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Topic starter
18/04/2026 9:47 am
Developed in just 90 days, Ford's SOHC 427 V8 was the era's most powerful naturally aspirated engine. The "Cammer" AKA: "the 90 Day Wonder". the engine produced 657 HP with 2X4bbl carburetors. Developed for NASCAR to compete with the Chrysler Hemi, overhead cam engines were immediately banned before the 1964 season began. The engine also had hemispherical heads and a side oiler block. In original form, its Achilles Heel was its 6 foot timing chain that would stretch during prolonged high rpms so most were replace with a gear drive. Banned from NASCAR, Ford looked to drag racing for dominance. Enter "Ohio George" Montgomery and his 1933 Willys that had been on the track since 1959 starting with Cadillac V8s and small block Chevys. Over the years, he began replacing body panels with fiberglass with the final configuration having the top chopped. Naturally aspirated, he ran well winning Little Eliminator. Beginning to fall prey to the Hemis and big block Chevys, and seeing supercharging as the future, he struck a deal with Ford's drag racing boss, Charley Gray to acquire the SOHC 427 and install a GM 6.71 supercharger which boosted horsepower to well over 1000 with 2000 HP possible for top fuel. Montgomery rode his Wllys to many victories in AA/Gas ending with the '66 and '67 Winternationals. It ended there when Montgomery met with Ford engineering exec, Don Frey, who gave him the strong hint of, "We sell Fords, don't we?". Thus ended the 8 year run of his Willys as he went back to Dayton to build a Mustang body shell funny car to continue using the engine. Years later his workshop in Dayton restored the Willys and in 2005, it became a permanent exhibit in the Henry Ford Museum.
This extraordinary model is by Precision Miniatures and was released in 2004.
This topic was modified 2 days ago by Rich Sufficool
Topic starter
18/04/2026 9:56 am
as a foot note, NASCAR banned the engine for 3 reasons:
1.) when Andretti track tested a mule car, its speeds were a bit too scary.
2.) they were worried that the extra expense necessary for independent race teams would put them out of business.
3.) Perhaps the most important reason was that Chrysler threatened to pull out of NASCAR if this engine was allowed.
Ford did build 500 engines for homologation, but NASCAR refused to grant it production engine status
18/04/2026 12:41 pm
AWESOME pics - and back story - Rich! I know Marty has about "20" of these! 😀 😀 😀 I could NEVER compete with your quality, but I will show mine ONLY to note two things:
1) Many of these (including mine ) now have dried-out & cracked blower belts, otherwise they've held up just fine.
2) I wanted the non-chopped version. 
Topic starter
18/04/2026 1:18 pm
18/04/2026 1:28 pm
@rich-sufficool Cool! 😎 😎 😎 Seems like an "EZ Peazy" project if one was so inclined...... ....makes me wonder why ACME hasn't jumped on this. 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤨
18/04/2026 6:56 pm
And here's the Mustangs! Two supercharged and one turbocharged!
Topic starter
19/04/2026 8:48 am
@marty-johnson Beautiful!
Christopher Moroni and Marty Johnson reacted
19/04/2026 9:25 am
@rich-sufficool Great writeup and pictures Rich.
Rich Sufficool and Marty Johnson reacted
19/04/2026 9:29 am
Has anyone noticed that on his gasser racecars, Ohio George used a shifter handle and boot to act as a brake pedal?
Christopher Moroni and Rich Sufficool reacted
19/04/2026 10:33 am
@marty-johnson No, I did not. But now that I do see it, I can't un-see it; how the hell did I miss that? GOOD eye Mr. Spy! 👍 👍 👍
Marty Johnson reacted
19/04/2026 10:52 am
Another interesting point about the Ohio George Mustangs is that the construction of the car was unique. Of course, we all know that Mustangs were built with unibody construction. To comply with the NHRA rulebook, which required a full-frame rather than a space-tube frame, Ohio George used a unit from a '33 Willys.
Steve Jacobs and Christopher Moroni reacted