Hemi Central
Tim Romig wrote: I am the current owner of the Al Corda Hemi Challenger (pictured above). This car was purpose-built to promote Hemi crate engines for Mopar Performance and won the 1997 NHRA Championship in Stock Eliminator class. I purchased the car in 2003 from pro wrestler Bill Goldberg through CIA Cars owner Bob Johnson. I also own a 1972 Plymouth Road Runner that was also sponsored by Mopar Performance in the Stock Eliminator class. It was driven and owned by Dave Hakim, who still works for Mopar Performance.
The Hemi Central section was originally provided by Steve Boelhouwer. The Webmaster of Allpar has added the following links:- 1965 426 Hemi Dyno Test
- The Mopar Engines Page | Original Hemis
- 426 Hemi Development (part of an article on NASCAR)
- The A311 Racing Hemi
- Origin of the Hemi
- Hemi development story
- Running amok with a borrowed Hemi Satellite
- 392 Crate Hemi (2006)
Bill Thomas noted: “There were hemis in boats as well. Chrysler Marine in Marysville, MI made a lot of them years ago and some are still around. Today B.P.M. in Italy makes V12 hemi marine engines which look a little like an early Chrysler hemi. The standard, carbureted version is 780 hp. Not many of these around, but anything is better that the big block GMs that are now everywhere.”
He also wrote: Mayea Boat Works of Fairhaven, MI builds some of the finest boats in the world - all custom, all wood, and one at a time. These boats range from maybe 24 to 44 feet long and generally take a year or two to build. The boats are very modern, and very high performance. They are not race boats but are just cruising or pleasure boats.
Several years ago Mayea had Keith Black (of Chrysler hemi race engine fame) design manifolds and other parts for Mayea's marine engines. Today, they still build a few Hemis with the same components.
A couple of years ago one of their customers brought his boat back to Mayea to be varnished, repainted and generally spruced up. He also asked to have the original Mayea Chrysler Hemis replaced with a pair of the new GM 502s. Larry Mayea was surprised, but they made the deal and Mayea took back the original Hemis as part of the deal for the new 502s. When everything was
done, the boat was nine miles an hour slower with the 502s.
These are not dragboat engines - these Hemis are made as dependable pleasureboat engines.
