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The HEMI: An Infamous Engine
The secret of the Hemi engine is in its cylinder heads that have hemispherical combustion chambers; thus, the name. Although such a solution wasn’t new or unique in the car industry, Chrysler perfected it, making a brand out of it. They presented the street version of the mighty 426 Hemi in 1966. It featured a four-barrel carburetor and a lower 10.5:1 compression ratio.
However, it had the same basic block and heads as the race variant. The factory rated the 426 Hemi at 425 HP, yet it was clear that the engine produced more than that. Most historians agree the real output of the 1966 to 1971 street Hemi was over 500 HP. The Hemi package was available on selected Dodge and Plymouth models.
But it was expensive at $900 to $1,200, which was around a third of the price of the car. 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.