[Tommy Nolen]

I don't think too many people realize what this 390/375 motor was, it's not just a 390 with a solid cam and more compression. It had both but the block was different from the regular 390's, it was a high nickol casting with different oil passages aong with other upgrades. I beleive this motor was responsable for Chevrolet coming up with the 409. In the fall of 1960 when Ford introduced this 390/375, the biggest thing that Chevrolet had was a 348/350. In an attempt to keep up, Chevrolet had no choice, they had to do something so they came out with the 409 which was really just a bored and stroked the 348. Chevrolet produced 142 cars with these motors but most of them came apart. Chevrolet quickly stopped production of the 409 and redesigned motor. Then, for '62 they came back with the new and improved 409 which went on to become a legend. I'm a GM guy but give credit where credit is due....a '61 375 Starliner was one bad a$$ car in it's day!!