Hemi. The mere mention of the name conjures up images of big horse- power, a rattling exhaust note, and burning rubber. Hemi legend was born in the '50s and grew large and long as various Dodges, Chryslers, Plymouths, and even DeSotos stormed dragstrips (legal and otherwise) across America. There were many NASCAR wins, too. When the 426-cu-in. "Street Hemi" was born in '66, its reputation for performance grew from merely amazing to all-conquering. The basic architecture of Chrysler's big-cube, hemispherically combustion-chambered V-8 still powers every Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car currently competing in NHRA drag racing, though those engines are now built by specialty manufacturers.
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