1966 Dodge Coronet 500 Hemi Convertible
Extraordinary rarity defined this drop-top muscle car, with only 27 examples produced in 1966 featuring the 426 Hemi engine. Of these, 12 were equipped with the four-speed manual transmission and 15 with the TorqueFlite automatic, making the manual cars the absolute apex of factory performance in open-air format.
The Silver Metallic convertible rode on a 117-inch wheelbase with torsion bar independent front suspension and a live rear axle supported by semi-elliptical leaf springs. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided stopping power, while distinctive five-spoke wheels completed the aggressive stance.
Under the hood sat Chrysler’s legendary 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8, officially rated at 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. This was the Street Hemi, the production version engineered for limited public sale, not the full Race Hemi used in sanctioned competition. Even so, it featured hemispherical combustion chambers, a high-lift camshaft, and dual four-barrel carburetors, making it one of the most formidable engines of the muscle car era.
Most Hemi engines were installed in hardtops or sedans, but buyers who checked the right boxes could order this ultimate powerplant in a convertible, creating one of the rarest and most desirable Mopars ever built. These factory hot rods combined maximum performance with open-air cruising in a way unmatched by their contemporaries.
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