Buried in the caption of a classic car-show photo is a number that means something very specific to Mopar people: 340. It’s the displacement, in cubic inches, of one of the most respected small-block V8s Chrysler ever built, one that punched well above its weight class against bigger factory rivals. Here’s what actually made that small-block worth remembering.
Buried in the caption of a classic-car photo is a number that means something very specific to Mopar people — 340. It is not a trim level or a random figure; it is the displacement, in cubic inches, of one of the most respected small-block V8s Chrysler ever built, an engine that punched well above its weight class against bigger, more famous rivals. The joke in the caption plays on a classic car-show trope, but the real story worth telling is under the hood, not in the punchline. What made this particular small-block earn a reputation that outlasted the cars it came in?
The Small-Block That Outperformed Its Size
The Mopar 340 debuted for the 1968 model year as part of Chrysler's small-block A-series family, built with high-flow cylinder heads, a forged crankshaft, and a two-level intake manifold that let it breathe far better than its cubic-inch count suggested. Rated at 275 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque in its debut form, it found its way into the Plymouth Duster, Road Runner, and eventually a six-barrel version in the Challenger T/A and AAR 'Cuda good for a claimed 290 horsepower.
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Why It Still Shows Up at Car Meets Decades Later
Chrysler built the 340 through the 1973 model year before emissions regulations pushed it toward the larger, lower-output 360. Its reputation for punching above its displacement never really faded, and it remains one of the most sought-after small-blocks among Mopar collectors and engine-swap builders today — which is exactly the kind of detail worth knowing the next time that number shows up in a caption.
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She is cute but not cute enough. I’ll take the car. MOPAR RULES!
340.
Automatically picked the 340..:)