The following excerpt appeared in Jalopnik.com: "Visiting automotive museums, scrutinizing thick coffee table books about muscle cars, and watching movies revolving around car culture could make you think that every other car in the '60s had a 426 Hemi, an L88 427, or a 428 Super Cobra Jet. The truth is, the ultimate performance powerplants of the era represented a fraction of a percent of the powertrains you'd encounter on the street. Two V8s you actually would run across with regularity were Chrysler's B-series 383 and Ford's 390 FE. For drivers who wanted a street-legal car that still had the torque to give a solid shove, not to mention plenty of replacement parts that weren't exotic, expensive, and rare, they were fantastic options. So, while "LS6 454 vs. 455 Super Duty" is the more exciting, high-profile comparison, 383 vs. 390 is probably way more realistic, as these engines likely had more impromptu stoplight drag races. From the 383's introduction in 1959 to its replacement with the 400 in 1972, Chrysler used it across all its divisions' vehicles (except Imperials). In all, Chrysler built more than 3 million 383s. For comparison, Chrysler only built 11,000 Gen-II 426 Hemis. Ford 390s are also plentiful, as Ford built 4 million 390s and 428s, with production numbers skewing heavily toward the 390. They were in Thunderbirds and mid-size Fairlanes, as well as more spritely Mustangs and Mercury Cyclones, not to mention scores of pickup trucks. Collectors seeking value are turning to these "lesser" engines. A '71 'Cuda with a 383 can bring more than $100,000 in concours condition. As for the Ford 390, it's most valuable in Mustangs, thanks vastly to the Steve McQueen/"Bullitt" connection. A '68 390-powered Mustang GT coupe will bring over $90,000 in concours condition." Battle Of The Ignored Engines, The Chrysler 383 Vs The Ford 390 FE
