This great old GM promotional film from the legendary Jam Handy introduces an all-new Chevrolet feature for 1955:  the sensational 265 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8. Get the “confidential” info here.

With the official title Torque Talk, this little movie was produced to sing the praises of the all-new 1955 Chevrolet, in particular its equally new overhead-valve V8. And the film opens with the header, “This confidential info for Chevrolet dealers only,” so we know we’re getting the inside scoop.

The General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan, just northwest of Detroit, is the setting for the action, which includes some entertaining stunts. At one point, a Bel Air convertible tows 16 cars, including the entire 1955 GM passenger car line, from a dead stop. Later, there’s a drag race featuring the ’55 Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth. Can you guess the winner? (Meanwhile, if you’re interested in more in-depth technical info on the ’55 Chevy, we also have this video.) What the producers couldn’t have known at the time, of course, was that the small-block V8 was destined to become one of the great engines in Motor City history.

Like many GM promotional movies back when, Torque Talk was created by the Jam Handy Organization, a famed Detroit firm that was said to be the world’s largest film production company outside Hollywood. Founded by Olympic swimmer and marketing wizard Jam Handy, the company produced more than 7,000 corporate marketing and instructional films. This one is more entertaining than most. We featured this film several years ago, but now we have access to a clearer and more complete copy. Please enjoy the video.