When mastering an art, sometimes it is best to learn from those who have already done so. This is what happened with Dodge, spending years under the Ford Motor Company before finally branching off into their own line of vehicles.
To this day, Dodge still remains one of the most successful American car manufacturers out there. Along with their present success, they've also had their fair share of past victories, too. Among them, their muscle cars really stand out, both then and now. After all, some of the most beloved Dodges have been sports cars in some aspect. To illustrate this, here are Dodge's ten most badass muscle cars they've ever made, ranked...
10 10. Dodge Ram 1500 SRT-10
Compared to some of the other vehicles on this list, the Ram SRT-10 stands out. Obviously, this is because it's (technically) not a "car," rather a truck. However, it has the heart of an American muscle car, the attitude of a muscle car, and the brand of a muscle car.
The engine inside the Ram 1500 SRT-10 was shared by another popular Dodge vehicle: The Viper. Yes, Dodge decided to put an 8.3-liter V10 into a truck. We're not sure why they decided to do this, exactly, but we're sure happy they did, since the Ram SRT-10 is one of the coolest and most powerful utility vehicles ever produced.
9 9. Dodge Viper (Gen. 1)
In the late '80s, Dodge figured it was time to make an even more competitive sports car.To do this, they would enlist renowned designers and the Italian supercar company, Lamborghini, to help produce the engine-block. After it was all said and done, this car would be known as the Dodge Viper.
The first Dodge Viper was an audacious project, to say the least. A large V10 in conjunction with a sporty chassis made for a seriously dangerous and fun combo. So much so, actually, that the first generation Viper was often referred to as the "Widow Maker."
8 8. Dodge Super Bee A12
During the late '60s, those who couldn't afford something like a Challenger, Charger, Corvette, and Mustang still had other, more affordable options. One of these options was the A12 body for the Dodge Super Bee.
The Super Bee, when released, was a cheaper alternative to a Challenger and Charger. The Super Bee had less luxury features, but still had a large V8 and competent horsepower figures. Nowadays, an A12 Super Bee is nowhere as affordable as it was back then, as they can go for nearly $100K under the right circumstances.
7 7. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Throughout Dodge's production history, they've had a litany of famous and outstanding vehicles come out of their factory. Of all of them to be released, the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T is one of their most well-known.
For movie buffs, you may be familiar with the 1970 Challenger from the blockbuster classic, Vanishing Point. In it, the protagonist drives a stunning white Challenger, which (Spoiler alert) is later crashed into a wall. This movie, along with the Challenger's performance and appearance, helped to secure the Challenger's position as one of Dodge's best cars ever.
6 6. 1970 Dodge Dart
Today, the name of the "Dodge Dart" has been associated with a small, fuel-efficient, urban commuter. This is, by far, a complete 180 from what the original Dart was. Although the original was a good commuter car, it was much more powerful and significantly large.
Unlike the new Dart, the old one had some spark in it. Many of the mid-model Darts during the '60s and '70s were competent racers, as well as good daily drivers. Eventually, Dodge would use the Dart for racing in the S.C.C.A. and stock cars, with several civilian owners partaking in less-than-legal street racing.
5 5. Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Apparently, a few owners of Dodge's new Challenger reboot thought that a huge V8 and over 500 horsepower wasn't enough for them. Thankfully for them, Dodge indulged them with their 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat: Their, then, fastest production car ever.
The Hellcat really was like a spawn from hell, as it had over 700 horsepower and a 6.2-liter HEMI V8. With this sort of power behind it, the Hellcat could reach nearly 200 miles-per-hour and go from 0 to 60 in less than four-seconds.
4 4. Dodge Viper ACR
Although the standard Viper is insane enough as is, you know that Dodge had to take it a step further. All the way back in the late '90s Dodge had been tuning the Viper to reach even higher marks. This particular Viper would be called the ACR.
There have been several ACR's throughout the generations of Vipers, however, the most recent iteration has been the most powerful. In 2016, the Viper 'VX I' ACR model was finally released to the public. Its aero-package, tuned V10, and light-weight helped the ACR to become one of the fastest American cars to lap the dangerous Nurburgring.
3 3. Dodge Charger Daytona
With heavy competition in motor sports (Mainly NASCAR), Dodge thought to go to work on a new race car. Using their Dodge Charger as a base, they crafted, arguably, Dodge's coolest NASCAR project ever: The Dodge Charger Daytona.
NASCAR fans and the like may be familiar with the Daytona from its relation to Richard Petty, the victorious racing driver, along with subsequent cameos in Pixar's Cars and so on. Overall, the Daytona is a big part of both NASCAR's and American muscle's history over the decades.
2 2. Dodge Challenger Demon
As mentioned previously, Dodge had gone above and beyond the normal call of duty and made a car so crazy that it required two keys (One for the road, one for the track). Of course, this was the Challenger Hellcat. But, what if they made an even faster version? Thankfully, nobody will have to guess what that would be like, since Dodge went ahead and made one.
The even more ridiculous version of the Hellcat is called the Challenger "Demon." What makes the Demon different from its feline predecessor, though, is more than an extra 100 horsepower, a wide-body kit, over a second quicker 0-60 time, and a lot higher of an M.S.R.P.
1 1. 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
Of all of Dodge's muscle cars, and normal vehicles, the 1969 Dodge Charger is easily the most popular around the world. This isn't just because of its aesthetically pleasing exterior, HEMI engine, or classic car status, but also the '69 Charger's stardom in The Dukes of Hazard.
While making The Dukes of Hazard, production went through so many Dodge Challengers that the state of California actually had a shortage for quite some time. Needless to say, the show's popularity certainly helped sell more and more Challengers over the years, making them one of the most sought after muscle cars on the planet.
Today, you can still find plenty of great looking and well preserved Chargers, however, expect to pay a hefty cost for them. After all, perfection doesn't come cheap.