The Hemi Engine and the Age
of the Muscle Car

In 1951, Chrysler introduced the Hemi, an internal-combustion V-8 engine with 180 horsepower. Though that sounds modest by modern standards, the Hemi ushered in the golden age of the American muscle car, particularly after Chrysler rolled out the 426 Hemi in 1964. That year, cars featuring the innovative engine took first, second and third places in the prestigious Daytona 500. While we might cringe at their design nowadays (hood scoops and sport stripes, anyone?), cars like the Dodge Charger and Pontiac GTX are hard to forget.

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