Built, Scrapped, Forgotten
Ask anyone to name a muscle car, and you’ll probably hear the usual suspects—Mustang, Camaro, Challenger. Great picks, sure. But those are just the headliners. But behind the curtain, there’s a whole lineup of oddball legends that barely see the light of day anymore. Cars that were built in tiny batches or tweaked into something completely bizarre by engineers who clearly had a passion for their product. So, here are 20 rare American muscle cars that deserve more love.
1. 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird
With just 135 units ever made featuring the powerful 426 Hemi engine, this car was created with one goal: to win NASCAR races. Its long aerodynamic nose gave it a serious edge on the track. That edge was so significant that NASCAR banned it.
WORLD RECORD // 1970 Plymouth HEMI Superbird // BARRETT-JACKSON 2022 LAS VEGAS by Barrett-Jackson
2. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1
The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1 stands as the rarest production Corvette to date. Its all-aluminum 427 V8 was a race-bred engine that shaved 100 pounds off the usual big-block weight. Designed for serious speed, it could top 120 mph straight from the factory.
1 of 2 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1 by ClassicCars TV
3. 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible
Seventeen. That’s all Pontiac ever made of the 1971 GTO Judge Convertibles. It packed a 455 HO engine, delivering both power and prestige. Despite its standout features, it originally cost less than many of its high-performance competitors.
1 of 17 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode #202 by V8TV
4. 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
The 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 pumped out 510 lb-ft, beating the Hemi at its own game. Limited to just 678 units, it was quick off the line and deadly in the quarter mile. Lastly, it was offered only in Apollo White or Saturn Yellow, which is why it didn’t try to blend in.
1970 Buick GSX 455 Stage 1 4-Speed Muscle Car Of The Week Video #45 by V8TV
5. 1967 Ford Fairlane R-Code
Only 57 units of the 1967 Ford Fairlane R-Code were built, each equipped with a 427 V8. Ford never advertised them, as they were quietly distributed through select dealers. Most ended up with NHRA racers who knew exactly what this machine was built to do.
1967 Ford Fairlane 427 R-Code by Adam E
6. 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
Built to satisfy SCCA homologation rules, the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A saw about 2,339 units produced. It featured a 340 Six-Pack engine exclusive to the model. And in a bold move, it became the first production car to roll off the line with staggered tire sizes.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
7. 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
Just 11 factory-built Hemi convertibles were produced in 1971, making this model exceptionally rare. It came with the 426 Hemi rated at 425 horsepower, the most powerful engine option available. One of these limited builds recently sold for over $3.5 million.
1971 Plymouth Hemicuda Convertible: Muscle Car Of The Week Episode 209 by MuscleCarOfTheWeek
8. 1965 Shelby GT350R
The 1965 Shelby GT350R made an immediate impact by winning the SCCA B/Production championship. Built strictly for performance, it came without back seats. Carroll Shelby himself was involved in tuning several of these race-prepped cars for factory-backed teams.
9. 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351
Officially rated at 330 horsepower, this one’s real output was stronger than advertised. It consistently outperformed the Boss 302 and 429 in multiple tests. Despite its size, it remained relatively lightweight, giving it a sleeper reputation at the track.
10. 1968 Dodge Dart GTS Hemi
Roughly 80 Dodge Dart GTS Hemi units were factory-built, specifically for drag racing. Developed with Hurst Performance, these cars were stripped of warranties and marked strictly for competition use. Straight from the factory, they ran low 10-second quarter miles.
1968 HEMI Dart GTS: Muscle Car Review: Plus, drone and cruise footage by Twisted Axle Motorsports
11. 1969 Pontiac Trans Am
Every 1969 Pontiac Trans Am left the factory in white with blue racing stripes, giving the car a distinct identity. It came with either a 400 Ram Air III or the more aggressive Ram Air IV engine. Ironically, it borrowed its name from the Trans-Am racing series but didn’t meet the rules to compete.
12. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible
Fewer than 20 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertibles were produced in 1970, making this big-block drop-top an ultra-rare find. It featured the LS6 engine rated at 450 horsepower, the highest factory rating of the muscle car era.
13. 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360
The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 packed a 360 cubic-inch V8 with a 2-barrel carb and dual exhausts, delivering solid performance in a modest wrapper. Marketed under $3,000, it aimed to be an affordable muscle car alternative.
14. 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler
Mercury built 1,631 units of the 1970 Cyclone Spoiler to meet NASCAR’s homologation rules. Under the hood sat a 429 Cobra Jet engine with an available Ram Air system. As a key piece of Ford’s “Total Performance” campaign, it pushed the limits of factory muscle.
15. 1971 Plymouth GTX 440 Six Barrel
This was among the last GTX models before the name became a trim level rather than a standalone performance car. As one of the quickest full-size muscle cars of its time, it delivered great speed in a big-body package.
1971 PLYMOUTH GTX 440+6, Red by wellbornmuseum
16. 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 R-Code
The R-Code version of the 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 looked like a typical full-size cruiser, but it was anything but ordinary. A dual-quad 427 V8 sat under the hood, pushing out well over 425 horsepower. Built without radios or insulation, it was all about raw speed.
1965 Ford Galaxie 500 R-Code 427 4-Door Muscle Car Of The Week Video #51 by V8TV
17. 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst
Chrysler’s collaboration with Hurst in 1970 resulted in a full-size performance coupe that stood out in every way. It remains one of the few Hurst-branded American cars built on a full-size platform, and its production was limited to 501 units.
18. 1969 COPO Camaro ZL1
Chevrolet developed the 1969 COPO Camaro ZL1 specifically for NHRA Super Stock racing, bypassing standard production limits through the Central Office Production Order program. It featured an all-aluminum 427 engine that cost around $4,000.
1969 Chevy Camaro COPO ZL1 vs 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda - no commentary by Cars And Zebras
19. 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Ram Air IV
The Ram Air IV was the top-performance option in the 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am lineup, featuring forged internals and track-ready engineering. Collectors seek it out for both its raw capability and rarity, as only 88 were ever built.
Muscle Car Of The Week Video #3: 1970 1/2 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air IV by V8TV
20. 1966 Oldsmobile W-30 442
Designed to meet NHRA drag racing requirements, this muscle car featured a forced-air induction system routed through bumper-mounted scoops—a unique setup for the time. All cars came as hardtops, and every detail focused on performance.
