The 426 hemi history

The 426 HEMI engine, nicknamed “The Elephant,” was Chrysler’s racing powerhouse from 1964 to 1971, dominating NASCAR and drag strips before becoming a street legend. The 426 HEMI was born out of Chrysler’s desire to crush the competition in NASCAR. Introduced in 1964 as a race-only engine, it featured hemispherical combustion chambers that allowed for better airflow and more efficient combustion, producing a monstrous 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque A B. Its debut was explosive—Richard Petty won the 1964 Daytona 500 with a 426 HEMI-powered Plymouth, and Mopar cars swept the podium C. However, NASCAR banned race-only engines in 1965, prompting Chrysler to develop a street-legal version. By 1966, the 426 HEMI was available in production cars like the Dodge Charger, Plymouth Barracuda, and Road Runner, bringing race-level performance to the public B. The street HEMI had a slightly lower compression ratio and milder cam timing but retained its brutal power. The engine’s massive size and weight—earning it the “Elephant” nickname—made it a favorite in drag racing, especially in NHRA’s Super Stock class. Chrysler even released lightweight A-990 packages in 1965 for serious racers C. Though production ended in 1971 due to tightening emissions regulations and rising insurance costs, the 426 HEMI’s legacy lives on. It remains the blueprint for modern Top Fuel and Funny Car engines and is revered as one of the greatest V8s ever built A C. Want to riff on this beast’s legacy in a satirical musical number or stage a dragstrip showdown with cartoon flair? I’m all in, Ron—let’s make it roar.