Did Desoto have a Hemi engine?
No, the DeSoto brand of automobiles did not offer a Hemi engine. The Hemi engine, known for its distinctive hemispherical combustion chambers, was primarily associated with Chrysler's high-performance models, such as the Dodge and Plymouth lines, rather than the DeSoto brand.
Explaining the DeSoto Brand and Engine Offerings
DeSoto was an American automobile brand that was produced by Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The brand was positioned as a mid-range offering between the more affordable Plymouth and the more luxurious Chrysler models. DeSoto vehicles were known for their stylish designs and reliable, but not particularly high-performance, engines.
Throughout its production run, DeSoto primarily offered inline six-cylinder and V8 engines, but never a Hemi engine. The Hemi engine, with its distinctive hemispherical combustion chambers, was first introduced by Chrysler in 1951 and was primarily used in the company's high-performance models, such as the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Fury.
Why DeSoto Didn't Offer a Hemi Engine
- DeSoto was positioned as a mid-range brand, not a high-performance one, so the Hemi engine was not a natural fit for the brand's target market and product positioning.
- The Hemi engine was more expensive to produce than the more conventional inline six-cylinder and V8 engines used in DeSoto models.
- Chrysler likely wanted to reserve the Hemi engine for its more premium and performance-oriented brands, such as Dodge and Plymouth, to differentiate them from the DeSoto line.
In summary, while the Hemi engine was a significant technological advancement and performance feature for Chrysler, it was not something that was ever offered in DeSoto vehicles during the brand's production run from 1928 to 1961.
How much horsepower does a 291 DeSoto Hemi have?
The first DeSoto hemi had a displacement of 276 cubic inches and produced 160 horsepower. Dubbed the "Firedome," it went under the hood of DeSoto's new model of the same name. The Firedome got a modest 10hp boost in 1954, but the following year a 291 cubic-inch Firedome hemi that made 185hp was introduced.
Did Toyota make a Hemi engine?
The V family is often referred to as the "Toyota Hemi" as the engine features a cylinder head design with approximately hemispherical combustion chambers. OHV 2 valves per cyl.
What car had the first Hemi engine?
But fast forward to the 60's The second generation of the Hemi was and is the Hemi known today as the muscle car engine and the first cars equipped with a “hemi” were the Dodge Dart, Plymouth Fury, and Dodge Coronet. However these were special production cars and not actually available to the public.
What engine was banned from NASCAR?
And leading to concerns about the sports competitiveness. NASCAR's solution ban the Hemi. This move aimed to level the playing field and restore the excitement of unpredictability to the races.
Did DeSoto cars have hemi engines?
Desoto ran with the 276 Firedome Hemi V8 from 1952 to 1954, then upped the ante to 291 cubes in 1955, then 330, in 1956, 341 in 1957 (and the high performance Adventurer for 1956) and the ultimate iteration of the DeSoto Hemi, the 345 cube Firedome V8 for the 1957 Adventurer.
What is the rarest DeSoto?
1958 DeSoto FireMite
The 1958 DeSoto FireMite was a 3/8ths scale 1958 DeSoto Fireflite officially made by Chrysler. This isn't your normal peddle car either, powered by a Briggs 6B 4 stroke engine which gave the firemite an adrenaline pumping 2 horsepower!
What was the engine in the 1952 DeSoto Hemi?
In 1952, DeSoto introduced its version of the FirePower (FireDome),with a bore of 3.625 in (92.08 mm) and stroke of 3.344 in (84.94 mm), for a displacement of 276.1 cu in (4.5 L). The bore pitch, shared by all DeSoto FirePower engines, was 4.3125 in (109.54 mm). Power output was 160 bhp (119 kW).
Why was the 426 Hemi banned?
After dominating the races in 1964, Chrysler's 426 Hemi was not allowed to compete in NASCAR's 1965 season due to its unavailability in production vehicles that are sold to the general public.
Did DeSoto cars have Hemi engines?
Desoto ran with the 276 Firedome Hemi V8 from 1952 to 1954, then upped the ante to 291 cubes in 1955, then 330, in 1956, 341 in 1957 (and the high performance Adventurer for 1956) and the ultimate iteration of the DeSoto Hemi, the 345 cube Firedome V8 for the 1957 Adventurer.
What is the rarest Hemi engine?
Ball-Stud Hemi engine
The Ball-Stud Hemi engine, a rare find, was a cheaper alternative to the 426 Hemi but never made it to production due to financial and market challenges.
