The muscle car embodied everything American about a car. It was designed to be loud, fast, and fitted with an engine the size of two JDM power units. From front to rear, these cars were flamboyant. But ironically, the same can’t be said about their target market.

Muscle car enthusiasts were not Fortune 500 CEOs with a million dollars in disposable cash. Rather, these cars attracted and were built for the middle-class petrolhead who’s blessed with a good mix of civility and hooliganism. That’s why these machines sounded and performed as they did.

Amidst all this chaos was a rather clear hierarchy. Not every muscle car was the same. Some were built to be tame most of the time, while others were engineered as full-time ravaging beasts even in the ‘70s when driving a big-engine high-powered vehicle made no economic sense. In this piece, we’ll look at both ends of the spectrum, starting from the most civilized to the most brutal muscle cars you could spend your money on in the ‘70s.

10 1970 Plymouth Duster 340: 275 HP

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Via-Old Cars Weekly

The 1970 Plymouth Duster was already late to the muscle car party. But no one thought about kicking it out. That’s because this delayed machine was a full petrolhead treat.

RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Plymouth Duster

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Its biggest attraction was its looks. To date, some petrolheads claim that this was the best-looking muscle car of the era. In addition, it was a great performer. The Plymouth Duster was based on the Valiant, packing a 340 cubic-inch V8 that gave it the 340 name tag. The V8 engine was good for 275hp of grunt and 340lb-ft of torque. That performance was enough to accelerate the Plymouth Duster from 0-60mph in 14.7 seconds.

9 1971 Dodge Demon 340: 275 HP

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The Dodge Demon is a very famous nameplate today. However, what most millennials and generation Z’s associate with is the Challenger-based 700+hp Demon that is a wild machine both on the streets and the drag strip. What they don’t know is that this marque’s long history goes back to the early ‘70s. The 1971 Dodge Demon 340 in particular, is the car that cemented this marque in the history books.

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This wild car was the fastest Dodge Demon of its era. What rocketed it to speed was a 340 cubic-inch engine that produced 275hp and 340lb-ft of torque. The run from 0-60mph just took 7.8 seconds.

8 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE: 290 HP

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Via-Hemmings

This is arguably one of the most iconic muscle cars ever produced in American history. This is not just because the car looked stunning but rather because it was launched deep into the troubles of the automobile industry in the ‘70s. Muscle cars were no longer popular, the few being produced were absolute lemons, and no one thought the industry would ever recover from this. The Trans Am SE brought the hopes of muscle car fans back.

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At a time when power and performance were frowned upon like a clown in a house party, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE didn’t hold itself back. This mad machine ran on a 290hp engine that made it one of the most powerful muscle cars you could buy in 1977.

7 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455: 290 HP

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Before the menacing Trans Am SE hit the streets and the Hollywood scenes as well, the 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD was the bad boy on the block. And just like the SE that followed it, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD didn’t hold itself back despite a raging oil crisis and strict emission regulations that made flatulence a core contributor to global warming.

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Via-Flickr

The 1974 Trans Am SD defiantly packed a 455cu-in V8 that delivered 290hp to the rear wheels. Yes, some petrolheads were quick to point out how “average” that performance was. However, their mouths would soon be shut when Ford unveiled the Mustang II that year, with no V8 engine.

6 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302: 290 HP

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Via-American Muscle Museum

The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 would end up being one of the most powerful Mustangs we would ever see in about a decade. Thankfully, it did not end up being the most powerful Mustang of all time. But that is not to mean that this 1970 creation was a sloth.

RELATED: This Unrestored 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Seeks A New Owner At Mecum Auctions

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Via-American Muscle Museum

The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 was a proper muscle car. It was built for the racetrack, for the racer. Under the hood lied a 302cu-in V8 that delivered 290hp and 290lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. That thirsty and massive power unit was powerful enough to rocket the 1970 Boss 302 from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds.

5 1970 Oldsmobile 442 – 360Hp

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The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 was a rather unique ride. The name 442 was added to it because it packed four carburetors, ran on a four-speed manual, and had twin exhausts. The car itself was based on the Chevy Chevelle SS and the Pontiac GTO.

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The Oldsmobile 442 was a formidable performer. This marque ran on a 455cu-in big-block V8 that delivered 360hp and 500lb-ft of torque. It took less than 6 seconds to get from 0 to 60mph. At that time, and even by today’s standards, that was a quick jolt to highway speeds.

4 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Boss 429: 375 HP

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In 1970, Ford was the supreme overlord of the muscle car world. No one could dare challenge it and those who had gone home nursing wounds. But that can’t be said of the 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Boss 429. This machine could beat the pace out of the Ford Mustang and the Ford Falcon without breaking a sweat.

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Via-BangShift

When it debuted, the Spoiler Boss 429 was marketed to the public as the high-performance version of the Mercury Comet. However, in 1970, the gloves went off and Mercury fitted a raging 427cu-in V8 under the hood of the Boss 429. That thirsty engine could produce up to 375hp and 490lb-ft of torque to the vehicle’s drivetrain.

3 1970 Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage I: 400 HP

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Via-Imgur

Looking at some of the best-performing cars of the year 1970, the 1970 Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage I sits second at the top of the performance sheets. This vehicle defined what muscle car performance should look and feel like.

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In the petrolhead circles, the Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage I was known as the Hemi killer/alienator. Under its hood lied a 455cu-in V8 power unit that produced nearly 400hp and 510lb-ft of torque. That wild engine was the reason why the 455 Stage I could complete the quarter-mile sprint in 13.38 seconds.

2 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible: 425 HP

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Via-Mecum Auctions

By 1971, automakers were starting to become conscious about the size and consumption of engines that they were putting in their wildly popular muscle cars. But that didn’t seem to be a bother for Plymouth. With the 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible, they were willing to break all barriers and produce a machine so powerful that the Camaro and Mustang would crush like wafers under its palms.

RELATED: 1-Of-12 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible Heads To Mecum's

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Since it was the descendant of the formidable Plymouth Barracuda, the 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda ran on a massive, 425cu-in V8 that produced 425hp. Combine that with the 490lb-ft of torque it delivered, and you get a car that hit 60mph from a standing start in just 5.4 seconds.

1 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454: 450 HP

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Today, the Camaro is the undisputed, world-known, muscle car for Chevrolet. However, back in the ‘70s, that wild machine you see today was nothing more of a pony car. The wild muscle car Chevy produced was the Chevrolet Chevelle SS.

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The first Chevelle SS debuted in 1964. 6 years later, Chevy gave their flagship muscle car a facelift and a more menacing powertrain. That year, the Chevelle SS was blessed with a 454cu-in V8 that could produce 450hp. The number 454 was added to the name to pay homage to this impressive power unit.