Mopar Muscle

Mopar muscle refers to high-performance vehicles and parts from Chrysler Corporation’s brands—Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler—during the golden era of muscle cars (1960s-1970s) and beyond. Mopar is short for “Motor Parts,” originally the name of Chrysler’s parts division, but it has become synonymous with their performance cars.

Key Characteristics of Mopar Muscle

  1. Big Displacement Engines:

    • Famous engines include the 426 HEMI ("Elephant Engine"), 440 Magnum, and 383 Big Block.
    • Legendary small-block engines like the 340 delivered a balance of power and agility.

  2. Iconic Models:

    • Dodge Charger: Known for aggressive styling and starring in Bullitt and The Dukes of Hazzard.
    • Plymouth Road Runner: A budget-friendly muscle car with big power.
    • Dodge Challenger: Chrysler’s answer to the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro.
    • Plymouth Barracuda ("’Cuda"): A versatile and highly sought-after performance car.

  3. High Performance Packages:

    • Dodge’s R/T (Road/Track) trim and Plymouth’s GTX were flagship performance variants.
    • Plymouth’s Superbird and Dodge’s Daytona were aerodynamically tuned for NASCAR dominance.

  4. Drag Racing Heritage:

    • Mopar cars dominated drag strips with factory-built Hemi Darts and Barracudas, designed for quarter-mile speed.
    • The Direct Connection program (later Mopar Performance) offered performance parts directly to enthusiasts.

Modern Mopar Muscle

  • Mopar’s legacy lives on in modern Dodge and Chrysler vehicles like the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Charger Scat Pack, and Dodge Demon.
  • Chrysler's HEMI engines, like the 5.7L, 6.4L, and supercharged 6.2L HEMI, continue to define Mopar performance.

Mopar muscle cars are celebrated for their raw power, bold styling, and drag strip dominance, making them icons of American automotive history.