Who hasn’t heard of a muscle car?! That’s right, you’ve all at least seen one, if not heard or read about one. Sixties movies, seventies car races, famous car auctions everywhere in the world – all are somehow connected to at least one model of muscle or vintage car. Even the latest Hollywood productions (let’s take, for instance, the famous Fast and Furious) are featuring one or several models of muscle cars. This is proof that their look and feel never gets outdated. We have made a list of the top 10 classic and modern muscle cars which includes both old and newer versions. Check it out below.
Let’s try to analyse some of the most popular models of muscle cars that have made history. Just as a brief introduction, muscle cars refer to vehicles that were initially designed to work with powerful V8 engines, which gave them incredible speed and overall performance (at least for the sixties). Some of them have been tuned, over the years, to be able to match ongoing competition, but their trademark remains the same: the V8 engine and the vintage, classy look.
Official rankings these days tackle both classical muscle cars and modern ones. For instance, Therichest, a website that tackles diverse topics for the richer people, has put together a very interesting list, featuring the rarest muscle cars ever to have been built:
- 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird (out of which only 135 were produced)
- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1
- 1967 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code
- 1967 Plymouth R023 GTX
- 1970-71 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
- 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
- 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible
- 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1
- 1967/1970 Dodge Coronet R/T 426 Hemi Convertible
Another interesting ranking we found presents the top modern cars that can be considered muscle vehicles. This ranking belongs to CNBC and focuses on brands such as Chrysler, Dodge or Ford. As muscle cars are all-time American classics, it comes as a natural consequence that most American car brands are present.
- Chrysler 300 SRT8
- Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
- Dodge Challenger R/T
- Ford Mustang GT
- Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
- Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core
- Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
- Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51
- SRT Viper GTS
Our personal ranking of the best all time muscle cars includes several brands, among which – of course – the ones mentioned above.
- The 1967 Pontiac GTO – undoubtedly the best muscle car there is, this one wins every possible competition. Considered to be the first muscle car ever, it has become the epitome of vintage and cool cars everywhere. The basic 1967 model was capable to generate 335 horsepower, a formidable performance for the era. The car was so famous that all major car competitors (Mustang, Oldsmobile and Plymouth) tried to come up with a special similar model of their own.
- The 1955 Chrysler 300 C. Another all-time classic, this model is even manufactured today (you will find it in most rankings of modern muscle cars). In its beginnings, the car was manufactured in a limited edition, being part of the famous “letter series” Chrysler vehicles). Some of the letters, such as the C and the F, are sold today for immense sums of money, which is consistent proof of their value.
1955 Chrysler 300 C - Plymouth GTX40. Another car coming from Chrysler, this one was mainly marketed between 1967 and 1971, being one of the trendier models.
- Plymouth Road Runner. By far the most famous version of Plymouth, this one was so popular that the car giant decided to manufacture it for more than a decade (between 1968 and 1980). The main cause for the increased popularity of this model is the car’s average price and moderate to high performance (it could reach 200 miles per hour).
- The Australian Holden Monaro GTS 350 V8. Australian vintage cars may not be as famous as their American counterparts, but still, they do count in the worldwide car history. The Holden Monaro is one of those models that one drives without caring too much about its origins. Designed in the late sixties, the car came in 3 versions, out of which the 327 was the most widely appreciated.
Holden Monaro GTS 350 V8 - Another classic vintage car by definition, the Oldsmobile was created by GM and has a history longer than that of cars in general (1897-2004). Suffice it to see some pictures of the consecutive models designed over the years, to realise this truly is a majestic muscle car.
- Buick couldn’t have been excluded from this list. Therefore, the 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 makes for another all-time classic that everyone remembers. Apparently, this particular model was rara avis, being produced only in a very scarce quantity: 400 items. Its engine was bound to achieve 370 horsepower.
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 can be considered one of the most successful models of the American car company. Also called “the beast”, this car managed to achieve 450 horsepower. Wow! You would say this couldn’t have been possible at that time, and yet Chevrolet made sure it became real. Probably the reason why this car is auctioned at over $75 000 nowadays.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 - 1968 Ford Mustang GT500KR, another fantastic vintage muscle car, was also created in a limited edition (only 933 coupes were built, along with 318 convertibles). Its chic design accounts for the breathtaking current sale price: $130 000.
- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, our last choice when it comes to old muscle cars, is definitely a gem. Only 61 units of this car were ever manufactured, leading critics to claim that this is one of the most valuable Chevrolets ever (currently estimated at $425 000).
Let us know what you thought of our compilation of the top 10 classic and modern muscle cars list. If you are interested, we also wrote an article on the best fast and furious cars. Check it out!
