Chrysler is drumming up nostalgia in its loyal fan base with the creation of the new 426 cubic-inch Generation III Hemi crate engine. When your past is filled with some of the most momorable engines to ever push a car around a track or down a drag strip, then it makes sense to cash in on it. So with that in mind, production of the 426 crate engine has begun.

This new Mopar 426 Hemi Crate Engine is an all-aluminum job and produces a solid 540 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque. It will sell with a heavy price tag of $13,675 USD in the States and made its debut at the recent Performance Racing Industry show in Florida. Chrysler is making a more steady attempt at keeping up with GM and Ford in expanding its aftermarket parts catalogue. Parts big and small, from valvetrain tie bars and cylinder head stud kits to aluminum engine blocks for the Challenger/Charger/300, are now being added to Chrysler’s stocks. It’s good news for Mopar fans the world wide.

Check out more images in the gallery below.

If Chrysler wasn’t already halfway doomed when the new Challenger was in the design phase, there could well have been a Cuda remake also. Since that obviously didn’t happen though, there are plenty of workshops out there who are transforming the new Dodge’s into old Plymouth replicas.

Legendary “Mr Norm” of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago who has been playing with Mopars for many years now is just one such person. He has just released a 426 Hemi powered Cuda convertible based on the Challenger platform. Those who know their Mopar’s know that the old Hemi Cuda convertibles fetch over a million dollars. While Mr Norms version isn’t quite that expensive, we wouldn’t expect it to be cheap either.

The 426 is fitted with a Kenne Bell supercharger to create 725 hp, which is exactly the same as the top of the line Shelby Mustang SuperSnake. To handle that grunt each car has been fitted with a Viper-spec Dana 44 diff, subframe connectors and no doubt a strengthened body.

To find out more about Mr. Norm and what he does, click here to check out his website.