Not Ranked
When asked about putting 428 station wagon engines instead of 427 Side Oilers in big block Cobra's, Carrol responded, "who the hell can tell the difference between 400hp and 450hp?"
I have been looking at engines for my small block Cobra project, and I noticed, modern 302 small blocks, with roller rockers and other modern goodies, and a mild 9.5 to 1 compression, put out as much or more then the 289 race engines back in the day.
Talking to a few who have driven the major models of original Cobras back in the late 60s early 70s, plus reading those that drove them all, including the Daytona's and Cooper King Cobra, they all seem to agree that the AC 289 was the best power to weight ratio, especially, with the wider tires. So I would think that the ERA 289 FIA, would make the best car. Plus, those doors, with the sweeping curves, that had to be done by an artist, since no engineer would put such a useless feature in a car!
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