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This 1972 Vintage 417 Donovan Hemi Is A Thumping, Running Monster That’s Never Been Blown Up


This 1972 Vintage 417 Donovan Hemi Is A Thumping, Running Monster That’s Never Been Blown Up

Back in the early 1970s, Ed Donovan changed drag racing forever when he introduced his then revolutionary Donovan 417 engine block. This was drag racing’s first dedicated aftermarket block and it was both lighter and stronger than anything the factories had ever produced. The block was based on the Chrysler 392 hemi that racers favored for years over the 426 because they had really not figured out that engine family yet. Donovan’s mill was such a breakthrough because now racers could pull the cylinder liners out and replace them instead of machining iron blocks  and seeking local mechanical help on the road.

This particular engine is awesome because it is blown, runs on an 85% load of nitromethane and the block has never been wrecked and repaired. This is a rarity because it is among the first hundred and ten of the things ever made. Topped with a 6-71 blower and equipped with zoomie headers, this would be a great engine to stuff into an altered, a funny car, or some sort of freakshow door slammer.

The engine has made 1,850hp on the dyno and the seller claims that the setup is pretty mild and could be leaned on harder. Even cooler is the fact that heads are matching numbers Donovan pieces so you are legitimately looking at a real interesting piece of drag racing history here. The seller even has some interesting history on who bought the thing and ran it first.

All engines are cool but this engine? This engine is an even better kind of cool.

RacingJunk.com Find: This 1972 Vintage Donovan Hemi is nitro ready!


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