1964 Dodge 330 Lightweight HEMI® Headed to Mecum Indy

There’s rare, and then there’s this. Rolling across the auction block at Mecum Indy 2025 on Saturday, May 17th, is one of the most significant factory race cars Chrysler Corporation ever built—the 1964 Dodge 330 Lightweight. This car is more than a relic; it’s a fire-breathing tribute to an era when Detroit was all-in on drag racing.

In spring 1964, Chrysler Corporation was fresh off Richard Petty’s big win at the Daytona 500 and decided to flex its racing muscle. What followed was the creation of a small batch of lightweight, drag-ready cars under the internal code A864. Based on the no-frills Dodge 330 business coupe, only an estimated 55 of these HEMI®-powered Dodges were ever made.

This particular car stands out even more because of its A3 fender tag code, marking it as one of the rare few factory-equipped with Chrysler’s then-new A833 4-speed manual transmission. That transmission is still present and date-coded, as are the 7.0-liter (426 cubic-inch) Race HEMI V8 engine and rear end—both critical to its authenticity.

Under the hood, you’ll find a proper cross-ram setup with dual offset Holley 4-barrel carburetors, a transverse-mounted muffler with exhaust dumps, and chrome valve covers. It’s all business, and all era-correct.

The body has been restored from the ground up, including a replacement unibody and sheet metal, but the car keeps its original aluminum front end, doors, hood, and radiator support. It also retains Owens Corning lightweight rear glass, further proving how serious Chrysler was about weight reduction.

Finished in its original Red-on-Red color scheme, this Dodge 330 wears “Stewarts Motors” lettering on the doors, referencing its Georgia roots. Inside, it’s bare-bones: a Hurst shifter with a white ball knob, lightweight seat mounts, a rear seat delete, heater and radio delete plates, and even a Golden Anniversary steering wheel—a one-year-only feature celebrating Dodge’s 50th year.

Photos show this exact car at the drag strip in September 1964, and it later earned a National Record in the SS/BA class in 1985. This isn’t just a tribute car—it has real race history. The sale includes copies of the original bill of sale, a letter from the original owner, and documentation from the dealer confirming its June 1964 delivery.

Because so many of these Lightweight Dodges were chopped up or converted into funny cars back in the day, few survivors remain in anything close to factory shape. This one? It’s the real deal, beautifully restored and historically significant.

Expect serious interest when the hammer drops at Mecum Indy 2025. Cars like this don’t just show up—they roar back into the spotlight.

1964 Dodge 330 Lightweight HEMI Image Gallery: