If you are wondering why Dodge chose the Hellcat name for the supercharged HEMI engine. It appears the engine is actually named after a Grumman World War II fighter plane that had its engines built by Nash. Nash later joined Hudson to form AMC (American Motors), which Chrysler acquired in 1987.
It’s not clear whether or not the said trademark lived on under AMC and Chrysler, but the Hellcat fighter plane was of great importance to the U.S. army during World War II, which would explain naming the engine after it. With more than 5,000 enemy aircrafts destroyed and a kill-to-loss ratio of around 19:1, the Hellcats were the most efficient fighter planes the Allies used above the Pacific.
Last edited by Dave's Garage; Thu Jun 19 2014 02:44 PM.
