Muscle cars are some of the fastest, most ruthless cars available on the market. With some of the most badass muscle cars manufactured during the 1960s, there are tons of incredible, classic American-made muscle that actually make great daily drivers. Those cars, however, depending on the model, may cost an arm and a leg to acquire.
The best part about some of the muscle cars is that they last a lifetime. Whether it is a 1967 Shelby GT500 or a 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat, muscle cars will please their owners thanks to their outrageous power and longevity.
See our visual story of Bulletproof Sports Cars That Will Run Forever.
10 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is by far one of the most successful pony cars ever made. In an effort to rival the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet doubled down on its research and development and came up with one of the most legendary cars in the world. The Camaro, whether it's the base version or a high-performance Yenko or COPO, is an exceptional car all around.
The 1968 Camaro SS is one of the greatest Camaros ever. Thanks to its 396 6.5L V8 producing 350hp, it's both fast and durable, and with the restomod trend gaining a lot of traction, replicas and original parts are available if need be.
9 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
The 1960s were the golden age of muscle cars. In today's market, the rage is about pickup trucks and fast SUVs, but back then, it was all about two-door vehicles fitted with outrageously big engines.
The Chevelle came about as the more affordable and somewhat less sporty muscle car in Chevrolet's portfolio. The Chevelle is not very cheap today though, but it's such a durable vehicle that there are still old Chevrolet Chevelles that are still running today.
8 1970 AMC Javelin
A lot of people seem to have forgotten about AMC due to brands such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet that have almost monopolized the muscle car market. AMC, however, did release some serious muscle during the heydays of the American muscle car.
The Javelin SST came with an optional "Go Package" that included a 390 6.4L V8 producing 325hp. That amount of power is respectable even by today's standards. Though finding parts for AMC cars may be difficult, the AMC Javelin remains a car that will last forever.
7 1970 Plymouth GTX
The 1970s started off with a myriad of great muscle cars. Plymouth, among other car manufacturers, was at the forefront of the muscle car scene. For buyers looking for a change from Ford and Chevrolet muscle cars, Plymouth was a great alternative.
Despite the fact that the brand is now defunct, Plymouth has stayed in people's minds thanks to iconic cars such as the Roadrunner and the 'Cuda. The GTX was more of a high-end muscle car. Equipped with an engine dubbed "The Super Commando," the GTX develops 375hp thanks to its 440 7.0L V8 engine.
6 1975 Chevrolet El Camino
The mid-1970s were not kind to muscle cars. With more stringent regulations, several legendary muscle cars saw their power output greatly diminished. Despite this huge setback, some cars remained mouth-watering. The Chevrolet El Camino is one of those cars that gets better as it ages. Being an incredible project car, there are some stunning modified El Caminos cruising around.
It is now common to see old and decrepit El Caminos being turned into absolute marvels. Either available with a 350 5.7L or 454 7.4L V8, the 1975 El Camino's engines produced a disappointing 175hp and 245hp respectively. Though the El Camino is a reliable and stylish car, an engine swap is mandatory in order to release its full potential.
5 1975 Pontiac Trans Am
The Pontiac Trans Am is one of the most iconic muscle cars. The now-defunct carmaker refined the art of muscle car manufacturing thanks to its legendary Firebird Trans Am. Undoubtedly an unforgettable vehicle, there are facts that car fans should definitely know about the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
During the 70s, the Trans Am saw its power decreasing drastically. In '75, it was available with two V8 engines, a 400 6.6L or a 455 7.2L, that produced either 215 or 250hp, some upgrades are needed to release its full potential. On a brighter side, aftermarket parts are widely available for this beautiful machine.
4 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8
The Dodge Challenger is one of the coolest muscle cars available today. The Hellcat and Demon versions are some of the craziest American cars ever made. However, following the success of the Challenger from the 70s, Dodge completely lost the plot in the 1980s, which eventually ended the Challenger - at least for a while.
Its revival in 2008 amazed even the most ecologically friendly car fans. The newer Challenger adopted features of the first generation and was simply a gorgeous car. The SRT-8 trim is by far one of the best engines ever made by Dodge. The early SRT-8s are now very affordable. They are also tremendously reliable if maintained properly.
3 2013 Cadillac CTS-V
To some, Cadillac is known as the most serious American luxury carmaker. Some of the most iconic Cadillacs, such as the DeVille, have appreciated over time. However, as the market is constantly evolving, and Cadillac had no choice but to adapt to current trends.
The Cadillac CTS is among the greatest Cadillacs ever produced. Available as a coupe, sedan, and wagon, the CTS-V combines luxury and sport. Equipped with a 6.2L V8 that cranks out 556hp, the CTS-V is far from being your grandfather's Cadillac. Following the success of the CTS-V, Cadillac released several more sporty editions of its luxurious cars.
2 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt
The Ford Mustangs of the 1960s helped establish the Mustang as the number one pony car in the world. Starting in the 1970s, Ford released some dubious Mustangs that slowly, but surely, eroded the moniker's reputation.
By the mid-2000s, Ford found a way to bring the pony car back to its former glory, and the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is far better than the 2004 Bullitt. The newer version is something Steve McQueen would actually drive. As Ford stepped its game up, the quality of its cars improved, and the newer Mustangs are absolute must-haves.
1 2019 Jeep Cherokee SRT8
The Jeep Cherokee SRT8 is definitely an oddball. It is not a muscle car, but it is also not your typical SUV. Forget about the baby seats and leftover sandwich on the backseat, this muscle SUV is made for the track, not soccer games. First released in 2006, the SRT8 was a direct slap in the face of the fast German SUVs.
How many American-made SUVs can claim to have a 6.4L V8 that produces 470hp and look racy? Despite the SRT-8 being outpowered by the Jeep Cherokee TrackHawk with its 707hp, the SRT-8 remains an affordable and reliable option for anybody looking to buy a fast and clean muscle SUV.