There are three engines that are guaranteed to draw crowds and stop traffic at car shows and drag races. The Boss 429 Ford with its massive size, prodigious power, unique valve covers, and overall aura is one. The next is the vaunted 426ci Chrycler Hemi that’s loved and feared equally by all segments of the hot rodding universe. Finally, there’s the legendary 427ci Ford cammer which was and engine that started out with NASCAR intentions and ended up with nitro in its veins and a ton of drag racing trophies.
Each of these mills is killer in its own right, but which one is king of the hill when it comes to wow factor? Arguably, the Hemi has won more races than the other two engines combined but it is also the one that you are most likely to see. The Boss 429 isn’t normally seen outside of Mustangs (where they obviously came from the factory) but cars with a Boss swapped in normally make us hit the deck deep in a coma of cool. Lastly, the Cammer sounds like nothing else, fits in virtually nothing without major surgery, and has a timing chain that is like elevendy hundred feet long (or thereabouts).
We want answers!
Cammer, Boss 429, Or Chrysler Hemi? Which Has The Most Wow Factor?
#1 Cammer #2 Boss 429 # 426 Hemmi # BBC ZL1 (oops)
Yep, Chuck’s got it right…..
As a “kid” I was invited in to see a car collection where there was a Boss 429 Mustang being rebuilt, with the motor spread all over a bench, and I was in lust. Boss’es are so WOW that you don’t know what to think. This said by a guy w/ a Hemi which comes in a close second. And yes, Rat motors still draw the looks coming in at number four, they are a fine entry drug for crazy unnecessary big-engine love.
1. Cammer
2. Boss 9
3. Was there another motor listed?
I am a true Mopar guy . I have owned a few first gen Hemi’s. However the Ford cammer was never offered in a vehicle.That alone makes it very cool .And that 4 mile long timing chain.One of the coolest boss motors ever was gas Ronda and his twin turbo Boss back in the 1960’s.And they outlawed it in NHRA.Anyway in my opinion 1.Ford Cammer 2. First gen Hemi 3. Fords copy cat hemi The Boss.
Easy question…the 426. NO comparison.
The Cammer is the least often seen mill so it’s the first one I want to see, the Boss is the coolest looking no matter what it’s planted in and the Hemi although awesome in it’s own right is dare I say, common place?
Going to have to go with the cammer based on rarity and unusual looks alone. An overhead cam V8 in the 1960’s was an oddity and I have never heard of another engine where the sparkplug went in from the top-side of the valve cover. The derivatives of the Chrysler hemis and Ford Boss 429’s have been seen in drag racing for years. With that said, none of these are “losers” when it comes to “wow” factor.
1. 427
2. 429
[insert wide margin]
3. 426
Buick Stage 2 455…
Seriously though
1: Ford Cammer
2.45: Gen II Hemi (only for big picture impact, don’t find it as interesting)
2.55: Boss 9, preferably in Ohio George’s twin turbo configuration
Cammer
Boss, Cammer, Hemi.
1-Cammer, but only because most of us have a better chance of seeing Bigfoot than a Cammer Ford. (Note to KCR- The Ford’s cam chain isn’t anywhere close to 4 miles long. 3 1/2, 3 3/4 miles, TOPS.)
2- 426 Hemi. The best ones, for wow factor, are any with the big round chrome air cleaner lid that says “426 Hemi Head”.
3- Boss 429. Ford needed to spend a few more bucks on the air cleaner assy. It’s functional looking; purposeful, even, but needs a bit more wow! added.
Seen the cammer why back in early70s as a kid now a friend has a repro in a 67 fairlane today same fuzzy feeling. The hemi a big no2 friends willys blow n injected back i n the day. Same fuzzy feeling. Dam boss 429 it was a toad in the mustang from the show room but looks wise killer but throw some hot rod parts and aguy that could under stand them watch out a solid no3 and never bark at the gm stuff. That import stuff can go cry in a corner.and today we have stuff we dream of back in the day .time have change yes we can have it all fast, good looks and 20 + miles per gallon. Whats not to like.
Cammer, Boss 429, Hemi -1 all piss on anything that Chevrolet ever made!
Not on the list but what the hell 🙂
Arias Fontana Big Block. Up there with the Cammer – rare and hard to shoehorn into anything, but what a look…and sound…
1: Cammer
2: Boss ‘9
3:, and should be way, way further back due to being too common, the second gen Hemi.
I love all 3 of these, and there is no question that the 426 Hemi is the most successful, and for good reason.
But the question is: which has the most wow factor, and for that I choose the cammer. Unlike the others, the cammer has an extra long valve cover, because it extends forward past the cylinder head and onto the timing chain case. I think that this massively wide and long valve cover gives it a massive wow factor!
Cammer wins the battle of the valve covers.
Its just so far “over the top” that even otherwise incredible engines like a Boss 9 or a 426 HEMI pale in comparison.
Imagine where we would be development wise now if that crazy deal had gotten a green light from NASCAR back in the day…
Boss, Cammer, Stude R4, Hemi.