The 385 engine family was the American Ford Motor Company's final big block V8 engine design, replacing the Ford MEL engine and gradually superseding the Ford FE engine family. This design was a departure from the peridigm utilizing thinwall casting methods and a skirtless block to reduce weight.

It was available in three sizes in production vehicles; 370 inł (6.1 L) in trucks only, 429 inł (7.0 L) and 460 inł (7.5 L). A 512 inł (8.4 L) crate engine was also available from Ford SVO.

The engines were sold between 1968 and 1997. They were manufactured in Lima, Ohio. This manufacturing line replaced the Ford MEL engine line in the Lima plant. The FE engines, manufactured in Dearborn, continued in production but saw reduced applications and volume as the 385 engine gradually took over in the Ford line up. The FE went out of production in 1976, leaving the 385 as the only big block.

Boss 429 engine

Besides service in large luxury cars in the 1970s and in trucks throughout its life, the the 385 series engine was also popular in motorhomes, marine, and industrial applications. Over 50 varieties were produced in any given year.