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A funny thing happened during the horsepower wars’ peak in the ’60s and early ’70s. Among America’s biggest and most significant automakers existed a strong sense of testosterone-fueled rivalry.
It was one of horsepower, but the power war that exploded on the American auto scene was also one of engine displacement. This strange competition of who can build the baddest not only existed between corporations, but indeed within the corporations themselves.
No exception to the rule, the Mopar family did, at least at one point, become divided among siblings. During the later part of the 1960s, this sibling rivalry was between Dodge and Plymouth, Dodge being by far the sportier of the two. In the midst of such family affair, both Dodge and Plymouth sought to make street fighters of their B-body cars, the Coronet and Belvedere.
For this reason, only 125 Super Bees were equipped with the potent HEMI for the ’68 model year, and the standard engine option for the fast Coronet was the 335-horse, 383, a mill that borrowed its heads and valvetrain from the 440 Magnum. Since the time of its restoration however, this rare B-body belonging to Chuck Hansen of Houston, Texas has been equipped with a 426 motor, and the car’s odometer shows a mere 4 miles clocked since completion.
Our featured eBay Mopar find is a B-body classic that may not be exactly original, but still correct for the era, it’s a choice addition to any Mopar enthusiast’s garage. Original HEMI cars are becoming increasingly hard to find; good to know that there’s a Chrysler performance buff out there, keeping as many of them preserved as possible!
