3. Chrysler New Yorker
Even though Chrysler introduced the Hemi engine in 1951, it wasn’t until 1954 that they became a hot item. This is because the Chrysler engineers managed to produce 235 HP, which was considered ludicrous power. They installed it in the elegant, restrained New Yorker.
The 331 Hemi V8 proved to be fast and durable, but also a record breaker. Chrysler entered the special 24 hours endurance run with the 1954 New Yorker. It averaged 118.8 mph over 24 hours of nonstop driving. This highly publicized achievement was a strong marketing tool for the Chrysler New Yorker’s performance.