Chrysler’s 426 Hemi engine made its reputation on the race track, but it also powered a generation of street machines that only added to the legendary status it enjoys today, despite severely limited production numbers. This 1970 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T Coupe is an example of one of the rarest Hemi 4-speed Mopars ever built, rarer even than the 62 Plymouth Cudas so equipped in 1971. In fact it is one of only thirteen Hemi Coronet R/Ts built in 1970, the first of just four with the combination of 426/425 HP Hemi engine and New Process 4-speed manual transmission.
Stylistically the 1970 Coronet was worlds removed from its 1965 progenitor, which marked the return of the Coronet nameplate on an intermediate after a seven-year absence from the Dodge model lineup. After just one year the Coronet and its Plymouth counterpart were completely restyled for 1966, adopting the now-famous “Coke-bottle” shape that characterized the full-size and intermediate offerings of the period. Unfortunately, General Motors and Ford had embraced the theme with much more curvaceous designs, once again leaving an Elwood Engel-designed Mopar in the position of playing catch-up with the competition’s styling advances.
There was no playing catch-up on the track, however. Only Chrysler had a Hemi engine, and it continued to reign supreme over the competition despite extensive detuning to make it more suitable for street use.
More @ MECUM
No comments:
Post a Comment