The Art of Mopar: Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth Muscle Cars is the ultimate portrayal of history's ultimate muscle cars. This is the ultimate visual history of greatest muscle cars. The history of Chrysler Corporation is, in many ways, a history of a company floundering from one financial crisis to the next. While that has given shareholders fits for nearly a century, it has also motivated the Pentastar company to create some of the most outrageous, and collectible, cars ever built in the United States. From the moment Chrysler unleashed the Firepower hemi V-8 engine on the world for the 1951 model year, they had been cranking out the most powerful engines on the market. Because the company pioneered the use of lightweight unibody technology, it had the stiffest, lightest bodies in which to put those most powerful engines, and that is the basic muscle-car formula: add one powerful engine to one light car. When the muscle car era exploded onto the scene, Chrysler unleashed the mighty Mopar muscle cars, the Dodges and Plymouths that defined the era. Fabled nameplates like Charger, Road Runner, Super Bee, 'Cuda, and Challenger defined the era and rank among the most valuable collector cars ever produced by an American automaker.

Now in paperback, this book covers Chrysler's incredible series of muscle cars. In 1955 Chrysler introduced the first of its famed 300 "letter series" cars. The company designed a stylish, sporty car, stuffed in one of its potent Hemi engines, and gave birth to the American muscle car. The C-300's combination of style and performance put the Mopar brand ahead of its competitors in the postwar performance race. When the Detroit performance wars began in earnest during the 1960s, Chrysler was well positioned to build the most outragous, bodacious cars of an outrageous, bodacious era, cars like the famed Charger, Hemi Cuda, Road Runner, Superbird, and Challenger T/A. These cars dominated the dragstrips as well as the NASCAR ovals, and with color combinations guaranteed to burn out the corneas of your eyes if you stared at them directly, they ruled the streets of America; they ruled not just the streets, bu the drive ins and parking lots. Nothing was cooler than Mopar muscle. Over the years these legendary Mopar muscle cars were the fastest, baddest assed, most outrageous machines to rip up American pavement. "This lavishly produced book is definitely a feast for all fans of this line of cars: the photography (by David Newhardt) is absolutely stunning. Not only are the pictures big, and of the highest quality, but the thought that has gone into their composition is plain for all to see. It could be argued that given the striking nature of these cars, and the wonderful backdrops, it would be hard to go wrong, but Newhardt went the extra mile here, and it shows. The story is also very comprehensive, listing all of the cars from the line, and taking time to tell the story in a well-researched, yet caring way. It is obvious that Robert Genat knows the subject well and loves it even more. . . . This book is a must-have for all lovers of American muscle, and thanks to the sheer depth of its coverage and drop-dead-gorgeous photography, the asking price of £34.99 is something of a bargain." - Classic Car Weekly (UK)

Now in paperback, this book covers Chrysler's incredible series of muscle cars. In 1955 Chrysler introduced the first of its famed 300 "letter series" cars. The company designed a stylish, sporty car, stuffed in one of its potent Hemi engines, and gave birth to the American muscle car. The C-300's combination of style and performance put the Mopar brand ahead of its competitors in the postwar performance race. When the Detroit performance wars began in earnest during the 1960s, Chrysler was well positioned to build the most outragous, bodacious cars of an outrageous, bodacious era, cars like the famed Charger, Hemi Cuda, Road Runner, Superbird, and Challenger T/A. These cars dominated the dragstrips as well as the NASCAR ovals, and with color combinations guaranteed to burn out the corneas of your eyes if you stared at them directly, they ruled the streets of America; they ruled not just the streets, bu the drive ins and parking lots. Nothing was cooler than Mopar muscle. Over the years these legendary Mopar muscle cars were the fastest, baddest assed, most outrageous machines to rip up American pavement. "This lavishly produced book is definitely a feast for all fans of this line of cars: the photography (by David Newhardt) is absolutely stunning. Not only are the pictures big, and of the highest quality, but the thought that has gone into their composition is plain for all to see. It could be argued that given the striking nature of these cars, and the wonderful backdrops, it would be hard to go wrong, but Newhardt went the extra mile here, and it shows. The story is also very comprehensive, listing all of the cars from the line, and taking time to tell the story in a well-researched, yet caring way. It is obvious that Robert Genat knows the subject well and loves it even more. . . . This book is a must-have for all lovers of American muscle, and thanks to the sheer depth of its coverage and drop-dead-gorgeous photography, the asking price of £34.99 is something of a bargain." - Classic Car Weekly (UK)

Naturally aspirated Mopar Wedge big-blocks are quite capable of producing between 600 to 900 horsepower. This book covers how to build Mopar's 383-, 400-, 413-ci, 440-ci engines to these power levels. Discussed is how to select a stock or aftermarket block for the desired performance level. The reciprocating assembly is examined in detail, so you select the right design and material for durability and performance requirements. Cylinder heads and valve train configurations are crucial for generating maximum horsepower and torque and this volume provides special treatment in this area. Camshafts and lifters are compared and contrasted using hydraulic flat tappet, hydraulic roller and solid flat tappet cams. Also, detailed engine builds at 600, 700, 800, and 900 horsepower levels provide insight and reveal what can be done with real-world component packages.

Chrysler muscle car owners and restorers will value this guide that tells which "line" parts are interchangeable among the most popular models from the peak years of muscle car production. Among the models covered are the Charger, Road Runner, Barracuda, Challenger and Duster.

Chrysler entered the pony-car market with the capable but unlovely Barracuda in the early 1960s. The car was refined over the years, becoming a true muscle car, and a rather handsome one at that, but it wasn’t until the advent of the E-body pony cars from 1970-1974—Barracudas, the Dodge Challenger, and Plymouth ‘Cuda—that Chrysler became a true player in the pony-car market. This book tells the story of Chrysler’s pony car series, from the advent of the original Barracuda in 1964 to the final days of the smog-motored Challengers and ‘Cudas of the mid-1970s, focusing on the series’ heyday in the early 1970s.