Chrysler had the Street Hemi, Chevrolet had the Mark IV big-block series, and Ford has their FE 427s. All of these motors appeared as race-only pieces, but by the end of the muscle car era, would be available in street going monsters for those who were not simply satisfied with mid-grade. These were the weapons of choice, with carbs that would gulp in small birds if it weren’t for the hood and exhausts that loudly and proudly told everybody to either bow down and kiss the ring, or to prepare for war. Ford’s 427 actually came in two flavors: top-oiler and side-oiler, which is what we find inbetween the fender wells of this 1969 Shelby GT500. Now, let’s be clear: the 1969 and re-VIN numbered 1970 Shelby Mustangs did not come with this stomper factory…it was either a 351ci V8 in the GT350, and a 428ci V8 in the GT500. Carroll Shelby’s contract with Ford was ripped up in the middle of 1969, and with the cars moving away from violent track stompers to a more refined and luxurious beast, it isn’t surprising that Shelby walked away from the deal. But this Silver Jade GT500, while very pretty and luxurious compared to, say, a 1966 G.T. 350, isn’t a friendly beast. It’s not even a tamed beast. This thing sounds utterly pissed off, from idle to “where the hell is redline?”

And that exhaust note…that’s intoxicating. More of that, please.