Muscle cars are one of the most exciting and thrilling parts of the automobile industry. For those looking for something powerful, muscle cars are, without a doubt, the way to go. They emerged during a time when restrictions on cars were limited, and cars were pushing the limits of badassery every single day. Their performance kept improving - producing some of the most powerful cars this world has ever seen in history.
However, not every good thing is meant to last. Due to there being government regulations regarding safety and emissions in the 1970s, cars had to be limited in their power. As a result, some of them simply ended up being too weak or boring. These limitations didn't prevent companies from making muscle cars, as they still exist today. But a few of them aren't fast enough to be considered.
Here are 15 muscle cars that are all show and no go:
15 2010 Ford Mustang
This redesign of the Ford Mustang was very aesthetically pleasing. Still, it had one major issue - it was powered by either a 4.0-liter or 4.6-liter V8. As a result, the car only made 315 horsepower - meager performance by a muscle car. The new Coyote motor in the future could reach up to 100 horsepower more.
14 2006 Dodge Charger SE
The reception of the Dodge Charger in 2006 was fairly mixed. Many people were excited about the aggressive and stylish appearance, but others were strongly discouraged by the weak and awfully unreliable 2.7-liter V6. It was capable of reaching just up to 190 horsepower.
13 Buick Regal Sport Coupe
A lot of people remember Buick for the Grand National and GNX, but they are not aware of the Regal Sport Coupe, which came before them. It wasn't as attractive as the later cars, and it didn't have their kind of power either - producing an amount of horsepower similar to the horrible V8s during that time.
12 2004 - 2005 Chevrolet Impala SS
The Impala SS was based on the powerful Caprice from the past. It came with a front-wheel-drive platform, and unfortunately, didn't have much to offer compared to the other basic mid-sized cars present on the market. Chevy added an SS model with a supercharged V6 to the mix, but it wasn't enough to compare to the previous model.
11 1978 Oldsmobile 442
The Oldsmobile 442 had the perfect design for a muscle car - it was precisely what one expected from a muscle car. However, during the 1970s, it got transformed into a smaller A-body platform and featured a weak 3.8-liter V6. The upgraded 5.0-liter engine could also just produce 145 horsepower.
10 Ford Mustang II Ghia
The Mustang II Ghia must have been useful to Ford in the past - but when we look at it today, it can only be seen as a shame of a muscle car. It had a horrible aesthetic, and its engines were terribly weak too. To make matters worse, there was also a pseudo-luxury model with opera windows and a vinyl roof...
9 1982 Chevrolet Camaro
A sad reality for Chevrolet is that during 1982, its most powerful Camaro had a 5.0-liter motor, barely having the juice to reach 200 horsepower. Shockingly, it also came with the option of the Iron Duke four-cylinder that could produce a mere 90 horsepower.
8 Pontiac Grand Prix 2 + 2
This model was an upgrade for the homologation purposes of NASCAR. It had a new appearance, which certainly improved its high-speed stability at Daytona. Still, unfortunately, its poor 150-horsepower engine meant that the car simply wasn't fast enough for any of its new advantages to come into play.
7 1980 Ford Mustang
The base model for the 1980 Ford Mustang featured a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, which could produce a paltry 88 horsepower and just 119-pound-feet of torque. Its acceleration wasn't very exciting either. To top it all off, the car's appearance was rather dull and boring too.
6 1980 Plymouth Volare Road Runner
This is a muscle car that is very easily forgettable. The car's appearance was quite confusing, but what truly didn't make sense was the lack of power of the car. At optimal conditions, the V8-engine was capable of producing up to 120 horsepower. One really has to wonder who would want such a car?
5 1982 Ford Thunderbird
This is one of the more luxurious muscle cars out there. But, being a fancy car doesn't take away from the fact that it is expected to perform like a muscle car - something it fails in doing. It could produce merely up to 120 hp and 205 lb-ft from its poor engine.
4 1984 Mercury Cougar XR7
Another muscle car that doesn't deserve the name of a muscle car. It has a very old-school appearance, not fitting for a car which is meant to be mean and powerful. During the 1980s, most cars looked quite boring anyway - but this was a different standard altogether. Appearance aside, there's not much muscle on offer either.
3 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo
The 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo didn't have a V8 engine, nor did it have a rear-wheel-drive. It came with two V6 engine choices, a 215-hp 3.4-liter V6, and a 160 horsepower 3.1-liter V6 - neither of which were up to the mark.
2 1980-85 Chevrolet Citation X-11
A car being named Citation isn't exactly what one wants from an aggressive vehicle. However, besides the name - the major issue with the car was that it proved extremely unsafe. It suffered through a number of recalls between 1980 and 1985. Chevrolet tried to make amends, but it was unsuccessful in doing so and had to give up on the car.
1 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra
The Ford Mustang II lineup ended up lasting just four years. It wasn't a surprise considering that the 1978 Cobra brought very poor performance to the table. Its engine was capable of producing a meager 140 horsepower. Although, it had one saving grace - its stylish exterior, making it a famous collector's item today.