How many horsepower did the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda produce? Its 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8 was factory-rated at 425 horsepower. That figure made the Hemi ’Cuda one of the most formidable American muscle cars of the era.
The engine used hemispherical combustion chambers, a layout associated with large valves and efficient airflow. In 1970, the 426 Hemi featured two four-barrel carburetors and was rated at 425 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, with 490 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. It was an optional engine rather than the standard powerplant, making Hemi-equipped cars expensive and relatively rare.
People sometimes confuse the Hemi’s rating with the outputs of other ’Cuda engines. The 440 Six Barrel was rated at 390 horsepower, while the high-performance 383 produced 335 horsepower. Modern dynamometer tests may show different numbers because manufacturers used period gross-horsepower standards, measured without the same accessories and drivetrain losses used in later net ratings.