Engine

• The Viking 50 came with a standard 283-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The standard 283 featured a two-barrel carburetor. An optional four-barrel carb was also available. The 283 had a 3.875-inch bore and 3-inch stroke. The Viking 50's 8-to-1 compression ratio was slightly lower than the 8.5-to-1 compression ratio versions in Chevy passenger cars. The Viking 50 generated 160 horsepower and 265 foot-pounds of torque. Passenger cars with the two-barrel version had 170 horsepower and 275 foot-pounds of torque. The Viking 50's four-barrel carb 283 generated about 205 horsepower. Chevrolet marketed the Viking 50's 283 as the Loadmaster, which was a mid-range engine above the Viking 40's 155-horsepower Trademaster and below the Viking 60's 160-horsepower Taskmaster.