The mid-sixties through the early-seventies were an amazing time in automotive engineering, especially for muscle cars. Those classic muscle cars were loud, they were fast, and they were gorgeous. It was what dreams were made of for young kids right through to retirees in that time.
That passion continues decades later. It’s been almost 55 years since the Ford Mustang was introduced, sparking the fervor for an affordable domestic sports car. No question, there isn’t a segment of the auto industry that gets as much attention, or debate. Or sometimes outright conflict.
Of course, there are some classic muscle cars that are popular, and others that could make an argument for being the best. We have 12 of those models listed here, in no particular order, of course.
It’s been in continuous production since the initial release in 1964. The Ford Mustang is certainly one of the most popular classic muscle cars of all time. Ford just hit 10 million copies sold of the original Pony Car. Amid the boos and hisses from Bowtie-lovers and Mopar guys, it would be really hard not to lead off with the Ford Mustang.
Its early years are the ones that most car lovers gravitate toward. The three main variants were the Ford Mustang convertible, the fastback, and the hardtop coupe. Over the years, a sports roof was used from time to time, and the Mustang nose was always familiar.
Some of the most muscular and sought-after Mustangs are the ones with performance packages. The Mach I, Boss 302 and Boss 429 are just a few that get the motor running, and are the ones you’d truly consider a muscle car, not just a pony car. And that’s before you get into the even hotter Shebly versions like the GT350 and GT500 that make the Mustang even hotter.
The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro is arguably the best Camaro, ever. Its reason for existence was simple: to beat the Mustang. When it was first introduced, a definition for its name was also advertised as such: “A Camaro is a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” Since then, the two have been fierce rivals, always trying to one-up the other.
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This first-gen Camaro was hot as hell, and still is. The simple body lines with bulging rear wheel wells give it an imposing stance. It’s a beast to drive too, with engine options including the ever-popular 350c.i. V8 and a behemoth 396c.i. V8 powerplant.
You could get the early Camaro in either hardtop coupe or convertible. And you could have yours as the standard Camaro build, the Super Sport (SS), the Rally Sport (RS), or the Z/28 model. If you have one of these classic muscle cars today, it commands a good buck every time. The first-year model, with the vent windows and round parking lights in the grille are the most popular, but there’s nothing wrong with the 1968 and 1969 cars either.
One of my personal favorites, and an incredibly popular model that was just a little late to the party, is the Dodge Challenger. It’s one of the more upscale models too, outclassing the more affordable pony cars like the Mustang and Camaro, and even its sibling, the Barracuda.
The hood is long and flat, and if often equipped with a shaker hood scoop on high-powered trims. It’s often adorned with graphics on the sides and the hood, commonly in matte black.
but enough beating around the bush. People love the Plymouth Challenger especially for its HEMI engine. The 426c.i. V8 made an incredible 425hp in 1970, scaled back in 1971 to 350hp. Its first year, 1970, was by far the highest in sales. Slumping sales in ’71 through ’74 made the first-gen Challenger a short-lived model.
Let’s not talk about the original Barracuda from 1964 to ’66. That car was an abomination. The second run was better from ’67 to ’69. The really good stuff started after that. It was the 1970 to ’74 model that turned heads, and continues to do so today.
Ever heard of a Hemi ‘Cuda? That’s this car, or at least the most desirable one. It was aligned with the Challenger, but at a bit of a discounted rate. Its distinct design includes a split grille, high-rising rear wheel arches, and usually a blacked-out roof to contrast bright paint jobs.
There weren’t any bad engine choices in the 70s Barracuda per se, so long as you chose a V8. The entry-level 340c.i. V8 made 275hp, but you’d probably want to choose the 383c.i., the 440 six-pack, or the 426 Hemi V8.
There are two very different cars under one title here, but they share the same name. The Plymouth Roadrunner was developed as a midsize performance car for the everyday car owner. If you wanted something a little classier, you could choose the GTX.
All right, so the ’68 to ’70 Roadrunner. It’s a monster in its own right. This car was all about harnessing V8 power, and it only came in a 383 V8, a 440 V8, or a 426 Hemi V8 with a blistering 425hp. It’s also the car that put the Hurst shifter squarely on the map.
And then there’s the Superbird. Made only in 1970, the Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird was designed for NASCAR. The dart-like nosecone is aerodynamic, with flip-up headlights, while on the rear there was a sky-high wing installed. So tall you could still open the massive trunk lid under it. The Superbird was sold with three engine options: a four-barrel Super Commando 440 V8, a 440 six-pack, and he 426 Hemi V8. You know which one is most desirable, right?
The Roadrunner continued to be one of the classic muscle cars built from ’71 to ’74 in a second generation before petering out.
The Dodge Dart was a dog in the early days, from ’59 to ’66. It wasn’t much of a pretty thing at all. But when the fourth-generation Dart rolled into the picture, it drew the attention of the rest of the classic muscle cars. Its rudimentary looks made it a bit of a sleeper, at least initially. Like most two-door models, it was available as a coupe or convertible. But it was also available as a four-door sedan, making it a fun-to-drive family car too.
Its engine choices ranged from a piddly 2.8-liter slant-6 to a 426c.i. Hemi V8. The Hemi engine was only produced for one year in the Dart, in 1968. Dealers were sent a press release about the Hemi Dart, drumming up publicity for the track-ready model. The Hemi Dart went so far as to use fiberglass fenders and hoods to lower weight. It’s been reported that a stock Hemi Dart could run the quarter mile in under 10 seconds. That’s one of the classic muscle cars that is highly collectible today.
There were more ugly Chevelle models than not. Just look at the ‘70 Chevelle sedan, the ’73 Chevelle Malibu SS station wagon, or the 1973 Chevelle Malibu SS Colonnade Coupe. Yikes. But there were some gems in its lineup that made it an incredibly popular model in classic muscle cars.
There’s some really good stuff here. The ’65 Chevelle Malibu SS396, for example, is a gorgeous car in either the convertible or coupe design. But the more common models are the ’68 through ’72 Chevelle coupes and ‘verts. Through this generation, you’d find a sleek, sculpted muscle car with perhaps one of the most attractive designs out there.
Under the hood, you had options galore. You couldn’t go wrong with a 327c.i. small-block V8, the tried-and-true 350, or the 454 big-block V8.
Any Pontiac GTO that’s a standalone model, not a package add-on, is a winner. Built from 1966 to 1971, the GTO was an animal. We’re going to focus on the second generation, though, from ’68 through ’71.
In these four years, the GTO was available as a convertible, coupe or hardtop. It’s called a semi-fastback, which seems to fit quite well. It’s curvy and looks sportier than most cars from its era. Hidden headlights were available, and you could add options like a hood-mounted tach. Letting you grab the right gear at the right time while still keeping your eyes on the road.
Let’s talk about “the Judge.” Offered for the first time in 1969, it was meant to be a stripped-down version that would be even faster. It was sold for more, strangely, and had a rear spoiler, Hurst t-handle shifter, Ram Air III intake and wider tires.
You could get the Pontiac GTO with one of two engines: a 400c.i. V8 and a gas-guzzling 455c.i. V8. Both ran like a bat out of hell.
The Pontiac Firebird came out the same time as the Camaro and the two are very similar. Even though the Pontiac shared much with the Chevy under the skin, and the skin itself, small differences attracted people to the Firebird back then. And still do today. Most classic muscle cars in the late sixties used chrome bumpers, but the Firebird integrated the bumper into the nose. It’s a sleeker look that really can’t be confused with any other muscle car.
Keeping the Pontiac Firebird and Chevy Camaro unique may have proved a challenge on the outside as the coke-bottle shape was shared. Both the convertible and coupe had a similar likeness. But under the hood, the two didn’t have as much in common. Both offered a 350 small-block V8, but the Pontiac used a 326 and a 400 small-block V8 (plus two six-cylinder engines too). That’s compared to a 327 and 396 that Chevy offered.
Later generations, starting in 1970, lost the same classic looks. They were quite easy to identify as a Firebird, though, with the massive hood decal.
From 1968 to 1970, the Dodge Charger was an on-screen specialist for classic muscle cars. A 1968 Charger was showcased in the movie “Bullitt” and a ’69 Charger was the General Lee on “The Dukes of Hazzard’.” Since then, it’s made box-office appearances countless times, perhaps none more recognizable than in “The Fast and the Furious.”
Why so popular? First, it looks frickin’ awesome. The covered headlights are one thing, the raked-out hood, the body lines and sharp edges. It’s a full meal deal.
It was only offered as a two-door hardtop in ’68 to ’70. You could have it with a 440 six-pack, a 426 Hemi, a 383 V8, or two lesser options. No matter which one you choose, the Dodge Charger will always draw attention from car enthusiasts around you.
If you’re thinking classic muscle cars, only the first generation Mercury Cougar should pop up in your mind. More recent models are atrocities that shouldn’t be equated with the Cougar moniker.
The electric-shaver grille hid the headlights, which is a key component for the early Cougar. It was available in only hardtop design until ’69 when a convertible was added. It was meant to be the model that fit neatly between the Mustang and the Thunderbird. Like a slightly more luxurious and soft version of the Mustang. But the Mercury Cougar became the halo car for Mercury for decades. What’s more, it was also the first car that Ford’s engineers installed a power sunroof into, which created quite the buzz in the industry.
Its muscle came from a varied selection of engines. There were three Windsor options: a 289, 302, and 351c.i. variety. There was also a 351 Cleveland V8, a 390 V8, a 428 and a 427c.i. V8 available. All of these options could burn the tires off.
In 1968 and ’69, Ford was on their game with classic muscle cars. The Fairlane had morphed from a family car to a full-spectrum vehicle. Ford took it as a blank canvas for several models, making them some of the common classic muscle cars on the road today. The late sixties Fairlane, Ford Ranchero car-truck mix, and the Ford Torino were essentially the same car with cosmetic variations.
The quad-headlights and wide grille were the staple here. In fact, they were almost identical up to the front doors. The fastback Sportsroof was used in the Fairlane 500 and the Torino GT.
Under the hood, the Ford 302 V8 was by far the most common choice. A 390 V9 was available, as was a 428 Cobra Jet V8 for drivers who needed even more oomph from their big Fords.
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