In 1949, Oldsmobile launched its Rocket 88, a car that's widely regarded as the first true American muscle car. The V8-powered rocket dominated the racing circuits in 1950 and its design and performance set the stage for the muscle car craze that would soon sweep across the nation.
Updated May 2021: If you're in the market for an underrated muscle car that can be picked up for less money than the more popular models out there, you'll be happy to know we've updated this article with the most recent information available.
American carmakers were quick to jump on the bandwagon, and before long, the market was flooded with tire-shredding vehicles that combined brute performance with speed and roaring V8s. They include popular names such as the Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda, and the Chevrolet Camaro. These classic cars took center stage, but there were other models as well that were somewhat lesser-known, such as the Ford Torino Cobra, which also offered decent performance at the time and deserved more love and recognition than they actually received.
10 Ford Torino Cobra
Ford first introduced the Torino in 1968, but it would be until 1970 before the Blue Oval muscle car truly hit its stride. That year, the model grew in size and there was the ‘Cobra’ variant — the most potent version. For that model, Ford swapped out the existing 428-cid V8 with a newly designed 429-cid V8, different from the one found in the Mustang Boss 429.
The Torino Cobra had distinguishing features, such as exposed headlamps, rear window slats, and a prominent Cobra insignia. It may not have been the most powerful muscle car in its class, but the 370bhp power output from the engine meant that it sure wasn't a pushover.
9 1969 Buick Wildcat
The Buick Wildcat was designed to be in direct competition with another GM product, the Impala SS, as well as other muscle cars from competing brands. The model started out in 1969 with a 360hp V8 powerplant, which increased to 370hp in 1970. That was enough power to offer some seriously spirited muscle-car performance.
What’s more, the Wildcats also offered upscale styling and luxurious amenities that made the driving experience more comfortable. According to Hagerty's valuation tool, the 1969 Buick Wildcat has an average value of $8,500 these days – a real bargain when you consider the whole package.
8 AMC Rebel Machine
The AMC Rebel Machine only lasted one year before the troubled company replaced the car with the similar AMC Matador. However, AMC still managed to sell more than 2,300 units of the Rebel Machine was a failure in 1970.
This beauty cranked out 340bhp from its ram-air 390-cid V8 engine. That engine was mated to a Hurst 4-speed manual gearbox and if you got it right when launching it down the road, this beast could get from 0 to 60mph in 5.5 seconds, which was pretty decent for that era. It may not have been a popular choice back in 1970, but these days one would struggle to find one for less than $40,000.
7 Dodge Dart Demon 340
The 2018 Challenger Demon wasn't the first car from Dodge to wear the ‘Demon’ moniker. That honor goes to a lesser-known muscle car from further back in Dodge’s history — the 1971 Dodge Dart Demon.
There were two variants, but the Demon 340 was the more potent version; a tire-shredder with up to 275 raging horses living under the hood and 340 pound-feet of torque. Emission regulations forced the company to reduce the power output over the coming years and the popularity gradually waned until production ceased in 1976.
6 1974 Pontiac Ventura GTO
By the early-to-mid 1970s, muscle cars had started to disappear from the showrooms due to the oil crisis. However, in 1974, Pontiac decided to slap the GTO badge on the Ventura and fitted the car with a 200hp V8 engine. That power was harnessed via a 3-speed manual transmission that drove the rear wheels.
The Ventura featured a shaker hood like the Firebird Trans-Am, but unlike the Firebird, this was a fully functional addition. It had a flap that would open under hard acceleration, allowing the engine to gulp in cooler air. Granted, the car was not as powerful as true muscle cars of the golden era, but it was respectable for an American car built in the early '70s. The 3-speed option could still run the quarter-mile in a decent 16.5 seconds.
5 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
Government regulations in the 1970s severely limited the amount of horsepower carmakers could coax out of their big-block muscle cars and the Chevelle Laguna was certainly no exception to this. The car had a 350-cid V8 engine that only produced a meager 145hp. That output increased to 175hp for the 1975 model year, but it would still take over 10 seconds to get to 60mph.
That shovel-nose front end did help the car’s aerodynamics at speed though and the Laguna actually won a few racing competitions before it was banned for having an ‘unfair’ advantage.
4 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler
Introduced in 1970, this car is often regarded as the best-ever muscle car from Ford’s slightly more exclusive sister brand. The car had its own unique body-style and a 429-cid V8 engine that came as standard instead of it being an optional upgrade as was the case with the Ford Torino Cobra.
Like the Torino Cobra, the engine produced a very healthy 370hp and was mated to a standard 4-speed Hurst shifter. The interior was well-laid-out too and the dashboard was fitted with useful gauges like the tachometer, coolant temperature, and amp gauges.
3 1965 Chevrolet Biscayne L72
The Biscayne had an impressive 17-year production run that began in 1958 and lasted until 1975, a period during which Chevrolet introduced four generations of the model. The most popular version was the third-generation model that was introduced in 1965.
The Biscayne certainly was a proper muscle car that could be optioned with a monster 7-liter V8 engine that generated a healthy 425hp and 460 pound-feet of torque that was available at about 4,000rpm. That power transformed the docile looking Biscayne into a drag strip racer with formidable credentials.
2 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix
The year 1968 proved to be the final one in its traditional B-bodied full-size style. Declining sales forced a complete redesign for the 1969 model year in an attempt to generate more interest in the car. The 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix's styling wasn't for everyone, however, with its prominent ‘beak-nosed’ grille and enlarged front bumper.
However, there was enough power under the hood to keep things interesting when you slipped behind the wheel. The powerplant was based on V8 engines that produced anything from 360hp to 390hp.
1 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst
The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst represented a departure from the earlier versions. For one, the car featured a new styling that was noticeably less boxy than its predecessors. Then there was that distinctive full-width grille and fancy hideaway headlights.
This was definitely also a massive car, it stretched over eighteen feet and weighed in excess of 2 tons. To drive the car, Chrysler relied on a 440-cid V8 engine that pumped out 375hp and 480 pound-feet of torque. It was enough to turn out a respectable 7.1-second sprint time to 60mph, not too shabby for such a huge land yacht.