Hold the Door
Muscle cars are some of the most enduring vehicles out there and have been used in everything from NASCAR to drag racing. To accomplish this, they’re built tough, boasting powerful engines and durable designs. But some of these impressive muscle cars don’t get the credit they deserve, even when they revolutionized the genre.
1. Dodge Charger Daytona
If you ever wanted a car that looks like the Batmobile but functions great in real life, then the Daytona was the one for you. It had a very unique look when it came out in 1969, but its bizarre style just made it more appealing. Plus, it was driven by Buddy Baker in 1970, who used it to break the 200 miles per hour barrier.
2. Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
This car has everything going on, from the classic muscle car look to that retro vibe from the '60s. The first Barracuda was based on the Chrysler A-body, while the second generation was redesigned, and the third generation switched to a Chrysler E-body. Either way, the Formula S was best known for its versatile engine and its unique trim, and customized S variants became a big deal.
3. Buick Gran Sport 455
Buick also has quite a reputation for putting out powerful, and unfortunately underrated, sports cars. The Gran Sport comes to mind for its light frame but surprising performance, although it does fall short in comparison to other A-body models at the time.
4. Pontiac Turbo Trans AM
In 1989, Pontiac came out with its Turbo Trans, which unfortunately got ignored due to its low horsepower. Luckily, the team took that as a challenge and added a turbo V6, which led to a reignited appeal. Now, it’s known as a light and capable car that’s relatively affordable.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada on Wikimedia
5. Chrysler 300 Hurst
This car was released in 1970 and is quite a rare collectible too. It had a lot going for it, from the high performance plus the exclusivity of a limited production. It was built by Chrysler from 1955 to 1965 and was seen as the beginning of muscle cars.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
6. Dodge Demon 340
This Demon comes from 1971, and Plymouth decided to use the Duster shell from the year before and add it to a Dart front clip. What makes this car exceptionally cool is the style, flair, and all the features. This includes a Rallye suspension and 10-inch drum brakes for when you’re feeling the speed.
7. Chevrolet Impala 55
If you’re a stickler for the classics, the Impala is hard to beat. This car took advantage of the B-body Chevy Caprice, but had a lot more going for it, including a Corvette 5.7L and a lower ride height. This means it was both stylish and kind of stealthy when it came to performance.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
8. American Motors AMX/3
American Motors was a brand better known for sedans, but they certainly impressed with their first muscle cars. The public was blown away by the unique look, and unfortunately, the limited number made it a hot collector’s item. Seeing one of these is rare enough, and buying one can cost you roughly $800,000.
Matthias v.d. Elbe on Wikimedia
9. Studebaker Avanti R2
This personal luxury coupe was all about suave style and refined elegance. These are things you don’t think of when it comes to muscle cars, but the Avanti made it work. It was introduced in 1962, but issues around production led to only 1,200 being built that year despite 20,000 being planned.
10. Jensen Interceptor
You have to hand it to the marketing department; Jensen Interceptor is a pretty cool name for a car. It was surprisingly made by a British car industry and had everything from a uniquely classic look to a 440 cubic inches engine. It was even further upgraded with new headlamps and a revised front grille.
11. Ford Torino Talladega
This 1969 car was made with performance in mind, and the very shape of the car was a credit to its drag reduction capabilities. It was built for competition and even took home the crown from the NASCAR Manufacturers Championship in 1969. Considering this history and design, it’s no surprise it’s so well known.
12. Buick Wildcat
Buick also came out with the Wildcat, which had a short production stint from 1963 to 1964. This first generation was a sight to behold and had large aluminum trim panels and chrome hash-marks for style. It even boasted a 325 hp 401 cubic-inch Wildcat V8, and would eventually be replaced by the Buick Centurion in 1971.
13. 290-HP Avanti
Remember the Avanti R2? Well, this is similar but different. This Avanti actually set speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats. It was a highly in-demand car, but once again, production was capped due to issues, and now it’s a bit of a rare collector’s item.
14. Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre
Ford is better known for trucks these days, but when they came out with this muscle car, people were surprised. It had a certain look that lent itself to the space craze of the time, but actual opinions vary from enthusiast to enthusiast. It surely had that sporty style and was powered by a Blue Oval’s 345-horsepower, 428 cubic-inch V8.
15. Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II
As the name entails, this car wasn’t the first of its kind. Instead, it was an improvement on the original Mercury Cyclone and benefited from improved aerodynamics. It was meant more so for racing, but due to rules at the time, at least 500 cars had to be made available for public sale.
16. Ford Taurus Sho
This car might not look like much at first, after all, it had the vibes of a sedan. But by the sixth generation, they had all the tweaks worked out and added a 365 hp 3.5L V6 with everything from all-wheel drive and twin turbos. This made this car the ultimate all-rounder.
17. Buick GSX
This 1970 Buick was all about performance, as most muscle cars are. To break down the numbers, it had a 360 to 400 HP V8 and packed 350 horsepower. It also had a unique collection of colors to choose from, with only 178 being painted Apollo White.
18. Chevrolet Biscayne 427
This car was produced by General Motors and Chevrolet and was in production from 1958 to 1975. It lacked the fancier trimming and interior, but it more than made up for that with its speed. It was a simple car with surprising power, making it the perfect choice for a practical racer.
19. Ford Torino GT
This car might be the standard for some enthusiasts. It had that slick, nostalgic design and also prioritized performance with a 4-speed manual. Plus, it just oozed with '60s appeal and is surprisingly fast compared to other Mustangs from the time.
order_242 from Chile on Wikimedia
20. Pontiac Can Am
The Pontiac Can Am came out in 1977 and was an instant muscle car dream. Unfortunately, its success was short-lived as a damaged mold caused the sudden halt of production. This meant only 1,377 cars like this exist, only adding to its exclusivity.
