The legend of Ford’s mighty 427 V8 was reborn in the 2003 Ford 427 Concept, with a 590-horsepower surprise under the hood.
There can be a lot of power in a name, even if the name is a number. In the 1960s, Ford’s FE-based 427 cubic-inch V8 achieved legend status at Le Mans, in NASCAR, and on drag strips across the USA. At the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit (above), Ford sought to recapture these past glories, and to respark interest in the classic American four-door sedan, with the 2003 Ford 427 Concept.
But surprise: There wasn’t a 427 V8 under the hood, as the original FE 427 was discontinued back in 1968. Instead, there was a V10 developed by Ford’s Powertrain R&D team and based on the versatile Ford Modular engine family. With an aluminum block and metal-sprayed 95 mm bore liners, it displaced a full 427 cubic inches, just a tick more than the original’s 425.98 CID. Four-valve, DOHC aluminum heads derived from the Cobra R supplied ample breathing, allowing this new 427 to send 590 hp at 6500 rpm and 509 lb-ft of torque at 5500 rpm, naturally aspirated, to the rear wheels.
Under the direction of Ford design chief J Mays, the 427 Concept was given the full touring-performance sedan treatment, with four race-flavored bucket seats in black leather with contrasting stiching, brushed metal trim, and a full-length console. A custom twin-nacelle instrument panel and a console-mounted shifter for the six-speed manual gearbox provided the driver engagement. The conservative exterior styling foreshadowed the Ford production sedans that soon followed.
Naturally, a high-powered package like this was bound to spark the interest of the automotive press. AutoWeek magazine got a preview of the 427 Concept at the Dearborn Proving Grounds, where the editors were a bit disappointed. The prototype wasn’t fully sorted out: The door glasses were inoperable and a drivetrain issue imposed a 25 mph speed limit. Still, they were impressed. The January 6, 2003 cover (below) proclaimed, “America’s sexiest sedan . . . if they build it.” But as we know now, Ford didn’t build it. The company’s performance program for the rest of the decade focused on the Mustang, the Ford GT, and the return of Carroll Shelby.
My first thought was that Ford copied the look of the contemporary Chrysler 300. But, it seems that 2005 was the first year for that Chrysler. Maybe Chrysler copied the Ford 427 concept…
This could have given the Chrysler 300 a run for its money.
After seeing the Ford Forty Nine and the crowd it drew in contrast to the ’02 Thunderbird, I’d love to believe that between this and the 49 Ford wasn’t whizzing down our backs. The crowd was five deep to see the 49 roller examples, and just across the aisle, on the elevated turntable, was a new red 02 Thunderbird which was pulling no response from the crowd.