Picture in your mind what a "badass" car looks like, for many people, the image that comes up is a muscle car. With aggressive sledgehammer-esque looks, and monstrous V8 power unrestrained by any normal sensibilities, muscle cars are some of the most badass beasts the car industry has ever spawned, with legends like the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger remaining popular vehicles on sale to this day.
When it comes to classic muscle cars, the word "badass" barely scratches the surface of how awesome these brutal machines are. Unhinged from modern regulations, these classic muscle cars had some of the most wicked looks and raw power imaginable. But, at the same time, for as cool as they looked and sounded without modern regulations holding them back, today's cars are so much more refined, that even normal commuters can give the classic beasts a run for their money when it comes to speed. At the end of the day, it doesn't truly matter though, as a traditional V8 muscle car is a unique experience that will never truly be replaced.
Regardless, one of the longest-running and most iconic hot hatchbacks, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI will crack out a 0-60 mph run in 6.0 seconds, and Honda's JDM legend, the Civic Type R will do it in 5.4 seconds. So, with that as the benchmark, here are 10 of the most badass muscle cars that will get gapped by a modern hot hatch.
10 1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang
One of the most legendary performance partnerships of the car industry's history, the Shelby GT500 was about as awesome as the iconic 1st generation Mustang could get, and today is an extremely valuable collector's item.
While the GT350 Mustang was the first of Shelby's modified Mustangs, the GT500 was significantly more brutal. Transformed into a monster with a 428 cu-in V8 engine, the GT500 debuted in 1967 with a monstrous 355 hp under the hood. Also receiving upgrades like a new roll bar, beefier sway bars, stiffer suspension, and standard disc brakes (a luxury for the '60s) among other tweaks, the GT500 earned its reputation with awesome performance and incredibly badass looks. But, despite being one of the fastest muscle cars you could get in '67, the GT500 does the 0-60 mph run in 6.2 seconds, a figure slightly slower than the new VW Golf GTI.
9 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
While not as immediately intimidating as most classic muscle, the Mustang SVT Cobra was a glorious return for true ground-pounding muscle in the '90s and is a legendarily badass car for most Ford enthusiasts—and for good reason.
With the Fox-body Mustang having been in production since 1979, the car was in dire need of a refresh, and the new SN95 generation Mustang was just around the corner. Keen on sending the venerable Fox-body off with a bang, and showcasing what the newly formed Special Vehicles Team (SVT) could do, the SVT Cobra was released just before the platform's discontinuation. Tweaked with performance parts like Ford Racing derived GT40 heads, the SVT Cobra produced 235 hp from its 5.0 L V8. Capable of a 5.9 second 0-60 mph run, the SVT Cobra may have been one of the baddest muscle cars the early '90s had to offer, but today will lose to a Honda Civic Type R.
8 1970 Ford Torino Cobra 429 Cobra Jet
While not as well-remembered as the Mustang, the Torino was one of Ford's mainline muscle cars, fighting through to the '70s with style, comfort, and great power - especially when equipped with Ford's legendary Cobra Jet engine.
Originally a nameplate denoting a higher-end variant of the mid-size Fairlane, the Torino debuted in 1968 as a well-appointed cruiser. For 1970 though, the Torino was facelifted and turned into the main model, with the Fairlane being a variant of it. The best of the bunch was the Torino Cobra, offered with the 429 Thunder Jet engine as standard, and the 429 Cobra Jet as an option. When equipped with the Cobra Jet, the Torino Cobra became a drag strip dominating beast. Throwing down 370 hp, the Torino Cobra equipped with the Cobra Jet roared on to a 13.9-second quarter-mile, a massive feat for a factory car in 1970, but just shy of the Civic Type R's 13.6-second quarter-mile run.
7 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
One of the baddest muscle cars out there, the Challenger reigns as the king of Mopar muscle to this day, continuing the high power tradition with insane models like the Demon. Back in 1970 though, the Challenger T/A was among those top dogs.
Built under one of the most exciting car categories out there, the Challenger T/A was a proper Homologation Special, sold to normal drivers in order to race in the SCCA Trans Am championship. Only 2,399 Challenger T/As were built, and each was about a monstrous as a small block V8 could get at the time. Using a 340 cu-in V8 with special Holley triple carburetors and intake manifold, modified heads, and many more performance parts, the Challenger T/A was rated at 290 hp, but in reality, made somewhere around 350. Good for a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds, the 1970 Challenger T/A will just barely outrun the Golf GTI but falls behind the Civic Type R among other hot hatches.
6 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda
Originally a pony car along the lines of the Mustang, the Plymouth Barracuda was spawned from their affordable commuter called the Valiant, much like the Mustang was born from the Falcon. For 1970 though, this basis on an average car was ditched, and the 'Cuda was born as its own unique, and incredibly badass model.
Transforming Chrysler's B-body into the shorter and wider E-body, the 'Cuda would also be the basis for the newly introduced Challenger as well. Previously used as a nickname for performance spec Barracudas, this new muscle car was now officially called the 'Cuda, and when equipped with the 426 cu-in Hemi V8, became the Hemi 'Cuda. Throwing down a truly wicked 425 hp, the Hemi Cuda was as monstrous as a pony car could get. Despite having truly insane power for its time, the legendary Hemi 'Cuda does a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, not enough to win a stoplight drag race against a new Civic Type R.
5 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
When it comes to legendarily badass muscle cars, the GTO is up there with the best. Even more iconic though, is the "coke bottle" style 1969 model with The Judge package.
Inspired by the Plymouth Road Runner's formula of offering top-end muscle without the top end frills and luxury features, "The Judge" came about as an option package for the GTO in 1969. Named after a popular catchphrase from the hit TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the GTO Judge came with aesthetic enhancements like special decals, a blacked-out grille, the iconic Carousel Red paint, and sportier wheels. But mainly, The Judge came standard with the awesome Ram Air III V8 engine throwing down 366 hp. One of the top contenders in the '60s muscle car wars, the '69 GTO Judge can do a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, faster than most cars of its time, but just shy of the new VW Golf GTI.
4 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396
A legendary pony car still in production alongside its eternal rival, the Mustang, the Camaro SS is remembered as one of the coolest muscle cars of the '60s and a genuine V8-powered performance threat.
Standing for Super Sport, selecting the SS package for the Camaro got you a choice of powerful V8s, as well as beefier suspension to handle that power. At its lowest, the 1st generation Camaro SS made 285 hp from a 350 cu-in V8, respectable, but not as exciting as the big block 396 cu-in option, which in the base form made 325 hp, and under the L78 option made a monstrous 375 hp. Also offering more refinement, the Camaro SS 396 was an awesome muscle car that could do a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds with the L78 option, sadly not enough to escape hot hatches like the modern Civic Type R.
3 1970 Buick GSX
Despite the typical image associated with Buick, the brand has indeed had a history of making some awesome muscle cars, including the radical '80s GNX, and this - the GSX.
Intended to fill a role in Buick's lineup in tune to the GTO Judge, the GSX debuted on sale for 1970. An ultimate performance variant of the GS-455, which in turn was a muscle-infused version of the Skylark, the GSX lived up to its role with extreme power and a well-appointed interior. Power indeed was extreme, as in 1970, the GSX had the most torque of any muscle car on sale, shaking the ground with 510 lb-ft of torque, and 350 hp from its 455 cu-in V8. Despite all this though, the Buick GSX roared from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, a feat that the significantly less badass Golf GTI can surpass today.
2 1969 Hurst/Olds
Another top dog muscle car within GM's lineup, the Hurst/Olds represented the best of what Oldsmobile had to offer, transforming an already potent muscle car into something truly special.
First offered in 1968, the Hurst/Olds was based on the existing performance-oriented Cutlass 442. Forgoing the 442's standard beastly 400 cu-in V8 engine, the Hurst/Olds drops in a massive 455 cu-in unit that made an awesome 380 hp. But the performance wasn't the Hurst/Olds only desirable feature, as the car had a focus on being a more comfortable grand tourer style beast, with a luxurious interior to boot. You also got cool features like Hurst's special Dual Gate shifter, as well as the aesthetic features like those big hood scoops, and stunning white and gold paint scheme. A show-stopping powerhouse, times truly have changed, and the'69 Hurst/Olds' 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds loses out to modern hot hatches like the Civic Type R.
1 1970 AMC Rebel Machine
Playing second fiddle to the Big Three for their lifespan as a brand, AMC was always the quirky underdog of the industry. While most of their cars, like the Gremlin, are iconic for being weird, the Rebel Machine stands out as the brand's most badass muscle car.
Rooted in the '50s, AMC's first Rebel was the Rambler Rebel, a strange looking car that was among the fastest of its day, and one of the first true muscle cars. Reviving the Rebel name in '67 as a mid-size, more traditional model, the Rebel Machine debuted in '69 as one of the coolest special editions ever made. Decked out in a thoroughly American red, white, and blue paint scheme, the Rebel Machine backed its aggressively angular looks with AMC's 390 cu-in V8 also found in the AMX. Laying down 340 hp, the Rebel Machine is a spectacular muscle car and runs a 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds, not enough to avoid eating the dust of most new hot hatches.