One bid is all it can take at a car auction to end up owning a vehicle you may not exactly have planned to purchase. According to the seller of this 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird, that is exactly how he ended up the proud new owner of this rare Mopar at last month's Mecum Spring Classic.

Chrysler may want to give the new Dodge Dart a well-accessorized introduction, but other product lines are getting some welcome Mopar-style attention as well. The only problem is that the best part on display for the Charger Redline 426 is the one you're not really allowed to use.

It might look like an average 2007 Jeep SRT8 at first glance, but from the moment this twin turbo beast launches, it becomes very clear this one is anything but average.

One of the highlights of this past weekend's Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance in Westport, Conn., was a tribute to the Hemi engine. Yes, there were muscle cars, like a mean-looking 435-hp 1971 Plymouth GTX, but just a few yards away was another Hemi, sans car.

In 1965, with a shiny, gold streamliner they'd built in a shed — and four Hemi V8s — brothers Bill and Bob "Butch" Summers ended the longstanding British rule over the wheel-driven land-speed record. Bill Summers died last week at 75.

It's not from Germany and it doesn't have a flat four (or six), but this 1957 Tatra 603, nicknamed the "Communist Porsche", is rear engined, air cooled and very rare. Best of all, if you've always dreamt of a communist hot rod in your garage this Tatra is currently for sale on Ebay.

79 years ago this past week, Henry Ford unveiled the flathead V8 in a move that would change automotive history. The hype and legend of the 65 horsepower engine keeps the '32 Ford one of the most popular vintage hot rod platforms almost 8 decades later. Keeping in mind the fact a great engine can make an ordinary car…

Chrysler needs a name for their entry-level Ram 1500, which offers the 390-hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in a cheap ($23,830) regular-cab pickup. Available in 4x2/4x4 with three rear-axle ratio choices and vinyl bench seats, why not call it awesome?

"If there's one thing we want you to know," said the executives launching the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedan, "it's that this is an all-new vehicle." It's not, but it is better.