The legendary 426 Hemi engine powered many of the fastest Mopar muscle cars from 1966 to 1971.
While Chrysler wasn’t the only auto manufacturer to develop such an engine, they were the first to brand the term “Hemi.”
“Hemi” is an abbreviation of “Hemispherical,” referring to the overhead-valve hemispherical combustion chambers that were the unfair advantage of the legendary big block 426 cubic inch V-8.
If you want to discover which 426 Hemi-powered Mopars were some of the fastest muscle cars and a bit of its history, read on.
Table of Contents
The 12 Fastest 426 Hemi Mopar Muscle Cars
Automotive Magazines tested and printed the results of a dozen street version 426 Hemi-powered Plymouth and Dodge Muscle Cars back when these vehicles were new.
These published track tests fueled the sales and desire of thrill-seeking young buyers looking to dominate the streets.
Let’s look at the twelve fastest Mopars with 426 Hemi engines from the 60s and 70s, shall we?
12th Place: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi is twelfth, with a 14-second quarter-mile, traveling 104 miles per hour (Road & Track, June 1970).
By comparison, it was only the seventeenth fastest muscle car of 1970. Dodge produced 355 Hemi Challenger R/Ts, including 287 hardtops, 59 SE hardtops, and nine convertibles.
In terms of styling, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi was characterized by its bold and aggressive look, wide stance, long hood, and short roofline. It was available in various colors, including High Impact Colors like Panther Pink, Go-Mango, and Hemi Orange.
Inside, the Challenger R/T 426 Hemi had luxury features, including bucket seats, a center console, and a sport steering wheel. This provided a comfortable and stylish driving experience, making the Challenger fun as a daily driver or quarter-mile runner.
Overall, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi was a highly regarded supercar loved for its impressive power and bold styling. Today, it is considered a classic and is highly sought after by collectors and fans of American muscle cars.
11th Place: 1967 Dodge Coronet 500
The 1967 Dodge Coronet 500 426 Hemi is eleventh, running a 13.90-second quarter-mile, traveling 104 miles per hour (Rodder and Super/Stock, March 1967). However, it was strong enough to be the fastest muscle car of 1967. No production numbers exist.
The 1967 Dodge Coronet 500 was a mid-sized muscle car produced by the Dodge division of Chrysler Corporation. It was offered in various models, including the high-performance 500 series, which could be fitted with the powerful 426 Hemi engine.
10th Place: 1970 Plymouth GTX
The 1970 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi is tenth, with a 13.85-second quarter-mile time, traveling 104 miles per hour (Rodder and Super/Stock, September 1970). Ironically, it was also the tenth fastest muscle car of 1970.
Regarding styling, the 1970 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi was similar to the standard GTX, with a bold and aggressive look that included a distinctive grill, hood scoop, and rear deck wing. However, it was also fitted with several performance upgrades, such as a heavy-duty suspension, larger brakes, and a performance-tuned exhaust system.
Inside, the GTX 426 Hemi was fitted with a range of luxury features, including bucket seats, a center console, and a sport steering wheel. This provided a comfortable and stylish driving experience, making the car enjoyable to drive and race between stop lights.
Despite its impressive performance, the 1970 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi was not a common car, with only 71 examples produced. Today, it is considered one of the most collectible and valuable muscle cars from the era, with original examples fetching high prices at auctions and car shows.
9th: Place: 1968 Plymouth GTX
The 1968 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi is ninth, running a 13.85-second quarter-mile, traveling 104 miles per hour (Popular Hot Rodding, March 1968). For perspective, during its day, the GTX was the eighth-fastest muscle car of 1968. Plymouth produced 446 GTXs in 1968, including 410 hardtops and 36 convertibles.
The 1968 Plymouth GTX with a 426 Hemi engine was a high-performance muscle car produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation. It was the top-of-the-line performance model in the Plymouth lineup, and the 426 Hemi engine was the most powerful engine option available.
Overall, the 1968 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi was a highly regarded muscle car loved by car enthusiasts for its impressive power, bold styling, and luxurious features.
8th Place: 1966 Plymouth Satellite
The 1966 Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi is eighth with a 13.80-second quarter-mile, traveling 103.8 miles per hour (Car and Driver, April 1966). However, it was the second-fastest muscle car of 1966. Plymouth produced 844 Hemi Satellites in 1966, including 817 hardtops and 27 convertibles.
The 1966 Plymouth Satellite with a 426 Hemi engine was a muscle car option offered by Plymouth. It was available as a mid-sized car, and the Hemi engine was the most powerful engine option. Car and Driver stated, “(The 1966 Plymouth Hemi Satellite is) the best combination of brute performance and tractable street manners we’ve ever driven….”.
7th Place: 1971 Dodge Super Bee
The 1971 Dodge Super Bee came in seventh, running a 13.73-second quarter-mile, traveling 104 miles per hour (1971 Supercar Annual), and was the eighth-fastest muscle car of 1971. Dodge produced 22 Hemi Super Bees in 1971. All were hardtops.
The Roadrunner was a mid-sized car in various models, and the 426 Hemi engine was the most powerful option. The Hemi engine was known for its impressive power, delivering 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque.
The 1971 Plymouth Hemi Roadrunner was designed with a bold and aggressive exterior, featuring a long hood, fastback roofline, and a sporty stance. Inside, the Roadrunner was fitted with comfortable and stylish features, offering a premium driving experience for the driver and passengers.
6th Place: 1971 Plymouth Road Runner
The 1971 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi is sixth with a 13.50-second quarter-mile, traveling 106.5 miles per hour (1971 Supercar Annual), and was the third-fastest muscle car in 1971. Plymouth produced 55 Hemi Road Runners in 1971. All were hardtops.
5th Place: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T
The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi is fifth, running a 13.50-second quarter-mile, traveling 105 miles per hour (Car and Driver, November 1967), and was the second-fastest muscle car of 1968. Dodge produced 475 Hemi Chargers in 1968. All were hardtops.
The 68 Charger R/T was a full-sized car in the second-generation Charger lineup. The R/T, which stood for “Road and Track,” was the top-of-the-line performance model, featuring a range of performance enhancements over the standard Charger.
Under the hood, the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T was fitted with a powerful engine, with options ranging from a 383 cubic inch V-8 to a 426 cubic inch Hemi V-8, delivering up to 425 horsepower. The Charger R/T was also fitted with performance-oriented suspension and braking systems, making it a capable performer on the road or the track.
4th Place: 1969 Dodge Charger 500
The 1969 Dodge Charger 500 426 Hemi is fourth with a 13.35-second quarter-mile, traveling 104 miles per hour (Hi-Performance Cars, April 1969), and was also the seventh fastest muscle car in 1969. Dodge produced 352 Charger 500s in 1969. Unfortunately, no breakdown by engine option is available.
Under the hood, the 1969 Dodge Charger 500 was fitted with a powerful engine, with options ranging from a 383 cubic inch V-8 to a 426 cubic inch Hemi V-8, delivering up to 425 horsepower.
The Charger 500 was a special edition of the standard Charger, featuring unique styling elements and performance enhancements. It was part of the second-generation Charger lineup and was designed to be a more aerodynamic and racing-oriented model.
In terms of styling, the 1969 Dodge Charger 500 was characterized by its aerodynamic design, with a sleek and streamlined body that reduced wind resistance and improved overall performance.
3rd Place: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner
The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi is third, with a 13.34-second quarter-mile ET, traveling 107.5 miles per hour (SSDI, December 1969), and was the third-fastest muscle car of 1970. Plymouth produced 152 Road Runners in 1970, including 74 coupes, 75 hardtops, and three convertibles.
The Road Runner was a budget-oriented muscle car designed to offer performance and style at an affordable price. The Hemi engine was one of the most powerful engine options in the Road Runner lineup, delivering exceptional power and performance.
2nd Place: 1969 Plymouth Road Runner
The 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi is second with a 13.32-second quarter-mile, traveling 107.7 miles per hour (Rodder Super/Stock, May 1969). However, when it was new, the Road Runner was the sixth-fastest muscle car of 1969. Plymouth produced 797 Road Runners in 1969, including 356 coupes, 421 hardtops, and ten convertibles.
1st Place: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda
The fastest street Hemi on this list is the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda with a 13.10-second quarter-mile, traveling at 107.1 miles per hour (Car Craft, November 1969), and was also the fastest muscle car of 1970. Plymouth produced 666 1970 426 Hemi Cudas, including 652 hardtops and 14 convertibles.
The 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi was a high-performance muscle car produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation. It was based on the Plymouth Barracuda and was fitted with the powerful 426 cubic inch Hemi V-8 engine, one of the most powerful engine options in the lineup.
Conclusion
During the 1960s and 1970s, the Hemi engine was used in a range of muscle cars produced by the Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler divisions of Chrysler Corporation. These cars were designed to deliver raw power and performance, making them highly sought after by muscle car enthusiasts and racers.
The 426 Hemi engine was known for its distinctive and unmistakable sound—a combination of raw power and mechanical music. Its popularity as a performance engine has only continued to grow over the years, making it one of the most iconic engines in the history of American muscle cars.
The 426 Hemi engine was a key player in the muscle car era of the 1960s and 1970s. Its high power output, reliability, and iconic design helped establish it as one of the most legendary engines in the history of American muscle cars.
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Ryan Wheaton
Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.
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Shame on Rupe for posting such blasphemy! That’s a beautiful Buick he mentions, and it is indeed rather quick; however, its weight alone will prevent it from standing up to any of the hemi-Mopars mentioned- particularly the ‘70 Hemi-Cuda!
The fastest hemi cars are the 1968 hemi cuda’s, just edging out the 1968 hemi darts. The fastest street legal Hemi’s are the 1965 super stocks, the only hemi with aluminum heads, again with the very slight edge maybe going to the Plymouth. Then next are the hemi equipped 1964 super stocks.
WHERE IS THE 71′ hemi ‘cuda cv?
Buick GSX Stage 1 was the fastest muscle car of 1970.
Rupe, what is your historical source for your claim? Here’s mine. According to the automotive magazines cited in this article, the Buick GSX was the 8th fastest muscle car in 1970.
WRONG!!!
1970 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi
The 1970 Plymouth Cuda E-body powered by a 426 Hemi snatched top honors as the fastest muscle car in 1970.Apr 30, 2020