Posts Tagged: 1968
Introducing the legendary Ford V8 engines, where horsepower meets horsepower! Kicking off in ’57 with the Edsel’s brand new FE 361 engine, Ford revved up the excitement. Need speed for your ride or a power-packed pickup? Meet the FT 360 with its torque-tastic performance. And don’t miss the 390—perfect for the Mustang, with horses under the hood to match. Enter the 406, a short-lived racing legend, soon to be replaced by the iconic 427. Ford’s V8 engines are the real horsepower heroes!
The Jaguar XKE Series I, crafted from 1961 to 1968, is a legend wrapped in a sleek, stylish body that even Enzo Ferrari dubbed “the most beautiful automobile ever.” With a 3.8-liter engine and a later upgrade to 4.2 liters, it was the sports car that could whisk you from zero to “I’m late for tea” in about 7 seconds. Known for its quirks like a hood latch that required a special tool, it’s no wonder collectors clamored to keep these beauties in mint condition.
The third-gen Chevrolet El Camino, 1968-1972, truly revved up the muscle car game with its Malibu-inspired style and Chevelle platform. In ’68, it flaunted options like posi-traction and a power disk brake for those who wanted to stop as impressively as they could go. The high-performance SS debuted, with engines roaring up to 375 bhp. By 1970, it could house a monstrous LS6 454 engine, racing through the quarter-mile in 13 seconds! Alas, emissions rules in ’71 took a bit of the vroom out of its zoom.
Chevrolet’s small-block engines have been the life of the party since the ’60s, with the 302 winning races and the 327 showing up like a rock star. Mark Donohue’s 302 was a beast on the track, outperforming V8 rivals Down Under, while the 327 was like the James Bond of engines, looking good and packing a punch. From street cred to track cred, these engines had more torque than a family dinner debate. Remember, with a Chevy small-block, you’re always in the fast lane of fun!
Step back into the late 60s when the Pontiac Firebird 1967 was the epitome of cool—think James Dean with a V8 engine. Built on the GM F-body platform, this pony car was all about style and power. The ’67 model flaunts slit tail lights reminiscent of its cousin, the GTO, and offers a choice between a convertible or hard-top. Whether you opt for the base model’s OHC inline 6 or go full throttle with the 400 CID V8, one thing’s for sure, this car screams “I’m faster than your dad’s station wagon!”
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?
Get ready to rev your nostalgia engines with the 1969 AMC AMX—a car so cool, even the Corvette was checking its rearview mirror! This GT sports car packed a punch with its 390 cu in (6.4 L) engine option, making it the ultimate power choice for those who didn’t mind scaring their neighbors. AMC, typically the sensible shoes of car makers, went full-on rockstar here, hoping to woo the young and restless into their showrooms. Thanks to Gateway Classic Cars, we have eye candy to prove it!
In the Ford Motors V8 saga, the Mercury’s 410 FE engine flexed its muscles from ’66 to ’67, merging the 390’s bore with the 428’s stroke for a mechanical love child. Meanwhile, the 427 FE engine roared onto racetracks, its power only outshone by its confusing math: 425 cubes? Seems like someone rounded up! Ford’s 427 Cammer, a NASCAR contender with a timing chain longer than a politician’s promise, boasted up to 657 hp. That’s enough power to make even the most stubborn valve nod in agreement!
Dive into the restoration journey of a 1968 Mustang 289 2 bbl A code, originally a Meadowlark yellow beauty, now revived in a vibrant 1967 Spring Time Yellow. MCF Charles humorously recounts transforming this rust-free gem from Virginia into a reliable daily driver and track day beast. With innovative handling tweaks and a 1997 Ford Explorer 302 engine, this Mustang is as fun at Virginia International Speedway as it is on road trips. Who says you can’t have a vintage car with a modern twist?
