Before we had Ford Mustangs and Shelbys modeling in the showrooms and festivals, the world was engrossed in Mopar’s gliding Chryslers early in the 1960s. Mopar, which is a combination of two distinct words ‘motor’ and ‘parts’ originally operated under Chrysler’s banner in the 1920s.
In 1937, Mopar officially started working as a separate brand, providing motor parts for other brands. Meanwhile, Chrysler is considered to be the original pioneer of the ‘muscle car’ boom in the post-war era following the Second World War. With its 300-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine introduced in 1955 Chrysler 300 production, the concept of soaring horsepower and acceleration kept snowballing.
Chrysler, during its early production, bought the Dodge Brothers and introduced Plymouth, mainly incorporating Mopar parts. Under Mopar’s umbrella, Chrysler emerged as the third-largest automaker among the ‘Big Three’ in the United States, which included Ford and GM. Mopar played a vital role in propelling the US’s automobile culture. Here are some memorable Mopar’s muscle cars that championed the craze.
13 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
For Mopar’s fans, Dodge muscle cars were among the fastest muscle cars in automobile history. Dodge’s Challenger was introduced in 1969 and produced 2,539 models until 1974.
The Challenger T/A used Chrysler’s signature body design with outstanding colors, round headlights, and massive stripes, while its Mopar built 340 cu in V8 engine produced 290 horsepower.
12 1970 Dodge Super Bee
The 1970 Dodge Super Bee is one of the rarest Mopar Hemi muscle cars. It came with a four-speed manual or three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. It included optional engines: a 383 cu in V8 producing 335 horsepower, while the highest level dual-quad 426 Hemi V8 producing 425 horsepower along with 490 lb-ft of torque.
11 1970 Plymouth Superbird
The Plymouth Superbird was wittingly created to dominate the NASCAR racing tracks and so it did. In 1970, the Superbird won 18 races with its radical spoiler fitted on the rear end. This rear-wheel-drive car was equipped with Chrysler’s popular classic 426 Hemi V8 and managed to produce 425 horsepower.
10 1965 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth was introduced in 1928 by Chrysler, but it was during the 1960s that this Mopar muscle car actually gained the competitive momentum with the Barracuda series. Although the first 1965 and 1966 Barracuda 273 couldn’t overcome the massive powerhouses, it had its own thrill with its four-barrel Commando 273 cu in engine.
9 1971 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth took its Barracuda lineup seriously and notched it up with the 1971 model. The Barracuda ran till 1974 in which it churned out several trims of the V8 engine. The maximum 7.0-liter displacement produced 425 horsepower.
8 Chrysler C-300
Any Mopar fan will tell you how it all began with the Chrysler C-300 in 1955. It is the first original muscle car using the now mainstream concept of the Hemi V8 engine capable of producing 300 horsepower, which at the time was a groundbreaking achievement in the powertrain. In the succeeding years, the horsepower was pushed to 340.
7 Plymouth Fury
The Plymouth Fury was introduced in the same year as Chrysler’s C-300, but was initially arranged to be a subsidiary part of Plymouth Belvedere. The Plymouth Fury fluctuated from full to mid-size in its models, and ended the series in 1989. The first 1956 version made 240 horsepower, while the last 1989 Gran Fury Police produced 175 horsepower.
6 Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge
Mopar gained a full swing control of tracks and the audience with Dodge’s 413 Max Wedge. It was this Max Wedge engine that consolidated the power of Mopar among the Big Three. Competing against Fords, and Pontiac’s Ram Air 400 cu in engines, Mopar wedged a 425-horsepower in its Max Wedge engine into the Dodge Dart 413.
5 Plymouth GTX
The Plymouth GTX is a mid-size muscle car that debuted in 1967 as the Belvedere. It contained Plymouth’s signature Super Commando 440 engine that generated 375 horsepower, while the optional Chrysler Hemi 426 made 425 horsepower. In 1968 and the early 1970s, the Plymouth GTX made changes in design while continuing the same engine options.
4 Plymouth Roadrunner
The Plymouth Roadrunner was a classic cruiser, but what separates this Mopar production was its basic, minimalist concept of having minimum luxury. Nonetheless, its powertrain was infused with the same spirit as any other Ford or Pontiac muscle car. It was fitted with 383 cu in V8 rated at 335 horsepower, which was exclusive to the Road Runner.
3 Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock
The Hemi Dart was the offspring that resulted as a collaboration of Chrysler and Hurst Performance in an attempt to obtain a drag racing class badge. LO23 signified that this Hemi Dart was strictly limited for Super Stock racing under Class B. It exercised the standard Mopar engine, a 426 cu in Hemi that made 425 horsepower.
2 Dodge Dart Grand Spaulding Dodge (GSS)
The Grand Spaulding Dodge has a fascinating background. The credits go to “Mr. Norm” Kraus, who decided to take the Mopar’s performance to the next level. When Dodge refused to fit a 383 cu in V8 engine in the Dodge Dart, so Mr. Norm took matters into his hands, installed the engine and, by tweaking it, made it produce 325 horsepower.
1 Plymouth Barracuda 440
The 1960s didn’t just focus on the muscle car groove but saw variant adoptions of pony cars where the Plymouth Barracuda 440 is one prominent contender. A large Mopar 440 cu in four-barrel V8 was fitted in the small frame of coupes. This engine gave a massive 375 horsepower in a tiny 108 inches of wheelbase.