by 
The Curious Bag
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Chevy rat motors are legendary in performance and racing circles. The "rat" was Chevrolet's answer to the powerful Dodge hemi engines.
Identification
Small-block Chevrolet V-8 motors were known as "mouse" motors due to their compact size and weight. When Chevy introduced a big-block V-8, it became known as the "rat," the mouse's big cousin.
History
The big-block Chevy rat motor debuted at Daytona in 1963, when the Chevy drivers blew away the competition with their new engines, achieving speeds in excess of 160 mph. Rat motors were offered in different Chevrolet models from 1965 until 1975.
Size
The first Chevy rate, the 396, was installed in the 1965 Corvette and put out 425 horsepower. The rat later grew to 427 cubic inches and eventually 454 cubic inches.
Models
The big-block rat was offered in the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevelle and Camaro. The Corvette always had the top horsepower numbers, but the Chevelle and Camaro were affordable sports cars with great power right from the factory.
Significance
The big-block V-8 Chevy rat motor was the horsepower and performance king of its day and is still very popular with hot rodders and racers.
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