3. Mercury Cougar Eliminator
Kids these days probably don’t even know the name Mercury, let alone the Cougar. Even a fair number of adults likely remember the pathetic Cougars before the line was finally put out of its misery. The thing is that back in the day the Eliminator was actually a great American muscle car.
Made in 1969 and 1970, the Mercury Cougar Eliminator was a great sleeper. Essentially, the car was a longer and dressed up Mustang, with leather upholstery, a wood-trimmed steering wheel and other creature comforts. The suspension was better than on the Mustang, making it better for driving on twisty country roads.
Mercury offered the Eliminator with two different engines. One was the 302 V-8, and the other was the earth-shattering 428 Cobra Jet V-8. The latter boasted 335 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque, making the car a real monster. Mercury offered several performance accessories, including dual quads, 4.30:1 gears, headers, quadruple Weber carburetors and an oil cooler.
4. Buick GSX
Instead of a stripped-down muscle car, Buick got in on the craze in 1970 with the GSX. It was a pretty plush ride, which fooled many people about what the vehicle was all about. In fact, the Buick quickly earned the nickname “Velvet Hammer.”
At the heart of the GSX was a 455 cubic inch V-8. It thundered out 360 horsepower and an almost unbelievable 510 lb.-ft. of torque. The exhaust note along was bone-rattling, and plenty of drivers were scared to really push the car. Adding to the GSX’s legend are claims that Buick seriously underrated the potency of the engine’s horsepower.
By 1972 the shift in the automotive industry brought about the end of the Buick GSX.
5. Chrysler 300 Hurst
Even though many think that the Chrysler 300 was the original American muscle car, many have forgotten about this model. In 1970 Chrysler came out with the ultra-long coupe, which stretched on for 18.5 feet.
Stuffed under the fiberglass hood (with a non-functional scoop) was a 440 cubic inch V-8 engine that cranked out 375 horsepower. Even though the Chrysler 300 H was big, it could dash from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.1 seconds, surprising quite a few people.
Unfortunately, only 500 of these cars were made. A miscommunication between Hurst and Chrysler doomed the project, making it an American muscle car few realize ever existed.
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