American muscle cars have been a staple of the automobile industry for decades. Designed for drag racing, these machines feature massive V8 engines, two-door bodies, and rear-wheel-drive. Muscle cars are prized for speed. Since the first muscle car was released – the Oldsmobile 88 – dozens have come and gone, and many have become collectibles. The 60s and 70s marked the golden era of an American muscle car, with many US-based companies releasing stylish and high-performance models. Despite half-a-century having passed, these machines are still sought after by collectors.

While every American muscle car from the golden era features an aggressive and purpose-build style, a handful of models stand out from the crowd as the speediest. Many of the classic models got high-spec performance packages – and some also feature cosmetic packages. All these upgrades only furthered their high-performance nature. These are the standard American muscle cars that annihilate the quarter-mile.

15 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS: 15.2 Seconds

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Starting off the Chevrolets on this list is the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It travels a quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds with 117 mph as its top speed. The first-gen Camaro debuted in 1966 and was available as a convertible with 2+2 seating or a two-door coupe. Customers could choose between 7 engine options.

14 1974 AMC Matador: 15.8 Seconds

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The 1974 AMC Matador came to fleet buyers with various packages. The muscle car was popular with military units and government agencies. Police departments in the US equipped their Matadors with V8 engines. With the 401 cu in unit under the hood, it could reach 1/4 mile in 15.8 seconds.

13 1994 Callaway Camaro SuperNatural C8: 13.0 Seconds

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The Callaway was a turbocharging enterprise, which worked for BMW in the 70s. Exposure to the GTV put the company on GM's radar, and the automaker soon signed a deal with Callaway to create a twin-turbo Corvette engine. The result was the 1994 Callaway Camaro SuperNatural C8 that could reach ¼ mile in 13 seconds.

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12 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28: 15.2 Seconds

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The 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 grew 7 inches longer, thanks to a forward-slopping grille. It was the last year for the flat rear window and thick roof pillars. Power was down due to new emission standards. Still, the top-rated 350 cu.in. engine produced 245 horsepower and pushed the car to ¼ mile in 15.2 seconds.

11 1970 Dodge Challenger: 13.6 Seconds

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From 1970 to 1974, the Dodge Challenger was built using the Chrysler E platform and sharing the main components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The base engine on the standard model was a 225 cu in Straight-6. It was enough to push the lightweight car to a quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds.

10 1976 Ford Grand Torino: 13.9 Seconds

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The 1976 Ford Grand Torino was used in the Spelling-Goldberg Productions TV series Starsky and Hutch. The Federal Clean Air Act forced Ford to install catalytic converters to meet new emission standards. In response, the company revised the base engine to the 351-2V unit that pushed the car to a quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds.

9 1962 Pontiac Catalina: 13.9 Seconds

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In 1962, the Pontiac Catalina received a distinctive protruding grille that made its first appearance on Pontiac products during the 30s. All engines, known as "Trophy", were 389 cu in V8s. The standard version delivered 215 horsepower and could push the Pontiac Catalina to a quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds.

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8 1973 Pontiac Firebird: 14.7 Seconds

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The 1973 Pontiac Firebird yielded ¼ mile results in 14.7 seconds, which was quite good for a 3,850 pound car. Under the hood was the engine equipped with a 4-barrel Rochester Quadrajet carburetor rated at 290 bhp and 395 lb. ft. of torque. This setup was designed to compete with the Mustang and the Cougar.

7 1969 Plymouth Road Runner: 13.5 Seconds

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Plymouth developed the Road Runner to "market a lower-priced, basic trim model to its upscale GTX. The 440 engine option with 3X2 barrel Holley carburetors was added in 1969. All cars had a Dana 60 rear axle with a 4.10 gear ratio." With these changes, the car reached ¼ mile in 13.5 seconds.

6 1968 Plymouth Barracuda: 14.7 Seconds

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In 1968, the 273 engine in the Plymouth Barracuda was replaced by the 318 cu in LA engine as the smallest V8 available, and the new 340 cu in LA four-barrel was released. Both engines were upgraded with cylinder heads from the Super Bee. The Barracuda could reach ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds.

5 1971 Ford Mustang: 13.8 Seconds

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In 1971, the Ford Mustang received several important changes, including an upgrade of the V8 engine from 260 to 289 cu in with a power increase from 164 to 220. The V8 was built with new emissions standards in mind but still pushed the car to 1/4 mile in 13.8 seconds.

RELATED: What Makes The 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 429 SCJ Drag Pack A Legendary Muscle Car

4 1982 Dodge Charger: 18.6 Seconds

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The Dodge Charger returned in 1982 as a hatchback coupe with front-wheel-drive and an optional three-speed automatic transmission. It was a lot like the Dodge Omni 024, but with a large engine. The muscle car was available with a turbocharged 2.2l SOHC engine that pushed it to a quarter-mile in 18.6 seconds.

3 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna: 16.5 Seconds

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While other Chevelles came with a 307-cubic-inch two-barrel V8, the Laguna featured a 145-horsepower 350-cubic-inch two-barrel V8. There was also an optional 454 four-barrel V8 rated at 245 horsepower paired with a Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. With this power unit under the hood, the Laguna got to a ¼ mile in 16.5 seconds.

2 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1: 13.8 Seconds

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Impressive even in the standard form, the 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 featured the 455 cu in V8 engine bestowed with a nodular-iron crankshaft linked to cast-aluminum pistons. The redesigned air induction system funneled atmosphere to a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor. Thanks to this setup, the car could reach ¼ mile in 13.9 seconds.

1 1973 AMC Hornet Hatchback: 16.3 Seconds

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The AMC Hornet became an important platform for the company, serving for eighteen years, until the 1988 model year. Engines incorporated new emissions standards and choices included two V8s and two I6s. In the most powerful configuration, the car could get to ¼ mile in 16.3 seconds and to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

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