What's up with all the 289 activity lately?

[Michael4yah]

Small block cobra's like the red one pictured remind me too much of an MG or an Austin Healy. There never was a dual carb 427 that had only 425 hp, Try closer to 450-470, All the Mfgs derated those engines to keep the stockholders and insurance companies happy. I bought my 1st 427/"425" in 1968. It had close to 460 ponies bone stock. Same thing with my 396/375 Nova that had over 420hp stock. As far as HP is concerned the FE motors have changed some over the years and HP increase is definately there but with the limitation of head design etc the new big boy is definately the 460. My engine builder has a 9 second stroked 460 Galaxie that he built 8 years ago. He's spent his fair share of time on the track and plenty of cruises and has only recently rebuilt it. Thats 8 years of racing @ 9 seconds and cruising on one motor. You can say what you want about small block cobra's and Viva Le Differance!! But It comes down to whether you want a citified car that works as an everyday driver or you want to get into something on the weekends that few people on earth are ever able to experience. The choice is yours, you pays your money and takes your choice.