‘What Can You HEMI?’

[rickaren]

Museum stages ‘What Can You HEMI®?’

Posted on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST.(Employee News)



The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is mounting a fanciful exhibition, “What Can You HEMI®?,” Jan. 12 through May 2, featuring five unique, super-powered machines.

The Auburn Hills museum’s special exhibit will feature a snow blower, merry-go-round, barbecue grill and ice resurfacer—all life-size/oversized inventions built for power with Chrysler’s 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. Rounding out the collection, in the museum’s lower level Boss Chrysler’s Garage, will be a 1956 Chrysler Air Raid Siren powered by a 180-horsepower industrial HEMI V-8.

The four, fully operational inventions were finalists in a 2005 Chrysler-sponsored contest that celebrated the legendary HEMI engine. More than 350 enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada submitted sketches and essays up to 300 words highlighting outrageous HEMI-powered ideas. Entries were evaluated on creativity, engineering feasibility, safety and functionality, and the company brought the winning designs to life.

The Chrysler Air Raid Siren was retrieved in 2002 from a 90-foot tower adjacent to a fire station in Trenton, Mich., where it served as the city’s primary tornado-civil defense device from 1958 until the 1970s.

“What Can You HEMI?” exhibition highlights include:

HEMI Snow-blower, created by Tim Flucht of Belleville, Mich., is a one-of-a-kind machine that features an extended eight-foot design to accommodate the engine; a custom precision driveshaft to split the power between the snow blades and drive wheels; a wrist tether, similar to water craft, for quick shut-off; a Flowmaster exhaust system; and hot rod-style tachometer.

HEMI-Go-Round, created by Jonathan Brzon of Topeka, Kan., is the world’s first HEMI-powered amusement park ride that features a turntable that spins in a 22-foot circumference at eight rotations per minute, compared with the four to five turns of a traditional carousel; a Borla exhaust system; a push-button start and remote control unit for operation; one-fifth scale models of a HEMI-powered Chrysler 300C, Jeep® Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram
performance design cues; and an orange and black paint scheme reminiscent of the 426 cubic-inch HEMI of the 1970s.

HEMI on Ice, created by Dan Burg of Lindenhurst, Ill., is an ice resurfacer that smooths ice at record-setting speed featuring a HEMI engine in place of a traditional propane-powered model; a custom driveshaft to handle increased torque; Mopar® performance headers and a Borla exhaust system with chrome tips; custom ASA wheels and Goodyear 16-inch Workhorse Extra Grip Radials; a customized Dodge Viper seat with a five-point harness for the operator; and a custom HEMI paint theme.

HEMI Grill, created by Chrysler Group LLC, is a monster barbecue grill that features an exterior covered in more than 330 square feet of stainless steel; front positioning of the engine’s alternator and battery to drive an electric motor to power the heating elements; and a cooking surface and power to simultaneously grill 240 hot dogs in less than three minutes.

Air Raid Siren was introduced to confuse and deafen the enemy during a potential war and became an instrument of civil defense. It evolved into an industrial 331 cubic-inch HEMI-powered monster that was louder than any steam whistle or horn ever produced.

The siren on exhibit was produced in 1956 at the Chrysler Trenton Engine Plant and purchased by the City of Trenton, Mich., in 1958. The Walter P. Chrysler Museum acquired the siren from the Trenton Fire Department in 2002 and Chrysler Historical Vehicle Collection staff spent four years restoring it to its original condition.

Museum admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4 for children ages 6-12. Children five years old and under are admitted free.

The museum is located on Chrysler Group LLC’s headquarters complex in Auburn Hills accessible from Interstate 75 at exit 78 (Chrysler Drive). Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. For discount admission coupons or additional information, visit Walter P. Chrysler Museum.