Let's get some things straight, the 385 series engine has been around since the late 1960's. The 429 engine was available in many cars including the Mustang and Torino. The 429 high performance, 429 Cobra Jet, 429 Super Cobra Jet, and 429 BOSS engines are hardly concidered "school bus" engine's. The 385 series engine is the most raced Ford big block in history (Nascar, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Monster truck, drag boats, and "street" racers just to name a few). The 385 series big block has had the most Factory development of any Ford big block engine.
The 385 series engine was developed in the late 1960's, so like the 454 Chevrolet engines of the time they ended up in Trucks and luxury cars in the mid 1970's.
Before I forget, the same old "buy a small block Cobra because it is better on a road course" is a joke. Most Cobra's will only get as close as the parking lot of a race track, and if they do they might be there 1 - 3 times. On the street, the small block Cobra owner is only faster than a 385 series big block Cobra owner when it comes to the excuses of why the small block Cobra lost the race.
Ask the 385 series Cobra owners on this Forum how many small block Cobra's beat them in a race on the street, my answer is none...
