Let’s face it, the real numbers-matching Hemi cars have become so collectible that it’s almost understandable when they’re kept under lock and key. When considering a real Hemi 4-speed Challenger in decent condition can fetch a quarter, if not half a million dollars, it almost seems justifiable. Thankfully, there’s still a percentage of true Hemi car owners who’d rather drive ’em like they were supposed to, and today that’s who we’re watching.

Road Test TV has made a great effort to gather together some of Detroit’s most impressive muscle cars from yesteryear and pit them against each other. There’s no shortage of big block Corvettes squaring off against 4-4-2 Oldsmobiles, GTOs and Camaros, and a whole heck of a lot of Mopars. One such video features a pair of incredibly rare and beautifully original elephant-powered machines: a ’70 426 Hemi ‘Cuda, and an impressive ’67 Hemi Coronet R/T.

The differences in weight are notable and the advantage of even 3 years’ time between the two gives the 1 of 652 built Hemi ‘Cuda the advantage. The two angrily boil their bias ply polyglass tires (wrapped around matching body-colored steel wheels and “poverty caps”) before pulling hard from the tree. From the traps, it looks to be the ‘Cuda’s race, but surprisingly, the 1 of 772 Coronet pulls around the E-Body in the long end and clinches the win.