We’ve heard that historically, auto racing began when the second vehicle was built. Throughout human history, competition has been the sole motivator of technology and creativity, more so for automakers. With the advent of the age of dragstrip competitions, automakers had a new litmus test for their capability, and boy did they compete.
The recipe for muscle cars is a top-notch performance for as little cost as possible. The 1960s was the decade of automobile prowess, as the world was changing and car designers were ready to meet up with the challenge of competing with lightweight, V8, and Hemi powered engines.
However, it’s easy to get lost in the euphoria of the competition and forget the history of these roadsters. With Dodge cars being the stars of the era, Chevy’s being the popular ones, and Plymouth being both fanciful and fearsome, the first muscle cars had a relatively more humble background than the flamboyant nature of the later makes.
15 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
The first company to step into the game of making muscle cars, was Oldsmobile, with its first being the 1949 Oldsmobile 88, which there continued to produce till 1974. The Rocket 88 was the first vehicle that used the powerful V8 engine that was fully customized for coupe cars. The Rocket 88 could release 135 hp and 263 lb-ft. of torque and won eight of every ten races it participated in the 1950 NASCAR season making it extra popular.
14 1955 Chrysler C-300
Chrysler was the next company to jump right in, with the introduction of their “letter series”, the Chrysler C-300, which was then dubbed as America’s most potent car. The C-300 was fitted with a 331 cubic inches 5.4-liter V8 engine, which had a top speed of 130 mph and could accelerate to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds. The C-300 was also popular as the best-handling car of its age.
13 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk
Studebaker’s Golden Hawk was introduced just a year after the previous muscle car and was a compact-sized pillar-less hardtop coupe. Its production lasted for two years and was stopped because of the mini-recession of 1958. The Golden Hawk was powered by a 5.8-liter Packard V8 engine, which was the most powerful engine and was only rivaled by the C-300.
12 1957 Rambler Rebel
American Motors Corporation, AMC, was the next to introduce their own muscle car, the Rambler Rebel. The rebel is most definitely the first mid-size car to be built with the big-block V8 engine. It was made with the philosophy of being fast and cheap. It was the fastest stock sedan at a time as its 5.4-liter V8 engine could accelerate the vehicle to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and had a power of 255 hp.
11 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS
The 1961 Chevy Impala was a restyling of the GM B Platform, which featured a bubble-back roofline style. The Impala Super Sport was offered with a 409 cu-in. 6.7-liter V8 engine that could produce 425 hp and was built with upgraded brakes, suspensions, and better tires. Impala was a dominant muscle car of this era.
10 1962 Dodge Dart
Chrysler introduced the 1962 Dodge Dart to compete with other brands in this new sector of the market. The Dart 413 was made on the lightweight unibody B platform, with sound handling, acceleration, braking, and was combined with 413 cubic inches 618-liter V8 engine that produced 415 horsepower on demand. The vehicle was nicknamed Max Wedge.
9 1963 Ford Galaxie
As drag racing became the popular culture, Ford introduced its 1963 Galaxie “R-code” to be used in these competitions. The Galaxie was a full-sized sedan car that was built with aluminum bumpers, traction bars, and a 413 cu in, 7.0-liter racing engine. The 425 horsepower engine could cover the quarter-mile in 12 seconds.
8 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
Again, Ford released another muscle car, the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, which was a limitedly produced with just 100 units being made. The Fairlane was a two-door, lightweight built, sedan, which was powered by a 427 cubic-inches 7.0-liter V8 engine with Holley carburetors. The Fairlane’s engine output 600 hp and could cover the ¼ mile in 11.76 seconds and was barely street legal.
7 1964 Dodge 330 lightweight
The Dodge 330 lightweight was a drag racing version that was built and powered by a 7.0-liter Hemi racing engine that had over 425 hp. This new Dodge 330 was built with aluminum hood, fenders, doors, and lightweight front bumpers. The 330 muscle car a full-size car, that was available in sedan and coupe variation.
6 1964 Pontiac Tempest
Again Chrysler Corporation introduced its 1964 Pontiac Tempest for the 1965 model year as a mid-size automobile with two-door. The vehicle was fitted with Chrysler’s signature engine the Hemi engine, that was labeled as the Street Hemi. The Tempest had a top speed of 104 miles-per-hour and could run the quarter-mile distance in 13.8 seconds. The Tempest was also very cheap, having a price tag of $3,850.
5 1964 Oldsmobile 442
With automakers being in the golden era of muscle cars, Oldsmobile returned with Oldsmobile 4-4-2 muscle car. The Olds 442 was built with a 5.4-liter V8 engine with heavy-duty valve gear and hot camshaft, that powered the engine to 310 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. The Olds 442 was built as a response to the existing competition between automakers.
4 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
The 1964 Chevelle Super Sport was Chevrolet’s entry model into the heated muscle car battles of the era. With a giveaway price of $1,501, the Chevelle was propelled by a 283 cubic inch 4-barrel V8 engine, that was rated only 220 horsepower, though, upgrades were available.
3 1965 Pontiac GTO
The influential Pontiac GTO was debuted by Pontiac in 1964 with production lasting till 1974. The 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first generation of the GTOs and was available in hardtop, coupe, and convertible body styles. It was powered by a 6.4-liter V8 engine that was rated 325 hp and had a bodyweight of 3,500 lb.
2 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport
The Buick Skylark GS was an intermediate Buick Skylark passenger car that was combined with the GS option. The Skylark was powered by a 401 cubic-inch Buick V8 engine that released 325 horsepower and 445 pounds-feet of torque. The Skylark was very successful with Buick selling more than 15,000 units in the first year alone.
1 1968 AMC Rebel SST
After the 1957 Rambler Rebel, AMC released their SST Rebel for the 1968 model year. The AMC Rebel was built with a 390 cubic-inch 6.4-liter V8 engine that had a capacity of 315 horses. The Rebel did little improvement to the safety features of the Rambler and was the first of the brand made to compete on the dragstrips.