Cadillac · Early OHV Cadillac V8
Cadillac 390 V8 — 1959–1962
The stroked first-generation Cadillac V8 that powered the peak fin-era cars.
390
Cubic inches
Cadillac lengthened stroke to 3.875 inches for 1959, creating the 390 that powered the division's iconic fin-era lineup. Eldorado versions used three two-barrel carburetors and reached 345 advertised horsepower.
Displacement
390 ci
Bore
4"
Stroke
3.875"
Years
1959–1962
Key Takeaway
Cadillac's first 390 used a 4.00-inch bore and longer 3.875-inch stroke within the 1949-based V8 family. High compression and four-barrel or tri-carb induction delivered the huge low-rpm torque required by Cadillac's increasingly large fin-era cars.
Technical Specifications
- Compression
- 10.5:1 in documented 1959 specification
- Horsepower
- 325 hp standard in documented 1959 form; 345 hp Eldorado tri-carb version
- Torque
- 435 lb-ft in documented 1959 Eldorado specification
- Architecture
- 90-degree OHV V8
- Block
- Cast iron
- Cylinder heads
- Cast iron
- Valvetrain
- Pushrod OHV with hydraulic lifters
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Fuel delivery
- Four-barrel; three two-barrels on selected Eldorado versions
Cadillac's first 390 used a 4.00-inch bore and longer 3.875-inch stroke within the 1949-based V8 family. High compression and four-barrel or tri-carb induction delivered the huge low-rpm torque required by Cadillac's increasingly large fin-era cars.
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.
Notable Applications
Strengths
- Strong low-rpm torque
- Iconic late-1950s Cadillac applications
- Factory tri-carb performance option
Weaknesses / Watch-outs
- Heavy first-generation architecture
- High-compression fuel requirements
- Do not confuse with the completely redesigned 1963 390
Common Upgrades
- Period tri-carb restoration
- Electronic ignition conversion
- Improved cooling
Racing History & Legacy
The 1959–62 390 was the final major displacement of Cadillac's 1949-based V8 architecture.
References & Image Credit
Engine image: Stephen Foskett · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Engineering Notes Worth Knowing
390 cu in / 6.4 L with 4.00 x 3.875-inch bore and stroke.
90-degree OHV V8 from Cadillac's original postwar engine family.
1959 standard output: 325 hp; Eldorado tri-carb version reached 345 hp.
Documented Eldorado torque reached 435 lb-ft.
History · context · related reading
The Story Behind Cadillac 390 V8 — 1959–1962
The 1959–62 390 powered Cadillac at the visual peak of the tailfin era. Its combination of displacement, compression, and optional three-carburetor induction matched the scale and excess of the cars around it.
TorqueList Garage Reference Series
See this engine inside the full Cadillac reference catalog.
The same Engine Library data now powers a more detailed mobile-friendly catalog with technical specs, variants, engineering notes, history and related stories.