2003 Ford 427 Concept Part Of U.S. Heritage Fleet

The Ford U.S. Heritage Fleet tells The Blue Oval’s story by preserving its concept vehicles. While some wild concepts like the 1999 Ford SVT Lightning are housed as part of the collection, it also includes vehicles that inspired production models, including the 2003 Ford 427 concept, which was built as a callback to the 1960s while maintaining a modern appearance.

The 2003 Ford 427 concept was “menacingly blunt,” featuring an all-black exterior peppered with chrome and billet aluminum. It was “dark and mysterious,” with a sinister expression inspired by the film noir aesthetic of the ’60s. The front fascia was dominated by a thick bent-bar grille reminiscent of the Ford Galaxie lineup, and its “427” badge was taken from the same model.

Of course, that 427 was more than just exterior ornamentation. It spoke to the powerhouse under the hood of the low, wide, proud vehicle: a 427 cubic-inch 7.0L modular V8, achieving 590 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque. That engine was touted as being 70 pounds lighter than the engine under the hood of the Ford Mustang Cobra R 5.4L V8.

Inside, the 2003 Ford 427 concept was dominated by the center console, which ran the entire length of the interior, designed to convey the sense that the vehicle was strong enough to handle its massive powerplant. It featured four bucket seats designed to make the user feel they were perched inside their own fighter jet cockpit, accentuated by its brushed aluminum accents. The carpet, meanwhile, was all black with checkered flag buttons fastening it in place.

“The first time we drew it up, we knew we had to do a powerplant that lived up to the image of this sinister sedan,” said then-Ford Vice President of North America Product Development, Chris Theodore. “Putting a 590-horsepower 427 in this car is like putting a Navy Seal in an Armani suit.”

As with most concepts in the U.S. Heritage Fleet, the 2003 Ford 427 concept never made it to production, but its influence can be seen in the 2006 Ford Fusion. It lives alongside the 2005 Ford Fairlane, the Ford Transit Connect Taxi, and a number of Ford Bronco concepts, too.