Started by General Motors’ Rocket V-8 engine in 1949, the term arose in the mid-1960s. Muscle cars hit their prime in the early 1970s. Hundreds of different muscle cars were produced in America and are still being made.
10. 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda
First introduced in 1970, the Hemi ‘Cuda featured a 426 cubic inch V8 delivering 425bhp and reached 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. It was distinctive for its wraparound rear glass. In 1971, Plymouth withdrew the model after selling only 115 vehicles. This also was because Plymouth refused to strangle its legendary Hemi V8 with the new emissions regulations.
9. 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat
With its retro looks, this modern muscle car pays homage to the past while being totally up-to-date. It delivers more power than many supercars, going 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The V-8 in this big coop delivers nearly 500 HP and still manages a twenty-five MPG highway rating. It throttles through an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
8. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88
Built from 1967-1969, many consider this the best Corvette ever. Its big block V8 featured solid lifters and Can-Am-spec cylinder heads. US enthusiasts didn’t consider this a muscle car, elsewhere it was viewed as a pure racecar. Limited to around 200 cars, it sold in both coupe and convertible variations. Stringent emission standards forced the cancellation of the L88 in 1969.
7. 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
Only 100 units were built, making the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt one of the rarest and most desirable muscle cars. The first eleven cars were painted in Vintage Burgundy and the remaining eighty-nine cars were painted Wimbledon White. It was built for the singular purpose of dominating the dragstrip. It was street-legal, but not ideal for public roads.
6. 1965 Shelby Mustang GT-350
Handbuilt by Carole Shelby, it’s legendary and one of the best muscle cars ever. Only 562 of these vehicles were made. After the Shelby was made, the stock Mustang was upgraded to a 289 cubic inch V-8 with 271 HP. Nonetheless, a 1965 GT350 easily goes for $300,000, and a show-quality Shelby commands $600,000 or more.
5. 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
Featuring the engine that started a muscle car craze, America’s first muscle car was 202 inches long and 75.2 inches wide. The 1949 Oldsmobile 88 new overhead valve Rocket V8 had a top speed of 97 mph. It took a full 13 seconds to go from 0-60 mph. Its 303ci V-8 had a maximum of 135 HP. Impressive for the time.
4. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Mustang’s runaway success was the Camaro, launched in 1964. Many consider the legendary model to be the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Among the meaty engine options was a 396 cubic inch V8 cranking out 375bhp. Chevrolet called the Z-28 “the closest thing to a ‘Vette, yet.”
3. 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
Undoubtedly, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird was one of the most radically designed muscle cars to enter the NASCAR racing scenario. There were three engine options including a 440ci V-8 making 375 HP to the 426ci “Hemi” delivering 425 HP. Its outlandish shape left many cars unsold at the time. Today, it’s highly desirable and many sell for six-figure sums.
2. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
This limited-production two-door offered one of the most powerful engines available. The LS6-powered 1970 Chevelle SS 454 had a 454ci V-8 engine with a single 4-barrel 800 Holley carburetor producing 450 HP. It hit 0-60 in just over 5 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating vehicles in the world at the time. Around 4,475 LS6 Chevelles were produced.
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1. 1964 Pontiac GTO
To correct the Beach Boys, this GTO wasn’t “little.” Initially available as an option package for the mid-sized tempest, it featured a 389ci V-8 cranking out 325 HP with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust pipes. A top-spec package included triple carburetors delivering 348 HP and reaching 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.
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