Re: [FWDLK] First Hemi

[Bill Watson <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chrysler's first hemi was, indeed, introduced for the 1951 model year, and
replaced Chrysler's venerable 323-cid flathead straight eight.  It was first
available in the New Yorker, Imperial and Crown Imperial series.  Shorlty
after introduction Chrysler put the hemi into a Windsor and called the
result Saratoga.  It was their attempt, in a way, of copying Oldsmobile's 88
(a 76 with the 98's V8 engine) - small body with a powerful engine.

In 1952 came the DeSoto FireDome hemi V8 (276-cid) and in 1953 the Dodge
Coronet hemi V8 (241-cid).

Chrysler was not the first with a hemi-head engine, although it can claim to
be the first North American manufacturer to offer an affordable,
mass-produced hemi engine.  The Duesenberg model J and SJ of the 1930's
offered a dual overhead cam hemi-head straight-eight engine, with two intake
valves and two exhaust valves per cylinder.  (It also had four fuel pumps.)
The engine was 419.7-cid and put out 265 bhp in unsupercharged form.  The
'S" in SJ stood for supercharged, and put out 320 bhp.

Bill
Vancouver, BC


> When was the Hemi first introduced?
>
> I just saw this ad on eBay
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1826565875&r=0
> &t=0
>
> Supposedly its a 1951 331 hemi...I didn't think the hemi was introduced
> until a year or two later than that.
>
> Is it the eBay listing, or am I mixin' up my facts?
>
>
> Garrett in Central Ohio
>
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