20 Moments that made the 426 HEMI Great

[gsbrockman]

http://automotiveindustrytrends.com/2020/07/10/20-moments-that-made-the-426-hemi-great-motortrend/

 

[Wayne M.]

That was great. Proud to be a die hard MoPar dude.

 

[Wiredawg]

When I went to buy my first car at the Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth dealership in my small hometown of Seguin TX in 1974, there were two cars on the used car lot... a 1967 Dodge Polara 4dr with auto and 318 and a 1966 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi with two 4brl carbs. (stupid spell checker changed to cards)

My dad took me to the owner's office, they chatted for 15 to 20 minutes, and finally came down to the big question: How can I help you. Well, I spoke up and said I want the Charger. The owner replied "Oh, that's WAY to much car for you... you need to get the Polara." I said no sir, I'd like the Charger PLEASE. I looked over to my Dad to back me up, after all I was buying the car with my own money from washing dishes after school and cutting grass. My father replied, it's the Polara or the school bus. I said Sir, I'll take the Polara please.

Anyhoo, probably for the best... I could have gotten killed with all that power, but still...

Cheers, Ron

 

[DavidC]

I have been driving and wrenching on Mopar's since 1972 continuously and will die still driving a Mopar. Now that you have sparked my old feeble brain that's 48 years of devotion, 1 year longer than I have been married. It's been a fun ride with more to come.

 

[Wayne M.]

Ron, you’re right in that the Charger was a lot of car, it’s also a lot of work. You would have had the air cleaner and valve covers off constantly.

 

[Bill Lins]

Ron, you’re right in that the Charger was a lot of car, it’s also a lot of work. You would have had the air cleaner and valve covers off constantly.

AND have spent a LOT of time @ the gas pump!

 

[Tuesdak]

AND have spent a LOT of time @ the gas pump!

You say this like it's a bad thing. My parents met at a gas pump... Dad was an employee pumping the gas at the time.

 

[Wiredawg]

Followup from my post... The dealership owners son ended up with the Charger and we were both in the same grade in high school. Car was beautiful dark blue. It had an amazing sound... Mopor mucsle is the best... that's one of the big likes on my 1978 LRE.

Cheers, Ron

 

[CBari]

I thought this was one of the Hemi moments boy was I wrong.

 

[Wayne M.]

Mopor mucsle is the best... that's one of the big likes on my 1978 LRE.

Indeed there were a few guys left in Chrysler engineering when your LRE was built, that were around “in the day”, like Tom Hoover and Larry Shepard, and im sure a few Ramchargers, and that’s what made the LRE the sleeper of the ‘70’s.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

The Hemi... takes me back to the late 1960's watching "Dandy" Dick Landy at Lions Drag Strip in Carson california. He was a great guy and shared a lot of info on a 392 rescued from a 1957 Chrysler Imperial that would ultimately end up in my chevy.

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends used to take me to San Antonio drag raceway every Saturday night and remember Hurst Hemi Undglass, Little Red Wagon, Don Garlitts, and many others. Burnt rubber, high octane fuel, nitro methane, cheap hotdogs made a swirl that formed the guy I an today.

The same race track is a few miles from where I live right now and before COVID, could hear the roar of mighty muscle every Saturday night.

Cant wait fo COVID to be over and go back.

Cheets. Ron

 

[Bill Lins]

You say this like it's a bad thing.

Only if you're paying for it!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Only if you're paying for it!