The Dodge Charger is one of the most well-known muscle car nameplates in the world. The current generation of the Charger has carried Dodge and Chrysler through some rough periods including the 2008 recession. One major aspect that made this nameplate so iconic is the Hemi engine under the hood. The Hemi was one of the most historic Chrysler engines in existence, rivaling anything that GM or Ford was pushing at the time. Much like GM and its LS series engines, the Hemi has been a staple of quality and performance for decades.
The Charger is more than just an average car. It’s one that consumers have resonated with for decades. With its bold-looking exterior and groundbreaking performance, the Charger was and is a muscle car legend. The original Charger model was designed to compete with the best that GM and Ford had to offer, and it also had success on the racing circuits. So we decided to showcase the Hemi-based models that tore up the race track from past to present. Buckle up.
1966 Dodge Charger
The first generation of the Charger brought Dodge into the muscle car segment with a bang. Boasting a Hemi V8 engine, the original Charger was a unique piece of sheet metal to say the least. Its bold styling was the first thing that attracted people’s attention, and its massive amount of horsepower only added to it. The first generation had a 425 hp V8 at 5,000 rpm and 490 lb.-ft of torque (via Hemmings).
From the aggressive belt line to the exhilarating performance, the Charger was exactly what the doctor ordered. The car rivaled the best that Chrysler and GM were peddling at the time. The Street Hemi was one of the best engines that MOPAR ever designed and put into a muscle car. The Charger set the stage for the nameplate for years to come and also helped usher in the muscle car era.