It’s not every day you see a vintage Chrysler Marine engine pop up at auction—especially a FirePower HEMI® V8. But on June 10th, 2025, one of those rare beasts crossed the virtual block over at BringATrailer.com, and it turned some heads. Pulled from a classic 1954 Century Coronado boat back in 2019, this 5.4-liter (331 cubic-inch) V8 had been sitting proudly on display in the seller’s shop in Rancho Santa Fe, California. When the auction wrapped, it sold at no reserve for a cool $8,000.
This isn’t just any V8. Chrysler’s 331 cubic-inch FirePower HEMI® was the brand’s first overhead-valve V8 with hemispherical combustion chambers, first introduced in 1951 for passenger cars. But this particular version came from Chrysler’s Marine and Industrial Division and was built specifically for boats. In the early ’50s, this engine helped power some of the most premium watercraft of the time.
Rated at approximately 180 horsepower, this marine-spec HEMI® V8 came equipped with dual carburetors, a distributor, brass exhaust components, and a factory starter. The vintage valve covers wore raised Chrysler Marine lettering in green, true to the era. One of the valve covers did have a dent, but that didn’t stop bidders from recognizing its historical value.
What makes this engine even more special is that so few remain intact today. Chrysler Marine was once a powerhouse in the industry, known for their advanced engineering, stylish boat designs, and innovations like foam-filled hulls. But like many niche divisions from the Detroit Big-3 automakers, the marine division faded into history, making any surviving components like this one highly collectible.
While it’s unclear what the winning bidder plans to do with it—drop it into a restored Coronado or keep it as shop art—one thing’s for sure: the soul of American horsepower isn’t limited to dry land.
5.4-liter (331 cubic-inch) Firepower HEMI® V8 Chrysler Marine Engine:
