Image credit: Thesupermat https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35970517
There’s a certain magic to a classic V8 roadster. It’s not just the horsepower stats or the glossy paint it’s the way they make you feel. The burble at idle, the rush when you floor it, the wind clawing at your hair as the speedometer climbs. Back in the golden age of motoring, engineers and designers weren’t just building cars they were building icons.
From the elegance of European grand tourers to the raw, unapologetic muscle from across the Atlantic, these machines were more than transport they were rolling declarations of freedom and style. In this MotorHub deep dive, we’re revisiting eight unforgettable V8-powered roadsters that still make collectors go weak at the knees. You’ll get the stories, the quirks, the performance figures, and why each one still matters today.
1- BMW 507 (1956)
Image credit: Par Stefan Krause https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9786222
Overview: BMW’s stylish but financially disastrous attempt to rival Mercedes’ 300SL.
- Designed by Albrecht von Goertz, with a hand-shaped alloy body on a shortened BMW 503 chassis.
- 3.2-litre V8 producing 148 bhp, topping out at around 220 km/h.
- Just 252 units ever made one of BMW’s rarest production cars.
- Production costs were so high, BMW reportedly lost money on every single one.
- Lack of racing pedigree meant it struggled to lure performance-focused buyers.
2 – Daimler SP250 (1959)
Image credit: By Charles https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4489465
Overview: A quirky British roadster built with the US market in mind, featuring a jewel of a V8.
- Originally named the “Dart,” but Chrysler forced a name change.
- All-alloy 2.5-litre V8 designed by Edward Turner famously smooth and flexible.
- Lightweight glassfibre body helped it reach 193 km/h.
- 2,648 produced before production stopped in 1964.
Engine also found a home in the Jaguar Mk2’s V8 250 saloon
3 – AC Cobra (1962)
Image credit: Stahlkocher https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=724290
Overview: The king of British-American hybrids AC Ace style with Ford V8 punch.
- Carroll Shelby’s idea: British chassis, American muscle.
- Started with a 4.2-litre V8, quickly upgraded to 4.7 litres.
- 1965’s 7-litre big-block version packed around 480 bhp.
- Capable of 290 km/h in its most ferocious spec.
- Around 998 early Cobras built now worth a small fortune.
4 – Excalibur SS (1964)
Image credit: sv1ambo https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38837491
Overview: A retro-inspired pioneer of the neo-classic car movement.
- Designed by Brooks Stevens, styled after the Mercedes-Benz SSK.
- Early versions ran Studebaker V8s; later switched to Chevrolet engines.
- More about style and exclusivity than outright speed.
- 1,848 units sold before the S3 was retired in 1979.
5 – Trident Clipper (1965)
Image credit: kitmasterbloke https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131883308
Overview: The TVR project that slipped away and became its own brand.
- Started as a TVR project; revived by dealer Bill Last.
- Early cars used Austin-Healey 3000 chassis; later switched to Triumph TR6.
- Mostly Ford V8-powered; some had a 5.6-litre Chrysler engine.
- Only around 160 Clippers produced, plus a handful by TVR.
6 – AC 428 Convertible (1966)
Image credit: Par Emmanuel https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1806238
Overview: The Cobra’s refined Italian cousin.
- Based on a stretched Cobra chassis (by 15 cm) for more comfort.
- Styled by Frua, mixing British muscle with Italian elegance.
- Detuned 7-litre V8 still delivered 345 bhp and 233 km/h top speed.
- Only 51 convertibles and 29 coupés ever built.
7 – Maserati Ghibli Spyder (1969)
Image credit:Thesupermat https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59903051
Overview: Drop-top grand touring with serious V8 power.
- 4.7-litre quad-cam V8 producing 306 bhp.
- SS version: 4.9 litres, 330 bhp, and a 270 km/h top speed.
- Slightly slower than the coupé but every bit as glamorous.
- Only 125 Spyders made, 45 of them SS models.
8 – Ferrari 308 GTS (1977)
Image credit: Steve Glover England https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58170125
Overview: Ferrari’s targa-topped V8 star of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
- Targa roof model introduced alongside the steel-bodied GTB.
- 2.9-litre V8 with up to 252 bhp depending on market.
- GTSi lost some power with fuel injection; later quattrovalvole restored most of it.
- Italy-only 2.0-litre version built to dodge heavy taxes.
Conclusion
From the sculpted lines of the BMW 507 to the bare-knuckle brutality of the AC Cobra, these V8 roadsters are more than vintage cars they’re pieces of rolling art that still command respect today. They were built in an era when speed met style in perfect harmony, and every press of the accelerator was a statement. Whether it’s the Italian flair of the Maserati Ghibli Spyder or the outrageous muscle of the Cobra, each one proves that the V8 roadster’s appeal is as timeless as the desert horizon. These aren’t just classics they’re the heartbeat of car culture.
In Dubai and across the UAE, roadsters take on a special magic. The coastal sweep of Jumeirah Beach Road, the endless desert straights beyond Al Ain, the night skyline glittering in the rearview it’s a driver’s dream. At MotorHub, we bring together stories of the world’s most iconic cars with the unique spirit of the Emirates, where passion for driving meets the freedom of the open road. Whether you’re spotting a Ferrari 308 GTS at City Walk or hearing the deep burble of a Cobra echoing through the mountains of Hatta, one thing’s certain the love for a great V8 is alive and well here.
