The escalating power wars that have dominated Detroit headlines for the past few years have resulted in some seriously powerful, seriously rare cars, perhaps best typified by the one-year-only Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and its 840-horsepower supercharged Hemi V8. But limited-edition muscle cars aren't a new concept in Detroit and today's massively powerful drag-focused beasts still seem to lack something of the heart and soul that makes the old classics so wonderful. Proving both points is an extremely rare 1964 Dodge 440 Lightweight currently listed for sale on Classic Cars by a dealer in Tucson, Arizona.
Under The Hood
The specs for this car are pretty remarkable, even before getting into the rarity factor that, no doubt, contributes heavily to the $145,000 asking price. The Max Wedge V8 under the hood was Dodge's legendary powerplant immediately preceding the debut of what would become the company's calling card, the Hemi, and pumped out a beefy 425 horsepower in its day. With a 12.5:1 compression ratio, the engine is backed by a four-speed stick shift routing power to the rear wheels to create what was once one of the premier stock drag racing cars in the country.
Details And Provenance
But what makes this Dodge so valuable is its rarity—the listing claims this is one of just four examples of the 440 to leave the factory as a hardtop Lightweight. The photographs document an extensive restoration process that's brought this car back to factory specifications, with an underside that looks clean enough to eat off. Many of the original aluminum panels that earned the car its "Lightweight" moniker have been refinished or replaced, so hopefully the "Aluminum - Do Not Touch" sign seen in the backseat is included with the sale.
Source: Classiccars