3. Chrysler 331 V8 Hemi
For the new models in 1951, Chrysler introduced a revolutionary 5.4-liter, 331 Hemi V8 engine with 331 CID of displacement. To produce it, they mounted a single camshaft in the block of the engine and added valve lifters. This turned out to be the most common configuration for the Hemi V8. In regular models, the 331 Hemi delivered 185 HP. Chrysler also named it “Fire Power” for marketing purposes.
The power output was outstanding by the standards of the day. Immediately, those Hemi-powered Chryslers became hot cars on the market. They produced the first generation of the 331 Hemi for four years, from 1951 to 1955. Interestingly, people didn’t consider the early Hemi engines as durable as other V8s. This is because drivers needed to have regular valve adjustments due to the combustion chamber’s shape.