427 emblem

joe'stoy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 05:00 PM

I am considering putting the 1 inch by 3 inch side emblem "427 ford cobra"
on my B & B. What did this emblem stand for when first used, the 427 body style or a 427 engine. Maybe you could not get the 427 body without the 427 engine, but I don't want to put the emblem on if it really is meant to indicate the engine in the car (I don't have a 427 in it).
Thanks for any response.

ZOERA-SC7XX · #2 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 05:24 PM

If you keep your hood closed, nobody will know what you have. In my opinion, the 427 is the body/chassis combination Shelby used with the serial numbers starting with 3XXX, which were equipped with big block FE engines.

Dwight · #3 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 05:29 PM

I have a pair of Emblem that says “Powered By Ford”, on my Cobra. Some say the 427 is the body and some say it's the motor. If you like them, use them. It's your car. Shelby built 348 Cobras with 427's or 428's, most had the 428. I think all had the 427 badges. I see a lot of people pull up beside me and read the badges. I see their lips say "Ford." If someone ask me if I have a big block or 427, I ask them what does it sound like. They always say big block/427. I have a fuel injected small block. I am alway nice, but I'm driving the Cobra and they in "what ever." Most people don't know and don't really care.
Enjoy your Cobra the way you want to.

Dwight

I'm going for popcorn now and I'll be right back

Rick Parker · #4 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 05:58 PM

OK guys, my gray hair is going to show on this. The first Cobras had a badge that said "Powered By Ford", this was on the 260 & 289 cars. Later when the ol Man decided he needed a bigger Hammer and the 427 FE was deemed necessary after Chevrolet introduced the 396. It was at that time what we now know as the 427 body style was created. Different radiator opening, wider fenders and track. This was done to accomodate the larger engine, chassis improvemnts were part of the redesign. The badge dictated the engine within. It was only later in a cost cutting move that Ford insisted that the 428 engine replace the prior high dollar 427. Later after much commotion the 427's were again used on the assembly line. So to answer your question it indicated what was perceived to sit under the hood.

jwd · #5 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 06:27 PM

Everything I've read says they went with the 428 because the 427 was hard to get and the 428 was $410 cheaper. Since they were losing approx. $1000 per car, it made sense to go with the cheaper motor. There were a few 427's installed after the change but most were 428's. Supposedly, the brochures were changed to 428 specs. but it wasn't advertised.
Most agree that the 427 signifies the body type, not the motor.

Excaliber · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 07:37 PM

There is little doubt that Shelby first used the 427 emblem to denote the MOTOR now housed in the all new designed Cobra. Like the NASCAR guys had '427' prominently displayed on the hood of their race cars at the time. It was Ford's crowning achievment and a nod on their behalf. Now of course as time went on Shelby used some 428's to keep cost under control, and what a can of worms THAT opened with current buyers who THOUGHT they were getting a 427 cid legend under the hood.

But yes, you could make a strong case for the 427 representing the body style, as then and today we typically separate the two basic styles between 289 small block and 427 big block car styles. The early '289' cars came with a 260, and then there were slab side, FIA and other variations on the 'small block' Cobra theme. As there would be with the big block car's, er, the 427 Cobras (competition, SC, street, 428, etc.).

Note the early cars were NOT "289" Cobra's, they were "Powered by Ford" Cobra's. When the next generation came about, which utilized the 427, I doubt anyone envisioned that at some point in the future they would come with a 428. The car was named after it's motor I tell ya, a 427, which quickly evoloved into a 'model' name as well.

So what to run? When I had my Excalibur with a 302 I was faced with the same delima. Myself, I chose to go with "Powered by Ford" for that car.

jwd · #7 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 07:47 PM

To complicate things more, 427's actually displaced 425 ci and 428's were actually 427 ci.

computerworks · #8 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 07:48 PM

You are building a replica of an old car.

If you are building a replica of a CSX2000 series car, use the "Powered by Ford" emblem.
If you are building a replica of a CSX3000 series car, use the "427 Cobra" emblem.

Nothing else matters. :-)

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 07-28-2008, 08:06 PM

Actual displacement vs motor size designation is pretty common within the industry. The 396 GM big block comes to mind as yet another example of advertising vs reality with cid.

Whats under the hood? I recall in the late 60's early 70's, with GM car's in particular, you could never be sure WHAT you might find under the hood. A Buick or Pontiac motor in a Chevy, or vice versa. It was a big stink when people bought a brand name car and then discovered a different brand name motor under the hood.

Hey, at least Shelby was 'keeping it in the Ford family'.

Rick Yeager · #10 (**permalink**) 07-29-2008, 01:03 AM

I guess it is silly but this was a real problem for my obsessive compulsive little mind. I did not feel right with 427 emblems when the car was only a 351 and the "Powered by Ford" badges were not correct for the car. Anyway, I chose to just go with the "Powered by Ford" plaques because they were essentially "honest". The car looked much better to me with them on than without them and once they were on I quit thinking about what they said and just enjoyed the improved appearance. The fenders just have more life with the emblems on. No one has ever mentioned them for the engine size or body correctness.

But the bottom line is--It's your car do what you like. Just enjoy it.

Rick

Tonkin NZ · #11 (**permalink**) 07-29-2008, 03:28 AM

Does anyone know where you can get these emblems?

Roscoe · #12 (**permalink**) 07-29-2008, 07:49 AM

Rick Yeager · #13 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 05:10 AM

Tonkin NZ, You can buy them from several places. Finish Line who supports this site has them. Cobra Restorers has them and are good to deal with. I believe Mustangs Unlimited has them too. Mustangs Unlimited may also have similar emblems with 351 scripts

TerrysSPF · #14 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 07:31 AM

Rick: I think you're right about the 351 badges; I've seen them as well. In fact, I think I've seen 428 badges also - probably at the same place I saw the 351's.

Badges on cars have always been mounted to tell you (or the person next to you) what's under the hood - NOT what type of "body style" the car is.
CS should have changed the badges to read 428 when he switched motors (which HE did to save a buck - it wasn't "insisted by Ford")...........but I think we all know why CS didn't tell anyone about the engine swap. -It was typical CS BS.

As far as what badges people should put on THEIR replica, well....................it's YOUR car. Put whatever you feel comfortable with on it.

skydash · #15 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 08:47 AM

I gotta agree with the "old school" line of thought on this one.If you have a 427,you have the right to use that 427 emblem.Anything smaller should show the "powered by Ford" emblem.It's akin to finally "making it" with the hottie at school,only to discover that once the bra is removed,all that's left is two handfull's of toilet paper!

SKINNEDR · #16 (**permalink**) 08-04-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skydash

I gotta agree with the "old school" line of thought on this one.If you have a 427,you have the right to use that 427 emblem.Anything smaller should show the "powered by Ford" emblem.It's akin to finally "making it" with the hottie at school,only to discover that once the bra is removed,all that's left is two handfull's of toilet paper!

You are funny. At 22 years of age I encountered that with a hottie wearing padded panties.. Mannnnnnnnnn, I was disappointed......
That was the last date we had....
Dex..

maxrsmart · #17 (**permalink**) 09-27-2008, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerrysSPF

Rick: I think you're right about the 351 badges; I've seen them as well. In fact, I think I've seen 428 badges also - probably at the same place I saw the 351's.

Badges on cars have always been mounted to tell you (or the person next to you) what's under the hood - NOT what type of "body style" the car is.
CS should have changed the badges to read 428 when he switched motors (which HE did to save a buck - it wasn't "insisted by Ford")...........but I think we all know why CS didn't tell anyone about the engine swap. -It was typical CS BS.

As far as what badges people should put on THEIR replica, well....................it's YOUR car. Put whatever you feel comfortable with on it.

I found these from Billet Badges.

I checked into it and they can make replica badges that have any engine CID you want. They also don't have to say FORD! It's all about the details to make you stand out from the crowd.

Eric Page · #18 (**permalink**) 09-27-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skydash

I gotta agree with the "old school" line of thought on this one. If you have a 427, you have the right to use that 427 emblem. Anything smaller should show the "powered by Ford" emblem.

Right?!?!

How's this for old school: It's his car, and he has the right to put any badge on it he wants. He can put a 5 hp Briggs & Stratton under the hood and advertise "Cummins Turbo Diesel" on the fender if he feels like it.

Joe, use what you think looks good and apologize to no one.

FFR428 · #19 (**permalink**) 09-27-2008, 05:16 PM

www.billetbadges.com Maxrsmart this the site? Where on there did you find those?

Ron61 · #20 (**permalink**) 09-28-2008, 06:52 AM

When I had my Cobra I had 351 Windsor Badges on it. At a car show I was parked next to a guy that I knew who had a 351 but had put 427 badges on his. Some guy walked back and forth between the cars about a dozen times and finally asked the other guy why his 427 looked exactly the same as my 351. The next week Joe called and asked where he could get 351 badges for his Cobra. I have always put whatever shows the motor size on any of my cars including the real ones such as the 65 Galaxie with the 390. A lot of my friends changed the 390 badges to 427 to impress people. I have seen the 488 Stroker Badges on a car here but don't known where the guy got them from.

Ron