Some muscle cars are rare because they were unpopular. Others are rare because the factory barely built them in the first place, and those are the ones that make collectors lose sleep.

Scott Oldham’s Hagerty Media piece from August 2018, “The 7 rarest Hemi muscle cars,” counts them up. It cites Allpar.com for the overall figure of 10,904 street 426 Hemi Mopars built from 1966 to 1971, a small number even before you narrow it to a single body style. Values below are those Hagerty reported in 2018, and condition and originality always decide what a real car brings.

The Hemi in question is Chrysler’s 426-cubic-inch engine, named for the hemispherical shape of its combustion chambers. It was a costly option, and few buyers ticked the box, which is exactly why certain combinations became so scarce.

Hagerty’s condition scale also matters when you read the prices. A number 1 car is the best in the world, while a number 3 car is a good driver, so the same model can sell for wildly different amounts.

Only Two Hemi Dodge Coronet R/T Convertibles Rolled Out In 1970

Hagerty reports that two 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T convertibles were built with the Hemi, one with a four-speed and one with a Torqueflite automatic. The article adds that a third reportedly went to Europe.

For comparison, 16 Coronet R/T convertibles had the 440 Six-Pack and 14 Hemi R/T hardtops were built. Hagerty estimates the two Hemi convertibles are worth near $1,000,000.

Two Four-Door Coronet Sedans Were Reportedly Special Orders For The FBI

This one sounds like a movie plot. Only two 1966 Dodge Coronet four-door sedans were built with the Hemi, one red and one white, and both survive. They were reportedly special orders for the FBI.

The red car sold for $660,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s 2007 Scottsdale auction, and the white car was owned by drag racing legend Don Garlits.

Just Three Of 628 Coronet R/T Convertibles Got The Hemi In 1967

Out of the 628 Dodge Coronet R/T convertibles built for 1967, only three had the Hemi, according to Hagerty: one automatic and two four-speeds.

A green four-speed sold for $269,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s 2006 Scottsdale auction, and a number 1 condition example was valued at $195,000.

A 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Convertible With A Hemi Was One Of Just Three

Only three Hemi Road Runner convertibles were built for 1970, and just one had a four-speed.

Hagerty values a 440 Six-Pack Road Runner convertible in number 1 condition at $149,000 and a Hemi car in the same condition at $253,000, with 10% more for the four-speed.

Four Dodge Super Bee Hemi Coupes Were Sold, All With Four-Speeds

Hagerty says four Hemi two-door coupe Super Bees were sold for 1970, every one with a four-speed. In total, 32 Hemi hardtop Super Bees were sold.

A number 1 condition Hemi Super Bee with a four-speed was valued at $122,500.

Only 738 Of Nearly 251,000 Coronets Sold In 1966 Had The Hemi

That is a ratio any collector can appreciate. Of nearly 251,000 Coronets sold in 1966, only 738 had the Hemi, and only six of those were Coronet 440 convertibles.

A related 1966 Hemi Coronet 500 convertible, one of 12 convertibles built that year with a four-speed, sold for $176,000 at RM’s 2017 Arizona auction.

Nine Hemi Challenger R/T Convertibles Make A $1.25 Million Dream

Hagerty says nine 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertibles had the Hemi, four with the automatic and five with four-speeds.

A number 1 four-speed with the optional Shaker hood was valued at about $1,250,000, down roughly 10% over the previous 18 months.

Eleven Hemi ‘Cuda Convertibles From 1971 Include One That Sold For $3.5 Million

The star of the show is a related model. Only 11 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles were built in 1971, and Hagerty values a number 1 example at $3,150,000.

One numbers-matching four-speed sold for a record $3.5 million at Mecum’s 2014 Seattle auction.

Taken together, the list shows how a single option, a single body style and a single transmission can shrink production to a handful. That mix is what separates a nice muscle car from a museum piece.

What To Know Before You Chase A Rare Mopar

Production numbers matter only if the car can prove its story. Real Hemi cars are best backed by documentation such as build sheets and fender tags, so insist on paperwork and an independent inspection before money changes hands.

Values also move. Hagerty noted that the Challenger convertible’s price had slipped about 10% over 18 months at the time of writing, a reminder that even trophy cars can cool.

Remember also that auction results include fees and reflect one car on one day, so use them as a guide rather than a promise. A guide value is a starting point, and the right buyer for a documented car can change the number.

If you cannot afford a Hemi convertible, the same models with other engines still offer plenty of muscle. Whatever you chase, take your time and buy the best documented example you can afford and talk to owners’ clubs first, since members often know the history of individual cars.

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