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Best Hemi Cars Of All Times

Vukasin Herbez December 17, 2024

Chevrolet had its big blocks, Ford had its Cobra Jet, and Chrysler got the Hemi. For over 6 decades, the Hemi engine has been the top-of-the-line option in various Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and Imperial models and a sure sign that you have considerable firepower under the hood. Even if you are not familiar with car terminology, the name “Hemi” certainly rings a bell. So, what are the best cars with this legendary engine?

Chrysler New Yorker

Even though Chrysler introduced the Hemi engine in 1951, it became a hot item only in 1954 when Chrysler’s engineers managed to squeeze 235 HP, which is considered ludicrous power. Installed in an elegant and restrained New Yorker model, the 331 Hemi V8 proved to be fast, durable, and a record-breaker.

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Chrysler C-300

The fastest and most influential American production model for 1955 and the car that really shook the car scene was the mighty Chrysler C-300. This was the start of a 10-year production run of Chrysler’s famous “Letter cars,” a series of exclusive, fast, and expensive coupes and convertibles with maximum power, comfort, and luxury. The first car in that glorious lineup was the ’55 C-300. The car got its name from the 331 V8 Hemi engine, which was equipped with 8.5:1 compression, a race camshaft, and twin four-barrel carburetors to produce 300 HP, a magical figure for the mid-’50s.

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Facel Vega HK500

Classic & Sports Car - Falling In Love Again With The Facel Vega Facel Ii - 07 — Photo Credit: Flickr

Almost all models from Facel Vega, a discontinued French luxury brand, used Chrysler’s Hemi engine. Back in the late ’50s, this was the best engine if you wanted full power and durability, and Facel managed to give it perfect looks and a blend of luxury and style. The HK500 was an atypical example with 392 Hemi under the hood and a 390 HP rating, and it was one of the most influential and exclusive cars of the period.

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Dodge Coronet Sedan 426 Hemi

The Story Of The 1966 Dodge Coronet Hemi Sedan Mopar S Four Door Unicorn 2 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

The Chrysler Corporation reintroduced its legendary 426 Hemi engine for 1966 as an option on selected Plymouth and Dodge models. The iconic powerplant was also offered as an option on Dodge Coronet, and technically, it could be ordered with any body style. However, buyers associated Hemi power with two-door coupes or convertibles, and most people didn’t realize that they could have Hemi in a sedan or even in wagon form. That is why only a few people bought the Coronet De Luxe Hemi four-door in 1966, getting the ultimate muscle car sedan.

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Dodge Charger 426 Hemi

In 1966, a brand new Dodge Charger was presented as a mid-year introduction and the latest model in the muscle car class. It was based on the Chrysler B-Body platform and shared much of its mechanics and chassis components with other less interesting Dodge models like the Coronet. Under the hood was the most potent option: the mighty 426 Hemi. This was the first year for Street 426 Hemi, and one of the selected models to receive this legendary powerplant was the Charger.

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Plymouth GTX Hemi

This Rare 1969 Plymouth Gtx Is A Blue Gem Packing A 426 Cubic Inch Hemi V8 Under The Hood 205460 1 — Photo Credit: Mecum

Introduced in 1967 as a luxury option in the Belvedere lineup, this model was based on the same platform as the Coronet but was much more luxurious. The GTX was a gentleman’s hot rod with all options, lovely interior and exterior details, and only one optional engine choice – the mighty 426 Hemi. The 440 Magnum was the standard engine, but if you wanted the ultimate Plymouth muscle luxury, you had to go for the Hemi.

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Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi

Dodge Charger 1968 12 — Photo Credit: Mecum

In 1968, muscle car fans were wowed by the fantastic lines of the brand-new Charger featuring popular “Coke bottle” styling, a prominent grille, muscular shape, recessed rear glass, and four round rear lights. The R/T (Road and Track) package was a popular option that included graphics, beefier suspension, and steering, and it came with a standard 440 engine. If you wanted full power in your 1968 Charger, you could choose the Hemi, which was significantly more expensive but well worth the investment.

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Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi

When it first appeared in 1968, Plymouth Roadrunner proved to be a very influential and important muscle car. The base vehicle was inexpensive at just over $3000, but if you wanted to go all out, you needed Hemi as a top-of-the-line option, which cost over $900. Quite the price for Plymouth, but you would get one of the fastest muscle cars of the era with 425 advertised horsepower, which translated to around 500 HP in real life.

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Dodge Daytona Hemi

©2012 Courtesy Of Rm Auctions — Photo Credit: Pinterest

The most interesting period of NASCAR was the late ’60s when rules allowed some modifications to car bodies to make cars more aerodynamic. One of the most famous and influential was the 1969 Charger Daytona, produced in just 504 examples, strictly as a homologation special. Dodge decided to go all out and create a racing car with a special front end, flush rear glass, and a prominent rear spoiler. Of around 500 built, only 70 received Hemi engines, and today are worth insane sums of money.

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Plymouth Barracuda Hemi

Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible 24 — Photo Credit: Auto Wp

Two of the biggest Chrysler legends from the classic days of muscle car culture are the Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. Throughout the ’60s, those industry icons didn’t mix, at least not in street-legal cars. The mighty Hemi engine was an expensive top-of-the-line option for 1970 and 1971, available in coupe or convertible form. It cost around $900 over the price of the standard Barracuda, and it was installed in just about 600 coupes and only 17 convertibles during a two-year production period.

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Monteverd Hai 450

38. 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450ss 07 J3fbuq — Photo Credit: Pinterest

Monteverdi was a Swiss company that produced bespoke sports and luxury cars using Chrysler’s engines. The most extreme Monteverdi model was the Hai 450 from 1970, which featured a fully new chassis and body as well as the famous Hemi 426 V8 engine in the back. Monteverdi wanted the most powerful engine Mopar had to offer, and in 1970, that was the mighty Hemi. The car was called “Hai,” which is a German word for a shark.

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Plymouth Superbird

As one of the craziest muscle cars ever produced, Plymouth has one of the most recognizable graphics packages ever presented to the general public. The car was based on the Roadrunner, and it came with a 440 V8 as standard and 426 Hemi as the only engine option. Of almost 2000 cars, only 135 have the Hemi, making those Superbirds extremely valuable today.

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Dodge Super Bee

Used 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee 440 Six Pack — Photo Credit: Auto Wp

Dodge’s managers decided to merge the Coronet and Charger lineups for 1971 and offer B-Body models in two distinctive flavors. Selling at lower prices but packing good equipment, wild graphics, and a 440 engine as standard, the Super Bee was a relatively popular proposition for people looking for a classic performance machine in vivid colors and tire-shredding performance. The 426 Hemi was the only engine option but very rare, with just 22 cars receiving that engine.

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Chrysler 300C SRT8

The Chrysler 300 C is an exciting car. Chrysler produced numerous variants during its production, with modern 5.7-liter Hemi and other versions, but one is especially interesting for this list – the mighty SRT-8. Under the hood was a 6.1-liter Hemi with 425 HP and fantastic performance connected with Hemi models of the glorious Mopar past.

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Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk

There were fast SUVs before Jeep introduced the Trackhawk, and there will be long after the Trackhawk is discontinued. However, this glorious machine deserves a place on our list for two reasons. First, the 707 Hellcat Hemi engine is under the hood. Second, with a 3.4-second 0 to 60 mph speed, it is faster than some supercars. The Trackhawk is a brutal machine that is highly unusual and influential.

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Dodge Charger Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger Srt Hellcat — Photo Credit: Dodge

2014, the Hellcat arrived, and the car community went wild when Dodge released the Hellcat Charger and Challenger models. After all, the reaction was expected since the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 with 707 hp is a proper monster of a muscle car that shouldn’t be released on the streets. But Dodge did just that, allowing the general public to buy one of the fastest and most powerful muscle cars and muscle car sedans ever built.

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Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

If, for any reason, 707 HP from the Hellcat package is not enough for you and you want the ultimate modern muscle car and the most potent street Hemi engine ever made, then the Demon package is just the thing. Standard fuel will deliver an insane 8an 08 HP, but using high thigh-octane will pump out almost 840 HP. The rest of the Demon package is equally insane, from special transmission, suspension, and brake to widebody stance and exterior details.

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Ram TRX

If you don’t know the TRX, let us put it this way – it’s a cross between the Ram Rebel and Dodge Challenger Hellcat. In other words, it is an all-terrain beast with a supercharged Hemi under the hood and a bad attitude. It has a 702 hp engine under the hood, specially tuned chassis, suspension, and gearbox.

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Best Hemi Cars Of All Times

Chrysler New Yorker

Chrysler C-300

Facel Vega HK500

Dodge Coronet Sedan 426 Hemi

Dodge Charger 426 Hemi

Plymouth GTX Hemi

Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi

Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi

Dodge Daytona Hemi

Plymouth Barracuda Hemi

Monteverd Hai 450

Plymouth Superbird

Dodge Super Bee

Chrysler 300C SRT8

Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk

Dodge Charger Hellcat

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Ram TRX

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