If you’re a gearhead, or in any way identify as a lover of cars, then you definitely have this place in your head that’s reserved for your dream car collection: The cars you would get if you could afford them, and if you could find them, or if you were rich enough to convince the automaker to remake it specifically for you (like some millionaires actually do!)
There’s a lot of cars to choose from, but we know that we’re especially fond of muscle cars. Not only are they a huge part of the auto industry and culture, but they also continue to redefine what cars can achieve.
Back in the day, muscle cars were the record breakers, setting new standards for the industry. Today, a lot of cars still do, but a few particular ones just have that charm. If you’re lucky, maybe you can still find one of those for sale for an affordable price. Here are the 15 classic muscle cars that absolutely belong in a gearhead’s garage:
15 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Well, of course, this list starts with a Mustang. The iconic lineup has given us many amazing cars, and although the Mach 1 isn’t the fastest of them, it’s still amazing. The Mustang Mach 1 could go from 0 to 60 mph in 13.9 seconds and has one of the coolest Mustang exteriors out there.
14 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
1970 was a good year for muscle cars, and that can mainly be attributed to the 1970 Chevelle SS 454. The Chevelle SS 454 could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 13.1 seconds, and with a 450 horsepower engine, it was one of the strongest cars of that year.
13 1969 Mustang Boss 429
The 1969 Mustang Boss 429 is a cool looking car with unique front design. Under its hood was a huge engine, which was so hard to fit into the car’s chassis that Ford had to subcontract Kar Kraft to redesign the front. It was worth it, and the Boss went on to beat Chrysler at NASCAR.
12 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
With a globally recognized name that just rolls off the tongue, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda was one of the best Hemi muscle cars. It could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 13.1 seconds, and although it’s not the fastest car from that time, it sold very well.
11 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The Camaro ZL1 was regarded as the most superior of the Camaro models thus far when it was released. It had very competitive capabilities with a 427 big-block engine that produced 430 horsepower and got it from 0 to 60 mph in 13.16 seconds. It competed with the Chevelle SS and the Hemi Cuda.
10 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
There are so many things to love about the Dodge Challenger, but the car is most fondly remembered today for appearing in the 1971 film Vanishing Point with Barry Newman. With the Challenger’s determined and fierce look in addition to its 13.6-second 0-to-60 acceleration, it has earned a spot in history.
9 1969 Dodge Super Bee
Before the Challenger took its spot in 1970, the Super Bee was Dodge’s star car. The Super Bee was Dodge’s friendly competition against the Plymouth Road Runner. It had a 440 Six Pack engine and killer looks, in addition to being the first car owned by Hot Rod editor David Freiburger.
8 1967 Pontiac GTO
The 1967 Pontiac GTO has earned its place among Ranker's list of The Coolest Cars in the World. It’s said to have kicked off the muscle car era, with a 13.9 second 0-to-60 which was just way ahead of its time. It was the quickest GTO ever... until the GTO made a comeback in 2004.
7 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi
Another iconic Hemi car is the 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Hemi. Like the Hemi Cuda, it wasn’t the fastest car on the market, as it could go from 0 to 60 mph in about 13.34 seconds. However, gearheads knew it had potential, and it easily achieved 11 seconds with replacing the tires and exhaust system.
6 1968 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds 442
The Oldsmobile Hurst shared a body with the Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and it had one of the coolest exteriors. It was the quickest Oldsmobile too with an advanced automatic transmission, and it was available with air conditioning and a luxurious leather interior that set the standards for muscle cars to come.
5 1969 Dodge Charger 500
The Hemi Charger is most popular for being featured in a lot of American films back in the day. Although the Charger 500 was not very quick, taking a heavy 13.48 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph, the Hemi engine did help it become a reputable racing car.
4 1970 Plymouth Superbird
Plymouth essentially took the Roadrunner and gave it a strict racing perspective. The Superbird hit the market with the goal of dominating NASCAR - and it did. With Richard Petty behind its wheels, the super aerodynamic Superbird amazed everyone with record-breaking speeds. It’s said to have prompted NASCAR’s later restrictions on aero cars.
3 1966 Shelby GT350
The Mustang Shelby’s reputation as a superior racing car is owed to Carroll Shelby, who took the Mustang and made it into something out of a dream. Today, the 1966 Shelby GT350 is one of the most sought after collector cars and is usually sold at upwards of $180,000.
2 1969 AMC AMX3
The AMX3 is one of the rarest muscle cars ever. It was produced in very low numbers, but it still captivated the market as a capable drag racing car. Most notably, it was also chosen by the American Automotive Society of Engineers as the best-engineered car of the year for 1969.
1 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
Another classic Dodge muscle car is the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, which was also a legendary racing car in its time. The Daytona entered the scene around the same time as the Plymouth Superbird, and they worked together to reclaim NASCAR in 1970. To no one’s surprise, the Daytona was running a powerful Hemi.