How much horsepower does a 289 Ford engine have?
The short answer is that horsepower for the Ford 289 varied by variant and year. The base 289 V8 used in many cars delivered about 210 horsepower, while the high-performance 289 HiPo 4V version delivered roughly 271 horsepower (gross). Exact figures depend on the model year, carburetion, and whether horsepower is quoted as gross (early 1960s) or net (later years).
Variants and horsepower
Ford offered several configurations of the 289, with the most common being the two-barrel and the four-barrel high-performance versions. The following list summarizes typical horsepower figures associated with each configuration.
- 289 two-barrel (2V): approximately 210 horsepower (gross)
- 289 four-barrel (4V) standard: roughly 240–260 horsepower (gross), depending on year
- 289 high-performance (HiPo) 4V: about 271 horsepower (gross)
In practice, the actual output varied by year and the way Ford advertised horsepower. The most famous number is the 271 horsepower figure associated with the HiPo 289, a designation tied to the more aggressive 4V configuration used in key performance variants of the era.
Gross vs net horsepower: what changed
Horsepower ratings shifted over time as testing methods evolved. Early ratings were gross, measuring engine output at the crank with minimal ancillary load. Later ratings used net figures, factoring in accessories and exhaust, which typically reduced the published numbers. The following clarifies the two approaches.
- Gross horsepower (early 1960s): engine output measured at the crank with minimal load; the HiPo 289 is listed around 271 hp in many catalogs.
- Net horsepower (late 1960s onward): engine output measured with standard accessories and exhaust; these numbers are commonly lower, often by about 30–40 hp for the 289 family, depending on configuration.
Understanding whether a source cites gross or net horsepower helps explain discrepancies. For precise figures tied to a specific car, consult the original factory documentation for that year and model.
Notable models and applications
1964–1965 Cobra and other high-performance applications
The 271-horsepower HiPo 289 powered famous performance machines, including early Shelby Cobras and high-performance Ford variants. Its higher-rev capability and torque made it a defining feature of Ford’s mid-1960s performance story.
Mustang GT, Fairlane and other 1965–1967 configurations
In standard Ford models, the 289 appeared in 2V and 4V formats. The 2V version typically delivered around 210 horsepower (gross), while the 4V setups could push toward the upper end of the 240–260 horsepower range, depending on year and emissions controls.
Summary
The Ford 289 V8 offered a spectrum of horsepower figures driven by carburetion, year, and how power was measured. The base 289 (2V) was about 210 hp, while the high-performance HiPo 4V version reached about 271 hp in gross ratings. Net horsepower numbers, used later in the era, tended to be lower due to testing standards and accessory loads. For anyone assessing a specific car, the exact year and model documentation will yield the most precise figure.
