As one of the “Big Three” US automakers and one of the most successful automakers to this day, Ford has cemented its legacy in the automotive world. Their large-scale manufacturing procedures paved the way for modern automotive mass production. Ford released the first Mustang in 1964, introducing the world’s most famous pony car. The Ford GT40 and many of Carroll Shelby’s Ford-derived cars like the Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500 are truly legendary.
Ford is well known for their engine designs. The 289 V8 Small Block, 428 Cobra Jet, Boss 302, and Boss 429 engines are all truly classic powerhouses that have powered some of the most famous cars in history.
The Ford 351 Windsor is the largest displacement engine in the Ford Windsor engine series. It was introduced in 1969 to fill the gap between the 302 and 390 V8 engines. Ford’s ultimate goal was to create an engine that was versatile and usable in a number of applications, which is exactly what the 351W…
The Ford 429 is one of the most iconic big-block V8s that Ford has ever produced. Between its introduction in 1968 and its discontinuation in 1998, the 429 powered everything from the Mustang to the Ford F-Series. In addition to the base passenger model, Ford eventually realized the massive potential of the 429 and created…
The Ford 5.2 Voodoo is a truly unique muscle car engine. The 5.2L V8 utilizes a flat-plane crankshaft and is able to rev to 8,250rpm; it’s good for 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. That may not sound overly impressive compared to the 760hp GT500 or even the base 5.0 Coyote with its 480…
The Ford 460 V8 is the largest displacement engine in the Ford 385 engine series. As the replacement for large displacement Ford FE and MEL engines, the 460 started out as the go-to engine option for big-body luxury cars like the Lincoln Continental. Later in its production cycle, the 460 found a home in utility…
The 289 is a staple of the muscle car era, appearing in many of Ford’s seminal models including the first generation Mustang, Fairlane, and, perhaps most importantly, the GT40. That isn’t even including the number of Shelby-specific applications as well. Helped immensely by its impressive legacy, the Ford small-block is one of the most famous…
For those looking at the top Ford 302 performance upgrades, it’s hard to beat adding a cold air intake, long-tube headers, MSD ignition, and a larger carburetor. Ford produced the 302 V8 from 1968 all the way until 2001, and it powered all kinds of different vehicles. They have proven extremely popular over the years…
For collectors today, five of the best classic cheap muscle cars are the 1970 Ford Torino 429, 1968 Ford Thunderbird 429, 1971 Pontiac LeMans 455 HO, 1968 Mercury Cyclone 390, and 1968 Buick GS 350. These represent the ultimate of the muscle car era. They have long hoods, short decks, big-block V8 engines (except the…
Dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, muscle cars have long been an integral part of Americana culture. Ever since the first Pontiac GTO (or Chrysler 300) rolled off the assembly line, Americans have been asking themselves: How can I make this car go faster and faster? While in the old days, usually that meant…
From 1961–1971, the Ford 390 FE V8 engine was one of the motor company’s top offerings. Boasting up to 401 horsepower in 1962 with a Tri-Power carburetor, the Ford 390 engine quickly established itself as one of the top performance engines on the market. Throughout its 11-year production span, Ford put the 390 in just…
From 2015–2023, the S550 Ford Mustang was the consummate modern pony car. Featuring either a turbocharged 2.3 liter “EcoBoost” inline-four or a naturally aspirated 5.0 liter “Coyote” V8, the S550 Mustang was one of the top power plants for the American market for many years. Still, even with the 310+ horsepower from the EcoBoost and…
It may have been short lived, but the Ford Falcon was one of the top cars of the 1960s. Most people know it as the basis for the Ford Mustang, but it was a solid offering on its own. The Falcon started life as a compact and economy car, but by the late-1960s was verging…
Ford has undeniably put out some of the best V8s that America has to offer. From the Flathead to the Windsor, Ford’s V8 engines have always been a benchmark to strive for. The 1960s were a time of serious innovation and evolution for Ford’s V8 lineup. After the Ford Y-Block didn’t quite live up to…
