5. Hemi 426
One of the most sought-after options in the muscle car world is Hemi 426. This was optional engine on select Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars from 1966 to 1971. In muscle car mythology, they named the Hemi 426 “The Elephant” for its sheer size, power as well as cost. In the course of five years, Chrysler built around 10,000 units.
If a car comes with a Hemi from the factory, it can command an extremely high price. That’s because it is much rarer, more powerful and more desirable than its siblings. Although they factory-rated the 426 Hemi at 425 HP, it was clear that the engine produced more. Most historians agree that the real output of the 1966 to 1971 street Hemi was over 500 HP.
If you wanted to buy Hemi back in the ’60s, it was quite expensive at $900 to $1,200. And that was around a third of the price of the car at the time. The Hemi was an expensive option since the production of the engine cost more. Also, such power required a heavy-duty suspension, frame and gearbox as mandatory options.