Is this a 56 HEMI 300 ?

[Challenger_7]

Hi all.
I was showing a friend one of my cars, Desoto 56 Sportsman Fireflite which he was particularly interested in seeing, and when he saw the engine, he said that it was one of the early Hemi 300 engines. Is this true?
The valve cover does have that resemblance to that of a Hemi engine!
Someone make my day and say yes !!!

Here is a photo of the engine and one of the car during a car show in the mounts of Lebanon, summer 2005.

Cheers

[SeattleCharger]

  Looks like the hemi heads, huh.  Nice car.

   A friend of mine has a Chrysler 300, '56 I think?  has a hemi in it, I'll see if I can get a pic.

[69CoronetRT]

Hi all.
I was showing a friend one of my cars, Desoto 56 Sportsman Fireflite which he was particularly interested in seeing, and when he saw the engine, he said that it was one of the early Hemi 300 engines. Is this true?
The valve cover does have that resemblance to that of a Hemi engine!
Someone make my day and say yes !!!

Chrysler, Desoto and Dodge all had thier own versions of the early Hemi. A '56 Desoto Fireflight would be 330 CI compared to the '56 Chrysler 354CI engine. The 330 Fireflight was rated at 255 horse.

Yes this is an early Hemi, no it's not the biggest one available for that year. Yes, they are cool.

[Challenger_7]

Thanks a bunch 69CoronetRT, you really made my day with that confirmation

I was always hesitant to keep this car or let it go, but now, just because of its engine, I have decided to keep it, and in due course will dress the engine up

Cheers

[is_it_EVER_done?]

Back about a Million years ago we would take off the spark plug wire covers so that the plug wires, and center spark plug tubes of the Hemi's were visible. = The ultimate in 50's cool!

It was cool enough that Chrysler did not put the (plug wire) covers on the 426 Hemi. I guess we were on to something.

[Challenger_7]

This is indeed how fashion developes, from the feed back of what the people see as cool and nice;)