In the world of classic muscle cars there aren’t many more coveted machines that the Plymouth Hemi Cuda. This rare beast is about as exclusive and desirable as any Ferrari or Bugatti. That said, paying $3.2 million U.S dollars for one still seems on the steep side.

If you have that sort of money to blow then a fully mint example has just been put up for sale. This 1970 Hemi Cuda, has been driven just 17,729 miles, and will set you back the price of roughly 190 brand new Suzuki Swifts.

So why the hell is this car worth so much? Well, it was very rare even when it was built, and this model has a long history in Trans-Am racing in the States but obviously not this particular example. But what really makes this particular car unique is that it’s the first E-body Hemi Cuda, build by hand at Chrysler’s Claire Point, Michigan facility. It was built as a prototype and was never actually intended for sale, but eventually found its way into private hands. (more…)

Not only is it beautiful to look at, this Chrysler New Yorker is also a genuine piece of automotive history.

As Chrysler’s flagship model, the New Yorker was significant. Still is. It remains the longest-running nameplate in US automotive history, having been in production for 57 years, from 1939 to 1996.

It spanned 11 model generations, though in keeping with much of what has emerged from the US car industry in the past three decades, the last five generations ” produced between 1979 and 1996 ” were pretty forgettable.

But it was during the New Yorker’s attractive second generation of models, produced between 1950 and 1954, that the marque made one of the most significant contributions to the automotive world ever, when it was offered in 1951 with Chrysler’s magnificent new FirePower Hemi V8 engine. The ’51 New Yorker was an unassuming car. It had subtle styling, with an outer layer that gave no clues to the fact that nestled snugly between its bulky flanks sat an engine which would become one of the most famous in automotive history.

The Hemi engine gets its name from the shape of its combustion chambers, which are shaped like half a sphere, or hemisphere, to best enclose its canted inlet and exhaust valves. The Hemi combustion chamber shape and valve locations, and centrally located spark plug, allow for short intake and exhaust ports and large valves. The result is smooth-running, effective valve stem and seat cooling, extended valve life, good prevention from carbon build-up, and excellent breathing, volumetric efficiency and performance. (more…)

Over in the States fancy auction house RM Auctions has announced that the first ever Dodge Charger will go on auction at this year’s Automobiles of Arizona event held from January 20. That’s right, the first Dodge Charger ever built will be auctioned. This ultra rare piece of metal is the original 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger concept car with Chassis No. 6442103030. The vehicle is powered by a 426ci “Hemi” V8 engine packing a 600+ hp punch.

The Charger concept car comes from the Estate of John O’Quinn, was previously owned by collector Joe Bortz and was restored by Fran Roxas. The veteran Charger concept is now fitted with one of the original 15 Chrysler race Hemi engines. It is authentic and represents the first Dodge to wear the Charger name.

If you want it, you better have a plane ticket to Arizona and a sack full of cash because it’s estimated that this first ever Charger, will fetch between 750,000 USD and 1 million USD at auction. (more…)

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.

“Riding loud Harleys down Route 66 with no helmet is not the most sensible thing to do, but you will always remember it. This ’Cuda will be about as close as I will get to that with four wheels,” says Russell O’Donoghue. A man with an appreciation for all things American; he worked in the States for more than 20 years and, more pertinently, owns this astonishing 1970 ’Cuda.

He couldn’t have chosen a more desirable base to build from. ’Cuda convertibles are nigh on impossible to find and rank among the most desirable muscle cars on the planet. Of course, that desirability comes at a cost, but after years of working as a superyacht captain, he was ready to own the car of his dreams.

But the ’Cuda dream very nearly turned into a nightmare before the build even started. Though it was a show car in the land of stars and stripes, on its arrival in New Zealand the car was found to be an utter basket-case. Had it been a common vehicle it would have been scrapped, but being one of only 12 1970 Gran Coupe Convertibles built, that was never going to be an option.

It’s a situation that could have put Russell off cars for good, and while he says he will never build another car to this extent, we are extremely glad he saw the project through to completion, because the result is one of the most impressive vehicles ever to featured in NZV8.

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The third annual ‘Mopars In’ event is Mopars In Nelson and it’s all set to take place this Labour weekend.

After successful events in Geraldine it was decided to move the event north to allow more North Islanders the chance to attend. No club affiliation is required, just a good attitude and a Mopar of some variety. The event is socially orientated with a meet and great, show and shine, organised meals and a bit of cruising. While it may be a bit late to sign on for the whole shebang now, there area couple of points during the weekend when the public can come along and view the American iron on display.

The public viewing times are:

Sat 23rd Oct 11am to 3pm – Pigeon Valley Steam Musuem – Wakefield. Gold Coin entry applies.

Sun 24th Oct approx 11.30am to 2pm – Kaiteriteri. Gold Coin entry applies.

If you’re a Mopar fan in the region get on down there and see some awesome cars and find out what the event is all about.

The 2011 Dodge Charger was due for a refresh but no one really expected the first official image of the reworked model to be in full Police pursuit gear.

Chrysler is out to prove it’s a contender for lucrative American Police agency car contracts with its 2011 Charger Pursuit. Ford and General Motors have already introduced their next-generation police pursuit vehicles, and while the Taurus- and Caprice/Commodore-based cruisers will be tough competition for one another, the new Charger pursuit is no softie either.

The Pursuit is based on the new-for-2011 Dodge Charger, and will be available with either Chrysler’s 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 or 5.7-litre Hemi V8. The larger engine comes equipped with a Multi-Displacement System to shut off fuel to unneeded cylinders during lighter duty, improving fuel economy when cruising the beat.

Other special treats for the Charger on Police duty include things like heavy-duty anti-lock brakes, front and rear stabiliser bars, a two-mode police-specific stability control system and 18-inch performance tyres on ugly steel wheels.

Inside, the front cabin serves as a mobile command center, and Chrysler has got busy developing a police interface module to best integrate existing computer equipment. There’s also reinforced front seats, a column shifter to open up floor and console space and interior lighting in red and white to assist the use of night-vision equipment.

It’s one mean machine and American Police forces will be able to order the 2011 Charger Pursuit from next month.

Last week Dodge announced it’s new custom factory built model the Mopar 2010 Dodge Challenger and now a new video of the Challenger has hit the web. The video shows the special Challenger in the flesh and is accompanied by some interesting commentary on the build process.

The Mopar Dodge Challenger is powered by the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 and features various enhancements including a cold air intake, a bonnet-scoop system and a stiffer chassis. The Mopar 2010 Dodge Challenger is priced from $39,000 USD. Click here to find out more.

Check out the video below. (more…)