However the Hemi was too good to lose, and it could return in Highland Park’s nice midsize muscle automobiles of the ’60s. But Torsion-Aire was in far more driveways, and proved as soon as and for all that American cars might be made to handle. Despite lower compression that allowed utilizing decrease-octane gas than most different postwar overhead-valve V-8s, the Hemi produced far more energy for a given displacement. The ’56s appeared even higher — uncommon for a interval facelift — and offered much more power. Nobody ran the period “horsepower race” higher than Chrysler. This hybrid Camry is powered by an extremely fuel-efficient 2.5 liter four cylinder hybrid engine that produces 208 horsepower. That yr’s 300B used the same engine tweaked to 340 bhp; with a scorching multicarb option it delivered 355 bhp — making this the primary Detroit V-8 to break the magic “1 hp per cu. in.” barrier. New Yorkers moved up to an enlarged 392 with 325 bhp; within the 300C this engine delivered an incredible 375 or 390 bhp.
The 300 dominated NASCAR in 1955-56, and might have continued to take action had the Automobile Manufacturers Association not agreed to de-emphasize racing after 1957. But it surely was definitely worth the expense, boosting mannequin-year quantity to over 150,000 items and bringing look as much as par with efficiency finally. It again offered a performance premium in its 295-bhp, 354-cid Hemi. Then got here Chrysler’s own mighty 1955 C-300 packing a stock Hemi tuned for 300 bhp — essentially the most ever offered in a regular-production U.S. Saratoga returned as Chrysler’s midrange ’57 series and promptly offered more than 37,000 copies. A extra substantial restyle marked the “lion-hearted” ’59s. Overscheduling usually comes within the middle school years, when older youngsters have larger abilities, growing independence and more choices for activities. Installments I and II characteristic such songs as “Mashed Potato Time,” “Proud Mary,” “I Get Around,” “Le Freak,” “Girls Just Wish to Have Fun” and “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Enough to let both ends of the boomer spectrum get their groove on. Instead of sending highway shock into the chassis or physique like coil or leaf springs, torsion bars absorbed most of it by twisting towards their mounts.
Chrysler’s ’57 styling was excellent, but providing a second all-new design in three years led to hasty, sub-customary workmanship and a tendency to early physique rust — one motive relatively few of these cars survive as we speak. The Hemi polished Chrysler’s image in a big method, and quickly spread to other company nameplates. Windsor DeLuxe was handled to a brand new 301-cid Hemi with 188 bhp. The change to wedge-head V-8s launched a 383 with 305 bhp for Windsor and 325 for Saratoga; a bigger-bore 413 gave 350 in New Yorker and 380 bhp in the 300E. Though not as environment friendly because the Hemi, the wedge was a lot simpler and cheaper to construct. It’s a lot the identical with the weather, besides meteorologists try and uncover a future occasion, not a past crime. But they hurt that yr’s 300H, which cost $1600-$1800 extra yet regarded nearly the identical. Neither returned for ’57, but the earlier year’s Newport hardtop sedans, a hasty answer to GM, would carry on effectively into the ’70s. Then, too, the Hemi left fewer buyers for the six: effectively over 100,000 in 1950, but only some 45,000 by ’54. Colbert took over as company president in 1950 with several objectives.