Revival for legendary Hemi engine

The Hemi V8 engine, which was first developed in the 1950s, has enjoyed a revival and now powers a new generation of vehicles.

Many cars have cult status-type followings, but it doesn't usually happen to an engine. The rare exception is Chrysler's legendary Hemi V8.

Credited with kick-starting the muscle-car era in the 1950s, the Hemi transcended the cars it powered, gaining a following into the 1960s before being killed off in the 1970s by the first oil shock.

But the legend refused to die and when Chrysler revived the Hemi - so called because of the hemispherical shape of the engine's cylinder chambers - to power a new generation of vehicles such as the four-wheel-drive Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Dodge Ram pick-up and the Chrysler 300C sedan, the famous engine's own barmy army rallied to the cause.

More than a million Hemis have been sold since its re-introduction in 2002, clubs have sprung up in the United States dedicated to Hemi-powered vehicles, a CD has been released of famous Hemi-powered engine sounds, racers are dropping it into their cars or trucks and there's a website especially for enthusiasts (www.hemi.com).

A competition was held in the US to find out what people wanted to power with a Hemi. The "What can you hemi?" contest drew some bizarre entries: a snowblower, merry-go-round, child's trike, ice-skating rink re-surfacer; and an office paper shredder capable of shredding a telephone book.

The winner, from Vancouver, Canada, was the Hemi-powered trike designer, who won a Hemi-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee .

Hemi fever has spread to New Zealand following the recent launch of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is powered by a 5.7-litre V8 Hemi.

The engine enjoys a high profile here. "Many New Zealanders remember the Hemi-powered Chrysler Chargers that sold here and raced successfully in the 1970s," says Brett Apsden, general manager of Chrysler Jeep New Zealand.

When Chrysler redesigned the Hemi it introduced a multi-displacement system, which de-activates four of the cylinders when the vehicle is cruising or during light throttle use for fuel economy.

The Hemi has come a long way from its first tentative steps in 1951 and the muscle-car days.