Since there seems to be a lot of interest these days in Top Ten-style lists, we decided it would be fun to try to figure out a selection of them based on musclecar-era Mopar options. To that end, we enlisted our numbers guru, Karl Pippart III, to give us his take on four different groups-the best, the most popular, the weirdest, and the scarcest. He will be the first to admit that this was our idea, not his, and the selections below are his opinions. So, if you think we have stripped a gear or two, drop us a line and we'll reprint the best replies in an upcoming issue. Send your diatribes to: What Are My Options? c/o Mopar Muscle, P.O. Box 7157, Lakeland, FL 33807-7157
Best1.426 Hemi V8: The ultimate power trip, whether it was in race or street form. This eight-barreled behemoth reigned supreme during the musclecar era and was the engine to have.
2.413 and 426 Max Wedges: The most powerful RB Wedge engines ever built were available in a couple of versions, but Max Wedge said it all. The multi-carbed editions destroyed the competition in "stock car" automatic drag racing classes.
3.Mid-1969 A12 Package: At mid-model year 1969, the Road Runner and Super Bee were fortified with a 440 6-bbl V8 (aluminum Edelbrock intake), lift-off fiberglass hood with fresh air scoop, four-speed manual or three-speed auto transmission, 15x6-inch stamped steel wheels with G7Oxl5-inch red line tires, 4.10 axle ratio and Dana 60 SureGrip rear. A 3.54 ratio was optional. The most impressive all-around street package of any manufacturer.
4.Dana 60 rear: The most bullet-proof axle ever installed on a passenger car during the musclecar era, and mandated on some packages. Part of the most durable drivetrain to ever come out of Detroit: Raised block V8 (including the Hemi), four-speed A833 manual trans. and 931/44-inch Dana 60 rear.
5.Fresh-air induction packages: Originally developed for race cars, Chrysler saw the practical application of fresh air for street cars, too, starting in 1969. By 1970, the pop-up Air Grabber (with protruding fangs) and E-Body Shaker (with real movement and the blurred shaker decal) were added, and remain particularly memorable.
6.A-833 four-speed: The best four-speed manual box of the musclecar era, perhaps because Chrysler was one of the final companies to develop one for large displacement usage. This was built into A-, B-, C-, and E-Bodies from '64-'74, with Hurst pistol-grip shifted versions as the hot setup of the early '70s.
7.Performance axle package: Beginning in 1968, the first of the performance-tailored axle packages was a great way to supplement that new 383 4 bbl with a 3.55 SureGrip rear and maximum cooling package, which was more than a simple ring-gear swap. Chrysler continued to offer a variety of these axle packages during the late '60s and early '70s for performance 340-383-426-440 displacements.
8.Console-mounted shifter: Nothing said class quite like bucket seats, console, and a shifter. Depending on the usage, that console package could also include a vacuum gauge, clock, or tachometer.
9.HIP colors: One of the best ways to make your car stand out from the crowd and blind the neighbors was High Impact Paints. Add stripes and decals, and you had one cool ride. Who else made a pink car that could scare the guy next to you at the traffic light?
10.AM/FM radio: A musclecar jockey liked rockin' tunes in his car and Chrysler responded by offering a variety of AM/FM radios (mono, stereo, 8-track and cassette). Unlike the simple AM outfit, the radio upgrade made the latest Beatles tunes sound even better, especially as the FM market grew early in the '70s.
Most Popular1.A727 TorqueFlite automatic: As the best automatic transmission ever built, beefed 727s were common on both street and strip, and were even stout enough for use behind the 426 Hemi. Unlike their competition, Chrysler did not downgrade horsepower ratings when the automatic was specified, and drivers knew it.