Latest Posts Under: History
In a twist of automotive irony, Ford’s first 427 block was as temperamental as a cat in water—one slip of the casting core and voilà, a paperweight! Enter the FE 428, a budget-friendly marvel with a manageable bore and a cast iron crankshaft. In ’68, the 428 CJ roared onto the scene, leaving insurance agents shaking in their boots while pretending it only had 335 hp. The NHRA saw through the charade, rating it at 360 hp, as it blazed through the Winternationals. Meanwhile, the SCJ variant was ready to race, sporting longer-life capscrews for rods and a cheekily looser piston fit—because who needs air conditioning when you’re this cool?
In the wild world of the Sunbeam Tiger, needing speed had its quirks. With just 7,128 units roaring out, this car was more “British brawn meets American brawn.” It boasted a 260 and 289 engine that made even the Metropolitan Police want a piece. The Tiger tried LeMans but preferred breaking quarter-mile records instead. Maintenance was a mechanic’s yoga class, and Chrysler’s intervention swapped “Powered by Ford” to “Sunbeam V8.” When Ford engines ran out, the Tiger’s production purred to a stop.
Bill’s 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge is not just a car; it’s a legend in motion. This one-owner beauty stands out as the only original purchase in the state, making waves—and echoes—through the Big Belt mountains as Bill takes it for a spin. Picture this: the GTO’s exhaust reverberating off mossy cliffs, turning heads and getting thumbs-up from every passerby. It’s not just about the drive; it’s about arriving in style at Carroll College tailgates, where Bill’s son made history as a defensive powerhouse.
Chevy’s small block saga continues with the M-code 350, famed for powering everything from hefty K-series pickups to motorhomes, boasting a respectable 160 bhp. The L83-350 made ’82 Corvettes roar with its cross-fire fuel injection, though ’83 took a pit stop. Enter the L98, flexing up to 245 bhp by ‘89 with a snazzy rear axle tweak. Not to be outdone, the L05 found its way into everything, from the Suburban to the Hummer H1, until replaced by the LT1’s swan song in ‘96.