1966 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi

Plymouth's 1964 Barracuda pioneered America's modern fastback design, hitting the market just two weeks ahead of Ford's 1965 Mustang 2+2. Dodge entered the scene in 1966 with the Charger 426 Hemi, a muscle car that set a new standard for fastbacks.

Plymouth's 1964 Barracuda introduced America to the modern fastback, outpacing Ford's 1965 Mustang 2+2 by nearly two weeks. Dodge made its mark in 1966 with the Charger 426 Hemi, a muscle car that redefined what fastbacks could achieve.

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To craft the inaugural Charger, Dodge enhanced its midsize Coronet two-door hardtop with a somewhat awkward fastback roofline, concealed headlights, and full-width taillights. Priced at $3,122, the Charger was $417 more expensive than the Coronet 500 hardtop. The package included a futuristic 1960s interior: abundant chrome, four bucket seats (with foldable rear seats), optional front and rear center consoles, and comprehensive gauges.

The standard engine was a 318-cid V-8. The most popular performance option was the 325-bhp 383 four-barrel, capable of propelling the Charger through a quarter-mile in the low 16s at 85 mph. However, 1966 also marked the debut of Chrysler's 426-cid Hemi V-8 on the streets, making it the ultimate Charger.

Actual horsepower approached 500, but Dodge marketed its Street Hemi at 425 bhp with a 10.25:1 compression ratio. A toned-down variant of the 12.5:1-compression race Hemi, the consumer version kept solid lifters but featured a milder cam for smoother low-rpm performance and a heat chamber for proper warm-up. Its dual quads were aligned inline instead of on a cross-ram manifold. The engine added $1,000 to the Coronet's price or $880 to the Charger's, and included reinforced springs and larger (11-inch) brakes. Front disc brakes were optional.

Dodge marketed its new Charger with the powerful 426 as a blend of "beauty and the beast." The company proudly claimed, "The Hemi was never in better shape." Out of 37,344 Chargers produced in 1966, just 468 were equipped with the Hemi. This limited adoption might have been due to the Hemi's one-year/12,000-mile warranty, compared to Dodge's standard 5-year/50,000-mile coverage. Chrysler also cautioned that the warranty would be invalidated if the car was used for "extreme operations (e.g., drag racing)."

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