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Luxury Muscle: The Most Expensive Hemi-Powered Cars Of All Time

Vukasin Herbez June 21, 2023

Chevy had its big blocks, Ford had its Cobra Jet, and Chrysler had the Hemi. For over six decades, the Hemi engine has been the top-of-the-line option in various Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth models. The secret of the Hemi is its cylinder heads with hemispherical combustion chambers, hence the name. The hemispherical combustion chambers patent has several advantages to it.

That means that the Hemi engine is somewhat of a holy grail amongst car collectors. Even today when we have modern Hemi engines, they are still prestigious power plants to have. In the muscle car world, the Hemi is simply a legend. That’s why we have compiled a list of the most expensive cars with this glorious motor under the hood.

Chrysler 300C SRT8 – Price: $30,000

The Chrysler 300 C is a very interesting car. That’s because it is one of the last, if not the last true American, boxy-looking sedans with V8 power and a chrome grille. It’s also a very successful model which has been on the market for over 15 years. During that time, Chrysler produced numerous variants.

Most of them had modern 5.7-liter Hemi and other versions, but one is especially interesting for this list – the mighty SRT-8 (via Car and Driver). Under the hood was a 6.1-liter Hemi with 425 HP that connected it to Hemi models of the glorious Mopar past.

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Dodge Ram TRX – Price: $69,000

Although the car industry is inevitably going toward electric and renewable energy sources, it’s good to know that Dodge is still neck deep into gasoline oblivion. How else can we explain the newest and most significant addition to the extreme truck class – the 2021 Ram TRX? The TRX is a cross between the Ram Rebel and Dodge Challenger Hellcat. That means it is an all-terrain beast with a supercharged Hemi under the hood and a bad attitude (via Ram Trucks).

With a starting price of $69,000, it isn’t cheap. But it is an extremely capable, fast, and durable vehicle whose sole aim is to beat Ford’s Raptor in every aspect. That’s why it has a 702 HP engine under the hood, specially tuned chassis, suspension, and gearbox. This could become the new king of the hill when it comes to extreme off-road trucks you can get from your local dealer.

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Chrysler C-300 – Price: $70,000+

The fastest and most powerful American production model for 1955, the Chrysler C-300 shook the car scene. It marked the start of a 10-year production run of Chrysler’s famous “Letter cars,” a series of exclusive, fast, and expensive coupes and convertibles. The first car in that 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 number for the mid-’50s (via Hagerty ).

The performance was outstanding with a nine-second 0 to 60 mph time and 130 mph top speed. The car was expensive and full of luxury items. It also proved very successful in racing, winning 37 stock car events. Today, the Chrysler C-300 is a very valuable early muscle machine and a rare one too. Chrysler built just over 1700 of these Hemi-powered cruisers.

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Dodge Charger 426 Hemi – Price: $80,000+

In 1966, a brand-new Dodge Charger was a mid-year introduction and became the newest model in the muscle car class. It was based on the Chrysler B-Body platform and shared many of its mechanics and chassis components with other less interesting Dodge models like the Coronet. However, it came with fresh new sheet metal and a cool-looking fastback roofline (via Hagerty).

Under the hood was the most powerful option in the form of the mighty 426 Hemi. This was the first year for Street 426 Hemi, and one of the selected models to receive this legendary power plant was the Charger. It produced 425 HP and was released in just under 500 cars in 1966.

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Dodge Charger Hellcat – Price: $83,000

In 2014, the Hellcat arrived and the car community went wild when Dodge released the Hellcat Charger and Challenger models. The reaction was logical. Since the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 with 707 HP is a monster muscle car that arguably shouldn’t be legal for 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.

Despite being overpowered in any aspect, Dodge Charger Hellcats are surprisingly good to drive and can be docile at low speeds (via Dodge). Only when you press the throttle and unleash the fury of 707 supercharged Hemi horses can you feel the brutality of the Hellcat package and all its power to the rear wheels. 0 to 60 mph times are in the high three-second range. The car can also top 200 mph.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – Price: $94,000

There were several fast SUVs before Jeep introduced the Trackhawk. And there will be long after the Trackhawk is gone. However, this glorious machine deserves a place on our list for two reasons. First, the 707 Hellcat Hemi engine is under the hood. Second, a 3.4-second 0 to 60 mph time makes it faster than some supercars (via Jeep).

The Trackhawk is a brutal machine that is highly unusual and influential. It just shows that a high horsepower Hemi engine can make anything a proper muscle car, even a full-size SUV like the Grand Cherokee.

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Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – Price: $96,000

If 707 HP from the Hellcat package is not enough for you and you want the ultimate modern muscle car and the most powerful street Hemi engine ever made, the Demon package is just the thing. With standard fuel, it will deliver an insane 808 HP. But if you use high-octane fuel, it can put out almost 840 HP (via Dodge).

The rest of the Demon package is equally insane. From special transmission, suspension, and brake to wide-body stance and exterior details. The acceleration from 0 to 60 is less than three seconds. Under full power, the Demon will accelerate with 1.8 G force. That is faster than being dropped off a cliff. The car is capable of covering a quarter-mile sprint in less than 10 seconds. If reports are accurate and Chrysler is considering discontinuing the Hemi lineup, this will be a classic.

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Dodge Durango Hellcat – Price: $120,000

Dodge already has a fast SUV in its lineup with Durango SRT. However, Dodge wanted to put its incredible Hellcat engine in everything. So they introduced the Durango Hellcat in all its glory (via Dodge).

With a supercharged Hemi under the hood, the Durango Hellcat delivers 710 HP to all four wheels. It launches this three-row SUV from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. It also produces astonishing noise and will leave you breathless every time you step on the accelerator pedal.

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Plymouth GTX Hemi – Price: $150,000+

Introduced in 1967 as a luxury option in the Belvedere lineup, this model was on the same platform as the Coronet. However, it was much more luxurious because of many reasons. Plymouth wanted the GTX to compete with luxury cars of the period. So they installed almost all possible creature comforts along with some special trim on the outside to distinguish the GTX from the rest of the model lineup (via Muscle Car Club).

The GTX was a gentleman’s hot rod with all the options 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. Because it was significantly more expensive than the rest of the Mopar muscle car lineup, GTX was never that popular. That makes it pretty rare today.

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Dodge Super Bee – Price: $170,000

Dodge’s managers decided to merge the Coronet and Charger lineups for 1971 and offer B-Body models in two versions. From 1971, all four-door models were Coronets, and all two-door models were Chargers as a result. This meant that the Coronet Super Bee was now a Charger. This caused some confusion with buyers because of the change (via Hemmings).

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 classic performance machines in vivid colors and tire-shredding performance, it’s a solid car. The 426 Hemi was the only engine option. But it’s very rare, with only 22 cars receiving that engine as a result.

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Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi – Price: $180,000

When it first appeared in 1968, the Roadrunner proved to be a very important muscle car. It introduced a new trend of inexpensive and fun cars. But it was also a strong seller, which affected the whole segment. The idea behind the Roadrunner was simple. That was to present a low-priced but powerful model and attract people with a limited budget (via Silverstone Motorcars).

The base car was inexpensive at just over $3000. But if you wanted to go all out, you needed the Hemi as a top-of-the-line option, which cost over $900. That made it quite the price for Plymouth as a result. But you would get one of the fastest muscle cars of the era with 425 advertised horsepower. That number actually translated to around 500 HP in real life.

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Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi – Price: $200,000

In 1968, muscle car fans were shocked by the fantastic lines of the brand-new Charger that featured popular “Coke bottle” styling. This included a big grille, muscular shape, recessed rear glass, and four round rear lights. In those days of crazy designs and aggressive muscle car styling, the 1968 Charger was in a league of its own and no other model could compete with this coupe (via Motor Trend).

The R/T (Road and Track) package was a popular option that included a beefier suspension and came with a 440 engine standard. If you wanted full power in your 1968 Charger, you could choose the Hemi, which was significantly more expensive but well worth the investment. Only 475 customers decided to go with the Hemi in 1968.

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Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi – Price: $200,000+

Even though Plymouth had the Barracuda, the first pony car model they introduced two weeks before the Mustang, its stablemate Dodge didn’t enter the segment until 1970. Some muscle car historians say Dodge was late to the party, but the Challenger was so good it left its mark, reserving a place in history. Mopar’s E-Body models – the Barracuda and Challenger – were new in 1970 (via Hemmings).

They featured a new design and better construction as well as a wider, longer body. But there were no significant mechanical differences between the Barracuda and the Challenger. Although their designs were different, they shared some interchangeable bodywork parts. Dodge revealed the Challenger with the full firepower of Mopar’s engines. Buyers could get a powerful 383 V8, as well as the big 440 and the famous 426 Hemi. Of course, the best performers were the 440 and the Hemi. Depending on the specifications, differential ratio, and gearboxes, Challengers equipped with those engines could accelerate to 60 mph in the 5.5 to 5.7-second range. That was considered quite fast for 1970.

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Plymouth Barracuda Hemi – Price: $300,000

Two of the biggest Chrysler legends from the classic days of muscle car culture are the Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. All through the ’60s, those icons of the industry didn’t mix, at least not in street-legal cars. In 1970, Plymouth offered this legendary engine in Barracuda body style, immediately creating one of the fastest and most desirable muscle cars ever made (via Supercars).

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 went in just about 600 coupes and only 17 convertibles during a two-year production period. The power was 425 HP but everyone knew that the orange monster delivered more than 500 HP straight from the dealership.

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Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock – Price: $300,000+

1968 Dodge Dart 426 Hemi — Photo Credit: Hot Rod

As one of the biggest forces on America’s drag strips in the ’60s, Chrysler always looked for ways to improve performance, introduce new concepts, and break records. After years of fiddling with mid-size platforms, Mopar shoehorned the Race Hemi in the smallest platform they could find, the Dodge Dart, in 1968 (via Auto Evolution).

The actual fabrication of this beast was a challenging task. The Hemi Darts were assembled almost by hand using regular 383 Dart. Installing the big Hemi in the small Dart’s engine bay was a challenging and tight fit. But Chrysler engineers managed to produce exactly 80 cars. Of course, none were street legal and all went to racing teams, painted in primer and ready for race decals and stripes.

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Plymouth Belvedere Altered Wheelbase – Price: $300,000+

Since the Hemi was basically a racing engine, it was always very present in several forms of motorsport. From NASCAR ovals to road racing and drag strips, you needed the Hemi under your hood if you wanted to win. Chrysler didn’t offer the Race Hemi lightweight models for 1965 but instead went a step further and produced a handful of altered wheelbase Plymouths and Dodges for professional racers and the newly-founded FX class (via How Stuff Works).

The FX (Factory Experimental) class in NHRA championship was a predecessor to today’s Funny Car class. It was a place where factory-supported teams could race cars that only resembled stock vehicles and were equipped with engines, drivetrains, or body modifications that would never be able on a street car. They simply moved the whole floor pan 15 inches forward, moving the rear axle just behind the driver. This helped the weight distribution and traction off the line. Those altered wheelbase cars were never street legal and featured numerous interesting combinations such as fuel-injected, supercharged, or turbocharged engines. Today, real altered wheelbase cars are extremely rare and present a valuable piece of muscle car history.

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Monteverd Hai 450 – Price: $570,000

Monteverdi was a Swiss company that produced bespoke sports and luxury cars using Chrysler’s engines. In 1970, the owner Peter Monteverdi wanted to go against Ferrari and Lamborghini and needed a supercar. The most extreme Monteverdi model was Hai 450 from 1970, which featured a fully new chassis and body as well as the famous Hemi 426 V8 engine in the back (via Supercars).

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. Its 0 to 60 mph time took only 4.5 seconds, making it the quickest car of its era.

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Dodge Coronet Sedan 426 Hemi – Price: $660,000

The Chrysler Corporation reintroduced its legendary 426 Hemi engine for 1966 as an option on selected Plymouth and Dodge models. The iconic powerplant was offered as an option on Dodge Coronet as well, and technically it could be with any body style. However, buyers associated Hemi power with two-door coupes or convertibles, so most people needed to realize that they could have the Hemi in sedan or even wagon form (via Auto Evolution).

Dodge Coronet - Dodge — Photo Credit: Mecum

That is why only a few people bought the Coronet De Luxe Hemi four-door in 1966, getting the ultimate muscle car sedan. With advertised 425 HP under your right foot, the Coronet Hemi four-door was arguably the fastest production sedan in America and the ultimate muscle car four-door.

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Dodge Daytona Hemi – Price: $900,000

The most exciting period of NASCAR was the late ’60s when rules allowed some modifications to car bodies to make cars more aerodynamic. Of course, the condition was to apply those changes to regular production examples and sell a limited number of such cars to the general public. Most manufacturers jumped to this opportunity and created Aero racers, or specially designed cars, homologated for the races (via Supercars).

One of the most famous and influential was the 1969 Charger Daytona, produced in just 504 examples and 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 big rear spoiler. The Charger Daytona was one of the first cars to be developed in a wind tunnel and used new materials in construction. Out of around 500 built, only 70 received Hemi engines, and today they are worth insane sums of money.

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Plymouth Superbird – Price: $1 Million

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 Superbird attempted to win the famous Aero Wars in the late ’60s to early ’70s NASCAR championship. To homologate the car for racing, Plymouth built just under 2000 road-going Superbirds and sold them all over America (via Trust Auto).

The car is based on the Roadrunner. And it came with a 440 V8 as standard and 426 Hemi as the only engine option. Out of almost 2000 made, only 135 cars got the Hemi, which makes these Superbirds extremely valuable today.

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Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible – $2 to 4 million

Two of the biggest Chrysler legends from the classic days of muscle car culture are the Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. And all through the ’60s, those icons of the industry didn’t mix, at least not in street-legal cars. In 1970 Plymouth offered this legendary engine in Barracuda body style, immediately creating one of the fastest and most desirable muscle cars ever made (via Hemmings).

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 went in just about 600 coupes and only 17 convertibles during a two-year production period. Well, prices for those 17 cars range from 2 to a staggering 4 million dollars.

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Luxury Muscle: The Most Expensive Hemi-Powered Cars Of All Time

Chrysler 300C SRT8 – Price: $30,000

Dodge Ram TRX – Price: $69,000

Chrysler C-300 – Price: $70,000+

Dodge Charger 426 Hemi – Price: $80,000+

Dodge Charger Hellcat – Price: $83,000

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – Price: $94,000

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – Price: $96,000

Dodge Durango Hellcat – Price: $120,000

Plymouth GTX Hemi – Price: $150,000+

Dodge Super Bee – Price: $170,000

Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi – Price: $180,000

Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi – Price: $200,000

Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi – Price: $200,000+

Plymouth Barracuda Hemi – Price: $300,000

Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock – Price: $300,000+

Plymouth Belvedere Altered Wheelbase – Price: $300,000+

Monteverd Hai 450 – Price: $570,000

Dodge Coronet Sedan 426 Hemi – Price: $660,000

Dodge Daytona Hemi – Price: $900,000

Plymouth Superbird – Price: $1 Million

Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible – $2 to 4 million

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