When did the first Hemi come out?
Transcription
When did the first Hemi come out?
Half_031912_auto_ghns_7.qxd:Layout 1 3/15/12 3:27 PM Page 1 Automotive THE LIST 2012 most dependable trucks and SUVs According to The Street, here are some of the best vehicles: Best compact multipurpose: Scion xB Best compact crossover SUV: Chevrolet Equinox Best midsize premium crossover: Lexus RX 350 Best midsize van: Toyota Sienna Best large pickup: Toyota Tundra DID YOU KNOW? The Chevrolet Volt recently was named the European Car of the Year. AUTO BITS TIP OF THE WEEK Online car shop Buying a new car online is very different than other online purchases. Here are tips to successful online used-car shopping: 1. Find out about the vehicle’s history. 2. Complete transactions through the purchase site. 3. Know what you’re buying. 4. Check out the seller. 5. Review the vehicle title. If it appears to have been altered in any way, you may want to reconsider the purchase. 6. Never send payments through Western Union, MoneyGram or other wire services. If you plan to pay in cash, do so only in person and obtain a receipt. 7. If you encounter fraud during the car-shopping process, consider filing a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. — ARA CAR Q & A A good car? Q: I was thinking about buying my daughter a new Ford Fiesta. Can you give me your thoughts? A: I had a Fiesta for a week, and it was great. Our test car was a five-speed manual hatchback. It was easy to drive, and clutch pedal pressure was light. Base price $17,120 plus $675 delivery. EPA 28 city, 37 highway. Should give many years of great service. — Junior Damato, Talking Cars columnist CARS WE REMEMBER When did the first Hemi come out? ’m enjoying your recent articles on the Hemi, car models and the Dick Harrell 427 Nickey, Gibb and Yenko Camaros. However, I’d like to let everyone know that those famous 426 Hemi engines came out way before 1965, but in smaller dimensions. My dad had a 1953 Dodge with a Hemi in it. Do you remember those? — Jim L., email from Illinois A: I sure do. Matter of fact, my brother and I bought a ‘53 Dodge Hemi for $25 in 1966, but never did anything with it and sold it back to the same guy for $20. (Yep — depreciation.) The 1953 Dodge was available with a scaled-down version of the already introduced Chrysler 331 Hemi V-8. It measured 241 cubic inches and produced 140 horsepower. The Dodge line called this engine the “Red Ram” Hemi, and it was equipped with red valve covers that had the same script. In 1953, Dodge dropped its Wayfarer model and relied on Meadowbrook and Coronet lines for the dealers. The car was restyled from the boxier 1952 Dodge, which debuted as the first post-war Dodge in 1949. If you wanted a Hemi, you had to start with the Coronet Club Coupe, which listed at just under $2,200. Of note is no fully automatic transmission was available in 1953 as Dodge introduced its first one, called the "Powerflite," in 1954. As for the first Hemi, it was in- I Greg Zyla The Hemi replaced the Inline-8, which developed 135 horses in the Chrysler line. troduced in the Chrysler line in 1951 and developed 180 horses from its 331-inch size. The Hemi replaced the Inline-8, which developed 135 horses in the Chrysler line. The Hemis were great motors, and they were also used by Chrysler in many military applications and in air raid sirens that were popular in U.S. cities in the 1950s. (YouTube is loaded with examples of the Hemi 331 air raid siren in action.) Of course, I remember the air raid drills at my grade school in Ranshaw, Pa., and later Vineland, N.J. When the air raid sounded, we had to get under our desk even if we were having our morning milk (delivered by the milk company). As for the 1953 Dodge, it did not set any sales records. As a matter of fact, the redesigned car did poorly as the other manufacturers were building bigger cars, The 1953 Dodge was a new design and included the line’s first Hemi engine, a 241-inch red Ram V-8. ADVERTISEMENT COURTESY OF CHRYSLER CORPORATION and the ‘53 Dodge was a bit smaller than the ‘52. Dodge stayed with the design in 1954, and sales were even worse. However, with the introduction of the all-new 1955 Dodges, things started to turn around for the better. Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions on auto nostalgia at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at [email protected].