Above: The winning 427-powered MK-IV Ford of the 1967 LeMans 24 hour endurance race, finishing 4-laps ahead of the second place car.
Ford's very successful big block racing program is one reason why the Chris Craft 427 motor has such provenance and value among historians and enthusiasts, in the boating and automotive worlds, alike.
In the early 1960’s Enzo Ferrari was the king of high performance road racing of every kind. Henry Ford was getting into racing in a big way, soon to dominate NASCAR in 1963, 64, and 65 with millions pumped into that program (with the 427 as the main power behind the passion), and he wanted to be king of the international road racing circuit too. He even discussed a merger (more aptly called "acquisition") with Ferrari in order to capture their racing technology. Ferrari not only said no, he added some embellishments whtn he said no, and you can imagine the tone and eventual outcome. Since there can be only one "king", a epic battle for dominance ensued. It took several years and untold millions to finally unfold.
Henry Ford embarked on a road racing plan intended to embarass Ferrari. FoMoCo was already well established as a worthy competitor in NASCAR style circle track racing, using the big block FE motor, initially in solid lifter 390 form, 406 solid lifter form, and eventually using the 427 soild lifter pushrod motor. This was started initially by the Shelby American racing team, running Cobra and Cobra Daytona Coupes with high performance small block power. These cars were fast, but crude by commparison with an all aluminum overhead cam powered V12.
Henry Ford then acquired a lot of technology from Lola, in England, as the basis for his GT 40 racing program. The car was fast, good looking, unreliable, and racked up an impressive series of DNF (did not finish) in LeMans racing, which contrary to Ford racing experience of the day, would run for 24 hours at racing speeds, covering up to 3,000 miles. After spending untold millions in chassis and engine development, including the signing of many of the best drivers of the day, he proved his point in 1966 with a surprizing 1. 2, 3, sweep of LeMans. He did so with a device called the big block solid lifter 427, and posted another win in 1967 that was the fastest LeMans of the era, beating out the additionally motivated Enzo Ferrari (who also fielded a much faster car that year) at his own game. The motor that posted these wins is the same block we have in our Chris Craft boats.
As you can see from the brief chart below, Ferrari was winning everything. Henry Ford wanted to get into racing, since he was already experiencing some fun on the NASCAR circuits of America with his FE based big block, he began also dabbling into the international racing circuit, building such great cars as the Lotus Ford Indy cars, etc.
As Ford got into LeMans endurance style racing, they experienced a series of disappointing failures, and a long line of DNF (did not finish). The first Ford to finish anywhere near the top was an AC Cobra powered by a race prepped 289, finishing 7th in 1963, completing 310 laps in 24 hours. In 1964 a Cobra Daytona coupe finished in 4th place, covering 334 laps in 24 hours. These were fast cars. That undoubtedly got Ferrari’s attention, but Ferrari went on to win again in 1964 and 1965 depite a huge effort by Ford to compete with their small block Cobras and GT-40 cars.
Below you can see the list of winners per year, and the laps completed during the 24 hour period. Further below you can see a bit of extra data, showing overall miles traveled, weather conditions, and the first 7 finishers each year.
1960 Ferrari 314 laps completed in 24 hours
1961 Ferrari 333 laps completed in 24 hours
1962 Ferrari 331 laps completed in 24 hours
1963 Ferrari 339 laps completed in 24 hours
1964 Ferrari 349 laps completed in 24 hours
1965 Ferrari 348 laps completed in 24 hours
1966 Ford 360 (427 motor) laps completed in 24 hours
1967 Ford 388 (427 motor) laps completed in 24 hours
At this point in LeMans racing history, Enzo Ferrari was able to convince LeMans, that engine size should be limited to 5.0 liters. This effectively banned the 427 from further road racing at LeMans, and you can see how the winnng speed dropped in the following years with smaller motors.
1968 Ford 331 (289 motor) laps completed in 24 hours
1969 Ford 372 (289 motor) laps completed in 24 hours
1970 Porsche 343 (flat 12) laps completed in 24 hours
(Ford no longer fielded a factory team after 1967 but independents won with further developed chassis and Ford small block power in 68 and 69.)
Note how the trend changed in 1966 with the introduction of the big block 427 NASCAR motor being placed in the previously unsuccessful small block GT-40. The following year, another big jump in laps completed, with the big block Fords running at speeds of 220-mph. At this point, despite vastly improved Ferrari cars who still lost by 33.4 miles ( 4 laps), which was a fairly close finish by LeMans standards, Enzo Ferrari resorted to politics to get the job done, that he could not do on the track. He got the 427 motor outlawed from LeMans by getting LeMans to agree to limit motors to no more than 5.0 liters. That 5.0 liter size just happened to be the size of the V12 competition Ferrari motor at the time. Henry Ford was furious about that, but not as furious as Enzo Ferrari was the following two years as small block Ford cars won in independent hands. Henry had the last laugh. In 1970 a Porsche 917 won, but as you can see, covering only 343 laps in 24 hours was not nearly as fast a race as the 1967 Ford 427 which covered 45 more laps or 376 miles farther (in a 4 year older car). At that point, FoMoCo had spent enough millions of dollars to prove a point, and they pulled out of factory LeMans racing. The rest is history. When Henry Ford wanted to post wins during this era, he generally used the 427 as his main weapon, at LeMans, on the NASCAR tracks, and on USAC and SCCA racing.
This shows a great example of the brute power of the 427 solid lifter pushrod V8. In fact, for LeMans, FoMoCo actually used a detuned version of the FE 427 NASCAR motor, using aluminum heads to make a lighter race car, and lowering power down to around 500 hp. After the race when the motor was retested on a dyno, it actually produced more power than when it started the race. In NASCAR form, the motors were producing considerably more power, but they were generally limited to races of around 500 miles. At LeMans, this endurance venue increased the length of the race by 5 or 6 times, and Ford took precautions to assure the motors would stay together by reducing the power, and limiting the rpm to 6,000 rpm. The 427 motor was then capable of running flat out against competition like Ferrari and Porsche, for 24 hours. That is quite a test for a Chris Craft boat motor. Naturally, our boat motors don't have the same hand built blueprinted and balanced assembly, high compression, racing heads, rods, pistons, etc., but they do have the same block Ford used to win NASCAR and LeMans races, and a lower performance intake and cylinder head.
Over the years there were many improvements in the FE 427 block, but most of them were small internal web and rib reinforcements to make the block more rigid. Due to the race honed strength of this motor, it makes an awesome boat motor because it is so strong, detuned downward to 300 hp and limited to 4000 rpm, they tend to want to live forever. Life in a boat is nowhere near as tough as life on one of Henry Ford's racing teams.
Boats that still have these historic motors have an additional topic of discussion that can enter into the appreciation of the boat, and perhaps some added value to those who appreciate these kinds of things.
Additional (brief) race results noted below for your reading enjoyment Porsche went on to dominate all forms of racing with their flat 12 cylinder turbocharged 917, which broke records all over the world in every kind of test, pushing out over 1000 horsepower. One only wonders what Ford would have done to compete in this arena, had the 427 not been outlawed. Perhaps we would have seen an overhead cam turbocharged 427?? In this era, as always, power is needed, but reliability is also needed. It makes no difference if you have a fast car if it can't stay together long enough to finish. Porsche was always successful with smaller cars that lasted longer. Ford found the formula with lots of power and speed, as well as reliability too with the 427 powered race caars.
1960 24 Hour duration on a 8.364 mile circuit - 313 laps - 2620.654 miles were completed
Weather: rained Saturday, dry Sunday
1 Olivier Gendebien/Paul Frére Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 59/60 [0772/0774] 314
2 André Pilette/Ricardo Rodriguez/Pedro Rodriguez* Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 59 [0766] 310
3 Jim Clark/Roy Salvadori/John Whitmore^ Aston Martin DBR1 [3] 306
4 Fernand Tavano/Pierre Dumay/Jean Delaboudiniere* Ferrari 250 GT SWB [2001] 302
5 George Arents/Alan Connell Jr/William Kimberly* Ferrari 250 GT SWB [1931] 300
6 Leon Dernier/Pierre Noblet/Jacques Swaters* Ferrari 250 GT SWB [2021] 300
7 Ed Hugus/Augie Pabst Ferrari 250 GT SWB [1759] 299
1961 24 Hour duration on a 8.364 mile circuit - 332 laps - 2781.623 miles were completed.
Weather: warm, dry
1 Olivier Gendebien/Phil Hill Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 61 [0794] 333
2 Mike Parkes/Willy Mairesse/Wolfgang von Trips^/Phil Hill^/Richie Ginther^ Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 61 [0780] 330
3 Pierre Noblet/Jean Guichet Ferrari 250 GT SWB [2689] 317
4 Dick Thompson/Augie Pabst/Walt Hansgen^/Carlo Maria Abate^/John Fitch* Maserati Tipo 63 [002] 311
5 Bob Holbert/Masten Gregory/Huschke von Hanstein*/Edgar Barth* Porsche 718 RS61 [047] 309
6 Bob Grossman/André Pilette/Lucien Bianchi*/Jacques von de Velde* Ferrari 250 GT SWB [2731] 309
7 Hans Herrmann/Edgar Barth/Carel Godin de Beaufort*/Dan Gurney* Porsche 718 RS61 [045] 306
1962 24 Hour duration in which 330 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 2765.886 miles were completed
Weather: hot, dry
1 Olivier Gendebien/Phil Hill/Giancarlo Baghetti^/Willy Mairesse^/Mike Parkes^ Ferrari 330 TRI/LM [0808/0780] 331
2 Jean Guichet/Pierre Noblet Ferrari 250 GTO [3705] 326
3 Leon Dernier/Jean Blaton Ferrari 250 GTO [3757] 314
4 Briggs Cunningham/Roy Salvadori/William Kimberly^ Jaguar E-type [860630] 310
5 Peter Sargent/Peter Lumsden Jaguar E-type [850009] 310
6 Bob Grossman/Fireball Roberts Ferrari 250 GTO [3223] 297
7 Edgar Barth/Hans Herrmann/Ben Pon*/Heini Walter* Porsche-Abarth 356B Carrera [1018] 287
1963 24 Hour duration in which 338 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 2834.520 miles were completed
Weather: warm, dry
1 Lorenzo Bandini/Ludovico Scarfiotti/John Surtees* Ferrari 250P [0814] 339
2 Jean Blaton/Gerard Langlois von Ophem/Georges Berger*/Leon Dernier* Ferrari 250 GTO [4293] 323
3 Mike Parkes/Umberto Maglioli/Lorenzo Bandini*/Willy Mairesse* Ferrari 250P [0810] 323
4 Pierre Dumay/Leon Dernier/Fernand Tavano* Ferrari 250 GTO [4153] 322
5 Jack Sears/Mike Salmon/David Piper* Ferrari 330 LMB [4725] 314
6 Masten Gregory/David Piper/Bob Grossman* Ferrari 250 GTO LMB [4713] 312
NC Richie Ginther/Graham Hill Rover-BRM 310
7 Ninian Sanderson/Peter Bolton A.C. Cobra [CS2131] 310
1964 24 Hour duration in which 338 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 2834.520 miles were completed
Weather: cold, dry
1 Jean Guichet/Nino Vaccarella Ferrari 275P [0816] 349
2 Graham Hill/Jo Bonnier Ferrari 330P [0818] 344
3 John Surtees/Lorenzo Bandini Ferrari 330P [0822] 337
4 Dan Gurney/Bob Bondurant Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe [CSX2299] 334
5 Lucien Bianchi/Jean Blaton/Georges Berger*/Gerard Langlois von Ophem* Ferrari 250 GTO 64 [5575] 333
6 Innes Ireland/Tony Maggs/Jackie Stewart^ Ferrari 250 GTO 64 [4399] 328
7 Robert Buchet/Guy Ligier Porsche 904 GTS [021] 323
8 Ben Pon/Henk van Zalinge Porsche 904 GTS [055] 319
1965 24 Hour duration in which 347 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 2906.226 miles were completed
Weather: hot
1 Jochen Rindt/Masten Gregory/Ed Hugus Ferrari 250LM [5893] 348
2 Pierre Dumay/Gustave Gosselin/Guy Ligier* Ferrari 250LM [6313] 343
3 Willy Mairesse/Jean Blaton Ferrari 275 GTB [6885] 340
4 Herbert Linge/Peter Nöcker/Colin Davis*/Guenther Klass* Porsche 904/6 [906-001] 336
5 Gerhard Koch/Anton Fischhaber Porsche 904 GTS [091] 325
6 Dieter Spoerry/Armand Boller/Claude Sage* Ferrari 250LM [6119] 324
7 Pedro Rodriguez/Nino Vaccarella Ferrari 365P2 [0838] 320
NRF Jean Guichet/Mike Parkes/Lorenzo Bandini*/Ludovico Scarfiotti* Ferrari 330P2 [0836] 315
8 Jack Sears/Richard Thompson/Jerry Grant* Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe [CSX2299] 304
1966 24 Hour duration in which 347 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 3011 miles were completed
Weather: Warm, dry, rain on Sunday
1 Bruce McLaren/Chris Amon/Bob Grossman*/Dan Gurney* Ford Mk II [1046] 360
2 Ken Miles/Denny Hulme/Lucien Bianchi*/Richard Thompson*/Lloyd Ruby*/Mark Donohue* Ford Mk II [1015] 360
3 Ronnie Bucknum/Dick Hutcherson/A.J.Foyt*/Bruce McLaren*/Peter Arundell* Ford Mk II [1016] 348
4 Jo Siffert/Colin Davis/Gerhard Mitter* Porsche 906 LE [153] 339
5 Hans Herrmann/Herbert Linge/Dieter Glemser* Porsche 906 LE [143] 338
6 Udo Schütz/Peter de Klerk/Peter Noecker* Porsche 906 LE [152] 337
7 Günther Klass/Rolf Stommelen/Dieter Glemser* Porsche 906 [111] 330
NRF Peter Gregg/Sten Axelsson/Guenther Klass* Porsche 906 [112] 321
8 Piers Courage/Roy Pike/Innes Ireland*/Mike Salmon*/David Hobbs* Ferrari 275 GTB/C [9035] 313
1967 24 Hour duration in which 387 laps of a 8.364 mile circuit - 3251.579 miles were completed
Weather: cloudy, then clear, warm
1 Dan Gurney/A. J. Foyt/Bruce McLaren^ Ford Mk IV [J-6] 388
2 Ludovico Scarfiotti/Mike Parkes Ferrari 330P4 [0858] 384
3 Willy Mairesse/Jean Blaton/Mike Parkes^/Ludovico Scarfiotti^ Ferrari 330P4 [0856] 377
4 Bruce McLaren/Mark Donohue/Peter Revson* Ford Mk IV [J-5] 359
5 Jo Siffert/Hans Herrmann Porsche 907 [004] 358
6 Rolf Stommelen/Jochen Neerspasch/Gijs van Lennep* Porsche 910 [016] 351
7 Vic Elford/Ben Pon Porsche 906 [154] 327
8 Gerhard Koch/Christian Poirot Porsche 906 [156] 321
1968 24 Hour duration in which 330 laps of a 8.369 mile circuit - 2766.896 miles were completed
Weather: warm, dry - rain at night
1 Pedro Rodriguez/Lucien Bianchi/Brian Redman*/Jacky Ickx* Ford GT40 [1075] 331
2 Rico Steinemann/Dieter Spoerry Porsche 907 [008] 326
3 Rolf Stommelen/Jochen Neerspasch/Peter Falk*/Vic Elford* Porsche 908 [013] 325
4 Ignazio Giunti/Giovanni Galli/Lucien Bianchi*/Teodoro Zeccoli* Alfa Romeo T33/2 [75033017] 322
5 Carlo Facetti/Spartaco Dini/Udo Schuetz*/Lucien Bianchi* Alfa Romeo T33/2 315
6 Mario Casoni/Giampiero Biscaldi Alfa Romeo T33/2 305
7 David Piper/Richard Attwood Ferrari 250LM [8165] 302
8 André de Cortanze/Jean Vinatier Alpine A220 Renault [1734] 297
1969 24 Hour duration in which 371 laps of a 8.369 mile circuit - 3105.619 miles were completed
Weather: warm, overcast
1 Jacky Ickx/Jackie Oliver Ford GT40 [1075] 372
2 Hans Herrmann/Gérard Larrousse/Peter Falk*/Vic Elford*/Brian Redman*/Kurt Ahrens Jr* Porsche 908 LH [031] 372
3 David Hobbs/Mike Hailwood Ford GT40 [1076] 368
4 Piers Courage/Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra MS650 [01] 368
5 Jean Guichet/Nino Vaccarella Matra MS630 [04] 359
6 Helmut Kelleners/Reinhold Jöst/Jean Mesange* Ford GT40 [1081] 341
7 Nanni Galli/Robin Widdows Matra MS630/650 [02] 330
8 Teodoro Zeccoli/Sam Posey/Ricardo Rodriguez Ferrari 250LM [5893] 329
1970 24 Hour duration in which 342 laps of a 8.369 mile circuit - 2863.165 miles were completed
Weather: heavy rain
1 Richard Attwood/Hans Herrmann/Vic Elford^/Kurt Ahrens,Jr.^/Rudi Lins* Porsche 917K [023] 343
2 Gérard Larrousse/Willy Kauhsen/Richard Attwood*/Reinhold Joest* Porsche 917L [043] 338
3 Rudi Lins/Helmut Marko/Hans-Dieter Dechent* Porsche 908/02 LH [005] 335
4 Sam Posey/Ronnie Bucknum/Mark Donohue* Ferrari 512S [1014] 313
5 Hughes de Fierlant/Alistair Walker/Jean Blaton* Ferrari 512S [1030] 305
NC Henri Greder/Jean-Pierre Rouget/Bob Wollek^ Chevrolet Corvette 286
6 Claude Ballot-Léna/Guy Chasseuil Porsche 914/6 GT [043 1020] 285
NC Herbert Linge/Jonathan Williams/Rob Slotemaker^/Mike Hailwood^/Steve McQueen*/Jackie Stewart* Porsche 908/02 [022] 282
7 Erwin Kremer/Nicolas Koob Porsche 911S 282
NC Chuck Parsons/Tony Adamowicz Ferrari 312P Coupé [0872] 281
NC
Regards,
Paul