Dodge Dart
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.
Chevrolet Chevelle
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.
Pontiac GTO
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.
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