technical Art
AMC 250 V8
V8 · N/A
AMC · Gen I Rambler V8
AMC 250 V8
American Motors' first in-house V8, developed for Rambler, Nash and Hudson applications.
250
Cubic inches
AMC developed the 250 in-house in roughly two years, giving the newly formed company its own modern OHV V8. The same architecture grew into the 287 and 327.
Displacement
250 ci
Bore
3.5"
Stroke
3.25"
Years
1956–1961
Key Takeaway
AMC's first in-house V8 used a cast-iron 90-degree OHV layout with a 3.50-inch bore and 3.25-inch stroke. The early 250 was a tall-deck, robust design with forged rotating components and conservative valvetrain geometry aimed at durability and broad street torque.
Technical Specifications
- Horsepower
- Varies by year/application; see documented variants
- Torque
- 240 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm in representative 1957 190 hp specification
- Architecture
- 90-degree OHV V8
- Block
- Cast iron
- Cylinder heads
- Cast iron
- Valvetrain
- Pushrod OHV; early 250 used mechanical lifters
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Fuel delivery
- Carbureted
AMC's first in-house V8 used a cast-iron 90-degree OHV layout with a 3.50-inch bore and 3.25-inch stroke. The early 250 was a tall-deck, robust design with forged rotating components and conservative valvetrain geometry aimed at durability and broad street torque.
Internal Specifications
Variant-specific values are labeled. Engine families that span multiple years or RPOs can have different heads, cams, induction and rotating parts, so the exact code/year always takes priority.
Rotating Assembly
- Crankshaft
- Forged steel in the original Gen I design
- Connecting rods
- Forged steel
Notable Applications
Strengths
- Forged crankshaft and rods
- Strong original cylinder-head design
- Historically important first AMC V8
Weaknesses / Watch-outs
- Heavy tall-deck early architecture
- Limited modern aftermarket compared with later AMC V8s
Common Upgrades
- Period four-barrel induction
- Dual exhaust
- Modern ignition conversion
Racing History & Legacy
The 250 launched AMC's independent V8 engineering lineage.
References & Image Credit
Engineering Notes Worth Knowing
250 cu in / 4.1 L with 3.50 x 3.25-inch bore and stroke.
Cast-iron 90-degree OHV V8.
Early 250 versions used mechanical lifters.
Shared its basic Gen I architecture with the later 287 and 327.
History · context · related reading
The Story Behind AMC 250 V8
The 250 was one of AMC's first major engineering statements after the Nash-Hudson merger. Rather than depend on an outside supplier, AMC built its own modern OHV V8 and created the foundation for the company's first V8 family.
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