273 is it good engine?

We had a friend with a Valiant 273 hipo with a 3 speed stick on the column and for some reason it
was crazy fast .
My first car was a 65 Dart 270 post car with a HP 273 and a 3 on the tree. It was fast (or so I thought at 16) Now I find out there were only a hand full made with that combo.