I was paging through this Car Craft Magazine the other day and came across this article. A pretty bold statement was made calling this Hemi car the first ever sold and delivered to the public. Can anyone add to the story with some type of facts to back it up? Also, is this a steel nose or aluminum nose car?

I know of another car that could be a candidate so I'd like to see what you guys as a group think?

This sort of goes along the lines of the dispute over the "Last Hemi" car argument that happened over a couple 1971 cars on another thread a short while ago.

We cant even come up with the first Hemi Car ever built so the first sold to the Public would be just as hard to figure out. I believe Chrysler released the first 1964 Hemi Cars to the race people. Not sure if these Public cars would of been built for Nascar or NHRA. So in Darrels books is there any clue to give you an answer to what you have asked about what car was the first public car.

Scott you mentioned the 1971 year and what car was the last Hemi Car built, and no one knows that either. Then I started wondering what Hemi Car would of been the last one sold to the public and if it was done in 1971 or 1972 and was there any Hemi Cars left over at Dealers that would of sold years later. Is a car that was owned by the Dealer and sat for 25 year in the Dealers name then sold is that the last Hemi Car sold.

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hemicar1971

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Keep in mind, none of these claims are mine, I'm just asking the question based on seeing that article (and the 1971 thread).

Larry Weiner and I were talking about this just the other day. Mr. Norm sold a couple 64 Hemi cars to the public when we really wasn't supposed to, wish those records survived. He was asking me what the 64 Hemi engine should be called in one of these cars, the best I could do was race Hemi for the street.

Wasn't there at least 1 72 Hemi? I know (or believe I know) that there were a couple 72 440-6 cars. There are still unsold Hemi cars sitting in dealer "inventory" out there, they technically would be sold as new cars.

Everyone has a different opinion on just what the 64-65 Hemi motors would be called. Could you order a Nascar Hemi Motor in 64 and just what was the complete differences between a Nascar motor and a Race Hemi Motor.If there was only one motor you could order then it should only be called a hemi or its number designation. 1965 did Chrysler build any Nascar Hemis or was the build Drag strip oriented. Chrysler built 64 and 65 Hemi cars with exhaust, to meet the numbers of sanctioned bodies wanting so many built. So what I am saying if you build a car with exhaust and all other safety features for that year then it is a street car no matter what intake, compression, front end type, etc. went into or on the car. In 1968 there was a difference, with the Hemi A Bodies but the safety features on these cars would not pass the Government exams for the street and maybe Chrysler learnt a lesson from 1964-65 making them not legal for the street. Chrysler never offered a variety of Hemi motors to the public except in 1968 an only one Hemi Motor in the A body, like they did with the Max Wedge. Chrysler really only offered a complete package vehicle when ordering a Hemi Car.

Scott I have heard this story of the first 1964 Hemi built for public sale and it very well could be a real deal if you look at it their way.

This reminds me of the recent build we are doing on the Z28 Camaros. Hendricks has bought the first saleable Z28 Camaro but there have been a lot of other Z28s built at the Camaro plant before his. If these other Z28 Camaros make it to the public and they usually do if they are not crach vehicles, what distinction would one put on these other Z28s. I say this because did any of the first Nascar Hemi cars built make it to the public. Is not a free 1964 Hemi Car going to Landy or the Ramchargers or some Nascar Racer the first cars no matter if money was exchanged or not.

isn't there a picture that has been in the mag's for years of a 64 Dodge coming off the line with a line worker cleaning the hood with a cloth and another guy next to the driver's door - black and white pic - supposed to be the first one being sold to the public?

Scott,
Back in November I actually talked to Bub Faubel at Bruce Larson's Dragfest ,through the course of the conversation,that subject was actually mentioned and from what Bud had talked about and discussed,I would guess that the information is correct.

Don Fezell is about 60 mi from me,he has one of the cars,not sure which one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJRZCa615_4

my mistake, found the pic I was thinking of...looks like a A990 -

Whether first or not, or public or contract-racer delivery, I would have loved to be in that car when Faubel pulled back on the highway from a gas stop...

As it sits now,can probably get the vin # without too much effort.

Another.

A older Moparts thread from 2010: '64 HEMI cars with plenty of reading.

Here's 6142226293 "SNORKASAURUS IV" shipped Tuesday 5/26/64 to (LA region) dealer #56371 Iverson Motor Company, Inc. Santa Maria, CA. (the 9th HEMI Dodge "shipped")

Here's "SNORKASAURUS IV" minus "war paint" as it appeared at Barrett-Jackson AZ '06. Originally WHITE/RED interior automatic car.

I'm gonna ask TW if that hood scoop is legit...

Here's 6142227439 "the NICE GUYS" shipped Thursday 5/28/64 to (St. Louis region) dealer #54768 Kilborn Motors, Inc. Decatur, IL., one of 6 HEMI Dodges "shipped" that date (total HEMI Dodges shipped by 5/28 = 16).

A more recent pic of "the NICE GUYS", originally WHITE/RED interior.