This year marks the celebration of an extremely important piece of classic muscle car history! It is the 50th anniversary of the HEMI, the most recognized racing engine in the world.
In February of 1964, Chrysler released the brand new HEMI in their Dodge and Plymouth cars running in the NASCAR Grand National Series. With the HEMI’s 426-cu.in.V8, it went on to master the races of the following year, including taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the Daytona 500 in ‘64.
Today, this engine is in racing machines across the country and across the world. The current Gen II 426 Race Hemi reaches speeds of over 200 miles per hour in the quarter mile, completing the stretch in just 7.78 seconds. While NASCAR no longer allows the engine in its races, the HEMI still dominates in the NHRA drag racing field.
For a full, detailed history of the HEMI engine, you can read the Hemmings article on this piece of classic car history. Do you own a car with one of these powerful engines under the hood? If so, how long has it been since you’ve priced muscle car insurance options to protect your investment? Classic Auto Insurance can offer you extremely competitive rates, as well as customized plans that will offer you personalized protection for your car collection. Give us a call today at 888-901-1338 for a free, instant classic car insurance quote!
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
