The very idea of a muscle car conjures up images of big brawny profiles and a healthy dose of horsepower; enough for some tire-shredding action. That image has changed little today and there are cars like the imperious Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock that still fit the bill perfectly.
The only issue is that they don't come cheap. It's a good thing then that there are other muscle cars out there that we can still enjoy today without breaking the bank. However, some caution is needed here because just as you have great affordable muscle cars, there also exist muscle cars that are not worth the bother even if they cost pennies.
10 Proud To Own - 1971 Ford Torino GT
The Ford Torino GT is sometimes regarded as a forgotten muscle car, which is a real shame considering how good the car actually is. The styling was on point with bold design cues all around the car.
It also came with a range of engine options, from a standard inline-6 to a thumping 429 Cobra Jet fire-breather that put out as much as 375 hp. However, if you own one of these today, the power output will not be a primary consideration. The Torino GT is simply the perfect ride for a casual cruise through the city streets.
9 Never Take Out - Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke
There is no excuse for the 1982 Camaro Iron Duke. It is fully deserving of its place as one of the worst muscle cars ever made. The Iron Duke engine in the base trim was borne out of the need for more fuel-efficient vehicles at the time. However, even that does not excuse the decision to place such an anemic engine in what was marketed as a muscle car.
To further compound matters, the puny engine was paired with a sluggish 3-speed transmission. The Camaro Iron Duke needed almost 20 seconds to get to 60 mph; a shame by any measurement standard.
8 Proud To Own - AMC AMX
The AMC AMX was first introduced to the public in February 1968 and would go on to win the 'Best Engineered Car of the year' for 1969 and 1970; a title awarded by the American Society of Automotive Engineers.
The AMX was a 2-seater that featured a shorter wheelbase than most of the other muscle cars of that period. The car was offered with a V8 engine range that delivered anything from the standard 228 hp to a thumping 318 hp. It was a lot of power that the nimble muscle car properly harnessed to deliver impressive performance stats on the road.
7 Never Take out - Ford Mustang II
The Ford Mustang debuted in 1964 and took the car world by storm, rising quickly to become one of the most popular muscle cars of its time. It needed only about two years to cross the first one million units - such was its dominance.
In 1973, production of the second-generation Mustang began and it would go down in the record books as one of the worst Mustangs ever made; almost undoing all the great work done by the previous model. Everything about the car was mediocre; the available engine options, performance, and styling.
6 Proud To Own - 2006 Pontiac GTO
Pontiac is long gone now but they did leave us a few cars that evoke nostalgic memories of what might have been. One such is the 2006 Pontiac GTO, a car that arrived a little too late to save the ailing company.
The Pontiac GTO is a pretty decent bargain today with values that are generally below $20,000. It is a package deal that comes with a 6.0-liter V8 capable of putting out 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The powerful car could get to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and finish off the quarter-mile in 13 seconds.
5 Never Take Out - 1983 Dodge Charger
The Charger that emerged in the early part of the '80s was based on the Dodge Omni. It did offer unique styling with an interior that was comfortable enough. However, it fell way short in terms of performance, which is the biggest measure for a car billed as a muscle car.
Only 4-cylinder engines were available and for the base model, that powerplant could only muster a meager 90 hp. Dodge later offer a turbocharged version but even that only generated a peak output of 142 hp.
4 Proud To Own - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
You can own one of these for less than $20,000 today. That price will get you a potent machine with a big wallop in the form of a V8 that cranks out as much as 426 hp at 5,900 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm.
This Camaro can accelerate to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and blast past the quarter-mile marker in 13.1 seconds at 109 mph. It's not just about the speed though; the 2010 Camaro SS offers great value for the money considering the equipment level. It's enough to make most drivers overlook the poor view out of that narrow windscreen.
3 Never Take Out - 2006 Dodge Charger SE
The fifth-generation Charger limped into oblivion in 1987 and it was not until 2005 that Dodge had the courage to try again. This time, the Charger reemerged with a completely redesigned profile; one that was more deserving of such a forceful nameplate.
Model trims like the SRT and R/T models packed powerful V8 engines but the SE was a big letdown with a V6 engine that quickly gained the reputation of being very finicky and unreliable. Also, it only managed 190 hp at best and that power, paired with a fiddly 4-speed automatic, was just inadequate for the two-ton muscle car.
2 Proud To Own - 2007 Cadillac CTS-V
The CTS-V is a performance variant of the luxury CTS sedan and one that even today, still possesses enough oomph to light up the driver's face. The car was offered with a standard 6-speed manual transmission that paired well with the hulking V8 under the hood.
It was an engine that could drum up 400 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. This is a family sedan, good enough for school runs yet it can shed that homely appearance in an instant and blast to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
1 Never Take Out - Chevrolet Monza
The carmaker got this wrong from the beginning when they decided to base their performance car on the woeful Chevrolet Vega. The Vega was a small economy car that suffered from a myriad of problems for most of its production run.
To be fair, Chevrolet did nail the design of the Monza but a proper American muscle car has to be able to offer more than just good looks and here, the Monza failed. It did have a V8 engine option but it was one of the least powerful Chevy small blocks ever built. By 1980, the Monza was scrapped.