America has long taken pride in the muscle cars it produced, and some of the coolest classics have continued to receive their modern versions.
Classic muscle cars have been around for longer than half a century and occupy a huge part of the American automotive industry. The legacy lives on, and some of the '60s and '70s models have become irreplaceable classics collectors are still scrambling to get their hands on.
However, no matter how popular and admired these classic cars have become, problems that come along with them, such as dreadful safety systems, terrible fuel economy, and questionable build quality have made them overrated.
On the other hand, some models have remained unappreciated for multiple decades and are now lying in barns forgotten by everyone despite deserving every bit of attention their more popular counterparts are getting.
10 Overrated: 1970-1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
The Plymouth Hemi-Cuda is one of the best-looking performance cars from its era and is still something of a style legend even by today's standard. The Plymouth Hemi Cuda earned its cult status thanks to the HEMI V8 engine that produces 475 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque.
Nowadays, Hemi Cudas can cost millions, but it certainly isn't worth the exorbitant price tag. The vague steering made it almost unusable in corners, and the poor built quality lowered the car's life expectancy. Nowadays, the Hemi Cuda is a rare sight to see, and those that have prevailed the problems have been restored to better than mint conditions.
9 Overrated: 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
The trademark front beak and the large spoiler added to the Dodge Charger made this winged warrior a fighter for NASCAR. However, it could only race in NASCAR for a year before the aerodynamic privileges this modified beast enjoyed were canceled.
This made the Dodge Charger Daytona a fully street-legal vehicle that could speed down the road at 200 mph. However, it was unusable as a daily driver, mostly because of the beak and the spoiler. The Dodge Charger Daytona is one of the rarest muscle cars, so its value is rising. The unorthodox looks and the rarity has made it a true collectible.
8 Overrated: 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is known for both its awesome looks and being lightning-fast. However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows with this classic.
The blinding speed has made the beautiful Ford Mustang Mach 1 a desire of many gearheads, but it is a rather expensive car to maintain. The car was built for straight lines, rather than corners, making it unusable on curvy roads, while the 7.0- liter V8 Cobra Jet engine will send you to bankruptcy with its dreadful gas consumption.
7 Overrated: 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
The 4.9-liter V8 engine put in the Ford Mustang Boss 302 is a rather unreliable one. After just 20,000 miles the pistons would need to be changed as skirts would either crack or break off completely, causing massive internal damage.
Nevertheless, despite all the problems the Ford Mustang Boss 302, it is one of the best and most popular Mustangs to leave the plant, and its legacy has lived on with the modern versions, including the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.
6 Overrated: 1975 Chevrolet Camaro
A charming icon on its own, the 1975 Chevrolet Camaro was a victim of the oil crisis and new safety and emissions regulations. The new catalytic converter was added to the exhaust system, which downtuned the engine's power.
Equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine that churned out just 145 hp, this Chevrolet performance model was almost useless. Nevertheless, it was still a beauty to behold with the recognizable long hood and restore, making it a perfect project car nowadays.
5 Overlooked: 1970 AMC Rebel Machine
The AMC struggled to keep up with other muscle car manufacturers resulting in several models that are now forgotten. One of them is the 1970 AMC Rebel Machine.
The attractive and bold lines, alongside the blue, white, and red colors, make it a sight for sore eyes. Once you realize it is armed with a 6.3-liter V8 engine rated at 340 hp, it's hard to argue against the fact that this is a perfect muscle car. Unfortunately, it has remained underrated since the mean machine was produced for just one year, and wasn't as marketed as its opponents manufactured by Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
4 Overlooked: 1971 Dodge Dart Demon
The modern version of Dodge Dart is at best a mediocre compact-size car from the C-segment. Nevertheless, in the '60s and '70s, the Dodge Dart was a rather cheap and powerful muscle car, especially the Dodge Dart Demon.
The 1971 Dodge Dart Demon is a sportier version of the regular Dart that came with a 5.6-liter V8 engine rated at 275 hp and an enormous 340 lb-ft of torque. Light, beautiful, and powerful, the Dodge Dart Demon is one of those models that are worth every dime, though it never reached the popularity of full-sized muscle cars.
3 Overlooked: 1964 Mercury Marauder
The Mercury Marauder was first introduced in 1963, and at the beginning, it wasn't meant as a muscle car, but rather as a full-size luxury car. The name Marauder comes from the V8 engine that was put in the Mercury, named Marauder.
Nevertheless, the Marauder received the 7.0-liter V8 engine in 1964, and with the luxury and comfort it offered became a flawless muscle car. The raw power, luxurious interior, and impressive look make it a collectible model, though the Marauder isn't a high-valued vehicle.
2 Overlooked: 1970-1971 Ford Torino Cobra
The 1971 Ford Torino Cobra is the fastest Torino built and it brings a serious punch with its 7.0-liter V8 engine that produces a mighty 360 hp, making it a supercar slayer.
The elongated back makes it a few inches longer than the regular Torino as well, but the performance wasn't sacrificed and is still a stand-out Torino, able to compete with the prime muscle cars, such as the Pontiac GTO or Ford Mustang. With the great handling, reliable engine, and a beautiful back, the Torino Cobra, has, unfortunately, become an overlooked muscle car.
1 Overlooked: 1970 Buick Wildcat
The Buick Wildcat was presented to car enthusiasts in 1963 and wasn't intended for racing against the muscle cars. However, in 1970 the stunning beauty of the Wildcat was rewarded with a 7.5-liter V8 rated at 370 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.
Although heavy and large, the many horses made the overall ride pretty enjoyable, and ready to race against the muscle cars of the '60s and '70. It is the last Buick Wildcat as in 1971 it was replaced by the Buick Centurion. Today, the Wildcat is an affordable collectible muscle car.
Sources: Motorbiscuit.com, TheThings.com, Thedrive.com