The Rarest Mopar Models Ever Made

The MOPAR abbreviation is mostly associated with Dodge Muscle cars, but the name was actually first used in the 1920s, as an official name for Chrysler’s antifreeze. The name has, since, stuck and refers to all high-performance models the company makes. This inevitably includes some of the most legendary Muscle cars, many of which are powered by the 426 Hemi V-8.

Being the range-topping engine of the MOPAR family, the Hemi, also known as the Hellephant engine, was an expensive option. That’s one of the reasons why so few street-legal models made it off the production line, compared to their lesser counterparts. Hemi cars are some of the rarest, most collectible MOPAR models out there, which is why they make the bulk of this list.

We gathered detailed information on each classic MOPAR from official manufacturer channels and specialized websites like Hagerty, Classic.com, Dodge Garage and Automobile-Catalog. As some of these models are very rare and official performance data is hard to come by, we used the stock car figures as a reference point, to estimate the performance of some of the highly-modified, track-focused variants, featured below. Models have been arranged by production numbers.

10 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird

Production: 135 Units

Heralding the era of Chrysler’s aero-body cars, the Plymouth Superbird was a NASCAR homologation special, meant to beat the Ford Torino Talladega around the oval. The Superbird shared the B-Body platform with its more civil-looking sibling, the Roadrunner, as well as other mid-size Chrysler models.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird Specifications

(Data sourced from Dodge Garage)

Almost all Superbirds came with a 440 Super Commando V-8. Only 135 customers opted for the 426 Hemi engine, which allowed the race version of the winged Plymouth to reach speeds of 200 mph, making it one of the fastest Muscle cars of the 1970s, while also prompting safety concerns in motorsports. Thanks to the cone nose, the Plymouth Superbird also boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.28, which helped reach supercar speeds.

9 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona 426 Hemi

Production: 70 Units

The Dodge Charger Daytona was the first aero-body MOPAR, but despite being produced for two years, unlike the 1970-only Superbird, it was produced in fewer numbers – 503 to be exact. Like the Superbird, this “Winged Warrior” was fitted with either a 440 or a 426 Hemi. Only 70 cars got the Hemi V-8 engine, making them extremely valuable.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

According to Classic.com, even non-Hemi examples are well into the six-figure territory nowadays, while a pristine Hemi example can easily fetch over $1.0 million. Performance-wise, what goes for the Plymouth Superbird is also true for the Charger Daytona. The cone-nose and big wing allowed the car to cut through the air with a drag coefficient of 0.28 (like the Superbird), making it one of the fastest classic MOPARS ever made.

8 1968 Dodge Charger 500

Production: 67 Cars

Before Chrysler introduced the “Winged Warriors”, they came up with another NASCAR homologation model. The Charger 500 was aerodynamically optimized, hence the indented front grille, recessed rear window, and front chin spoiler. The Charger 500 was meant to compete with the Ford Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler in the stock class. It didn’t do well, but that didn’t stop the Charger 500 from selling.

1968 Dodge Charger 500 Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

Out of the 500 planned units, 392 were sold. In 1968, the base Charger 500, equipped with a 440 V-8, would set you back $3,843. The 426 Hemi was a $648 option. Of those, 67 came with the 426 Hemi – only 27 with the four-speed manual.

7 1967 Dodge Coronet W023

Production: 55 Units

During the 1960s, the Big American Three, produced several high-performance Muscle cars with drag racing in mind. The Coronet started out as a full-size model in 1949 but later trickled down to the mid-size segment. This meant it was riding on the B-Body platform, the same as the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Roadrunner. The Coronet W023 turned the big cruiser into a no-nonsense, drag-strip slayer.

1969 Dodge Coronet W023 Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

All non-essential tech was removed to save weight. This included the heater, sound deadening, and even the carpets, which were replaced by rubber floor mats. Even the wipers were removed. The result is a curb weight of 3,451 pounds, which wasn’t bad for a big car like the Coronet. Out of the 55 Coronet W023s made, 39 came with a 727 Torqueflite automatic. The preferred differential ratio was a Sure Grip 4.87:1.

6 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II R023

Production: 55 Units

The Belvedere was, essentially, Plymouth’s version of the Dodge Coronet. The strife to dominate NHRA Super Stock racing was strong in the Chrysler corporation, which is why Plymouth brought out its high-performance B-Body, dedicated to drag racing. Like other track-dedicated MOPAR models, the Belvedere II R023 was a stripped-down variant of the regular car with no amenities. If it makes the car heavier and doesn’t aid performance, it goes out. This included the radio, sound deadening, and even the hubcaps.

1967 Plymouth Belvedere II R023 Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

This resulted in the big Muscle car weighing just 3,051 pounds. The Hemi engine featured heavy-duty internals while a 4:88:1 Sure Grip rear end made sure the engine stayed in the sweet spot. Only 17 of the R023 Belvederes came with a four-speed A833 transmission.

5 1968 Plymouth Barracuda B029 Super Stock

Production: 50 Units

Back in 1968, the Plymouth Barracuda B029 Super Stock was what the Dodge SRT Demon 170 is today. This classic MOPAR, based on the second-generation Barracuda utilized the smaller, A-Body platform, compared to the bigger B-Body MOPAR Muscle cars. Chrysler built the B023 Super Stock with help from Hurst Performance. Compared to the regular Barracuda, the Super Stock received a redesigned chassis, lighter body, heavy-duty rear suspension, and modifications to the Hemi V-8.

1968 Plymouth Barracuda B029 Super Stock Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

Other modifications include the fiberglass fenders and acid-etched steel doors. All the modifications resulted in the Barracuda B023 Super Stock blasting down the quarter-mile in as little as 10 seconds. Most specialized outlets talk about 50 units being produced, but some sources indicate as many as 70 cars may have been built.

4 1971 Plymouth Hemi GTX

Production: 30 Units

By 1971, the writing was on the wall. Smog-era Muscle cars were around the corner and would be some of the worst. However, Hemi-powered models like the Plymouth GTX were still going strong, without losing any power. Still based on the Chrysler B-Body, the ’71 GTX was as elegant as ever, with its streamlined body and loop bumper grille.

1971 Plymouth Hemi GTX Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

Despite being marketed as a Gentleman’ Muscle car, the GTX still looked menacing and went like hell thanks to the well-known, 426 cubic-inch street Hemi, which at that point, was still conservatively rated. The bigger, but low-revving 440 V-8 was still around as a base option, and most 2,942 cars produced came with it since the Hemi was an expensive option at $884.

3 1968 Dodge Super Bee 426 Hemi

Production: 22 Units

The Super Bee name comes from the B-Body platform, which the model shared with the Charger, Coronet, Roadrunner, and other mid-size MOPARs. The Super Bee was, essentially, a boldly-styled Muscle car, based on the Coronet and inspired by the Roadrunner’s catchy graphics. That said, the Super Bee scored enough visual differences to set it apart. To no surprise, motivation came from the 426 Street Hemi V-8.

1968 Dodge Super Bee Hemi Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

However, the Super Bee was 65 pounds heavier and sat on a wheelbase 1.0 inches longer than the Roadrunner. The Dodge Charger inspired the no-nonsense interior, and it came standard with a bench seat. As far as parts bin specials go, this MOPAR is one of the greatest.

2 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible

Production: 21 Units

There are a few cars defined by their engine, but none more so than the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. Just the fact, the Hemi-powered cars were dubbed “Hemi Cuda” instead of “Barracuda” speaks for itself. The two-year model was popular, but that mostly goes for the hardtop, which outsold the convertible by a hefty margin. In 1970, just 5.1 percent of all Cudas were convertibles. That number dropped to less than 2 percent in 1971.

1968 Dodge Super Bee Hemi Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

Fewer still came with a Hemi V-8. Out of the 2,793 Cuda convertibles, just 21 were Hemi-powered. Of those, 14 were produced in 1970, and seven in 1971, making them one of the rarest, most collectible MOPARs. Five of the Hemi convertibles are said to be exported to other countries. One of the ’71 Hemi Cuda convertibles was auctioned in 2021, where it reached $4.8 million, which still wasn’t enough for the owner to let go.

1 1966 Dodge Coronet Hemi 4-Door

Production: 5 Units

When the Dodge Charger grew two more doors, MOPAR fans were not thrilled about it. Eventually, they warmed up to the practical Muscle car, but you probably didn’t know, that something similar happened in the 1960s. The fabled, 426 Hemi V-8 came out in 1964, with a street version becoming available in 1966. One of the first cars to feature the street Hemi, besides the Dodge Charger, was the Dodge Coronet sedan. By doing so, Dodge created one of the first American sleeper cars.

1966 Dodge Coronet Hemi Sedan Specifications

(Data sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

Like most 426 Hemi-powered Muscle cars, the Coronet sedan lacked amenities like A/C. The Hemi-powered Coronet sedans are also made without power steering and power brakes. Information is relatively scarce, but apparently, all Coronet Hemi sedans featured a Torquefltie automatic with 3.23 rear gears. Two were said to be exported while two were reportedly commissioned by the FBI, leaving just one civilian car in the U.S.