The 427 of old was GM engineering case study in the early days, it was know as the mystery motor in the early 60's. It's head with canted valves were revolutionary and had excellent flow. These heads were even made for the small block chevy of which a few escaped to the public via Smokey Yunik.
GM was all about making a high H/P and turning high revs AKA the DZ 302 and the 427, the rod ratio in these engines allowed GM to have a simple production parts turned into monsters given the right combinations. Although the engines them selves were only available in a Vett or Camaro, they sold the hardware at the parts counter for anyone to build it and be able to build it from production vehicles engines.
The 427 reached total awesomeness in of all places the 69 Camaro which was dubbed the ZL1. That engine was a complete aluminum engine, block and heads and never came from the factory in a Vett. The Vett side of GM was not happy with that little move by the Camaro side. That and Chevrolet was loosing money on the ZL1's, the cars sat on Lots and did not sell because the cost o much. Why pay so much for a Camaro and no options when you could have a Vett, only 69 were ever produced and they were a hard sell, most sticker prices were just close to $7300.00. You could by a ZL1 427 engine over the counter if you had the $$$$.
So we now have a ZL1 Camaro, and we now have 427 Vett. We had a Z/28 for years but nothing on that for the 5th gen...yet.
We have the Hemi Challenger and the Boss Mustang, we have had the Mach I come back and Ford made a Mustang from the movie Bullet and went on the color and traditions of the 68 used in the movie. The Shelby and it variations have been around for years on the Mustang.
Why??? Because most people like them....why mess with something that aint broke!! Car makers the world over have never had any success in doing what GM, Ford and Chrysler have done with having names of cars or engine sizes live on and be a part of every generation. The best thing about these cars or even trucks is the fact that they can be bought by people from many different walks of life. You can't go get a Ferrari just anyplace and even if your one of a minority of people that can afford the most bad ass one they sell in some instances you have to be invited to buy it!!
The great thing about this is a Vett, Shelby, Viper or the new ZL1 Camaro coming out can be bought pennies on the dollar and kill it in most any performance arena in stock form.
Hell yes to a 427 Vett drop top!! Keep that name alive, you just have to say it and even a 10 year old in few months playing his video racing game will be going Hell Ya!!! and an entire new generation starts to fantasize about those 3 iconic digits all over again!! Not only was the marketing smart it just rolls of the tongue so well. Even though it might be a totally different 427 than what was available in 1969 GM has been smart and kept the cubic inches the same just because of the name.
They have built bad ass 454's the LS6 in the 70 Chevelle.....umm ever wonder wonder where LS started and now it's series of small blocks. Sometimes options codes, like Z/28 or engines sizes like 427 or DZ just fit the bill. All you have to say when it comes to Chrysler is Hemi....it congers up all kinds of meaning and they were made in many different cubic inch sizes but it all had to the with the heads chamber.
Anyhow not rant...just what I think when it comes to what is iconic numbers or names when it comes to performance. The big three as they used to be were the best and still are when it comes to name brand performance recognition...at least that's what I think.
