A huge chunk of the '70s was a painful period for the car community, especially for muscle car enthusiasts. Individuals who had been driven to giddy heights during the horsepower craze of the '60s were brought crashing down to earth as the infamous fuel crisis coupled with stricter emissions regulations took hold. A tightening economy curbed spending excesses and forced customers to turn to more fuel-efficient engines. That's the reason why much of the '70s were filled with mediocre muscle cars shorn of most of their power. There were a few standouts though; mostly cars defiantly unleashed by the carmakers before the challenges really gained ground.
10 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE - 200 HP
This Pontiac muscle car is without doubt, one of the most iconic cars of the '70s era. A flamboyant car made even more famous by its appearance in the popular 1977 'Smokey and the Bandit' movie.
Horsepower excesses had been fully reined in by the time of the car's debut and that made the 200 hp output from the 6.6-litre V8 a pretty impressive figure. Unfortunately, it still needed about 9 seconds to hit 60 mph and could only complete the quarter-mile in 16.9 seconds.
9 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 - 275 HP
The Duster 340 was the performance version of the standard Duster and relied on a cheap platform to keep its price budget-friendly. The car relied on a four-barrel V8 to provide the needed grunt.
That V8 generated an impressive 275 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque; power that was enough for a 6.0 second sprint to 60 mph. It did not set the hearts racing like the big guns of its time but with a $2,500 base price, it was a pretty decent muscle car.
8 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 - 290 HP
The Mustang Boss 302 was built with racing in mind, specifically the Trans-Am series and it packed enough performance for the task it was assigned. The car was developed around a 302 cubic-inch V8 that made 290 hp at 5,800 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm.
The car was built to take on the Camaro Z28 powerhouses on the racing circuit and it did just that, relying on its better cornering power and overall handling rather than straight-line speed.
7 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 - 310 HP
By the mid '70s, it was clear the days of horsepower laden, gas-guzzling muscle cars were at an end. Pontiac knew this ferocious beast was never going to last long in the market but that did not stop them in any way. The Trans AM SD-455 was introduced for one last hoorah and there was nothing subtle about it.
That SD-455 powerplant was officially rated at 310 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque; stats that put most of the other cars in its category to shame. The car lasted 2 short years in the market before the curtain came down on what's arguably the last real muscle car of that era.
6 1970 Buick Gran Sport 455 Stage 1 - 360 HP
This Buick Grand Sport was one of the power-hungry muscle cars that took advantage of GM's removal of the 400 cubic-inch displacement restriction for its intermediate models. The car was based on the existing Buick Skylark but with styling tweaks and more importantly, a new 455 cubic-inch displacement V8.
Apart from the bigger displacement, the new engine also offered the advantages that came with bigger valves, better heads and a hotter camshaft. It was officially rated at 360 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.
5 1970 Oldsmobile 442 - 365 HP
The Rocket 88, built by Oldsmobile in 1949, is often regarded as the first full-sized muscle car. The carmaker was still well in the game by the time the '70s rolled around and the Oldsmobile 442 was right up there with the best.
The car was built like a bull and packed power to match in the form of a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine that made as much as 365 hp (that rose to 370 hp with the W30 package) and an insane 500 lb-ft of torque. It was a big car but had no problems shrugging off that weight and accelerating to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.
4 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler Boss 429 - 370 HP
The Mercury muscle cars were often in the shadow of the more prominent Ford muscle car offerings. It did not however mean they were any less potent. A good example is this Cyclone Spoiler Boss 429, a car that started out as the performance version of the Mercury Comet.
The Boss 429 engine was a serious piece of machinery that elevated the car's performance to a whole new level. It cranked out 370 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque; enough to get the big car to 60 mpg in 6,3 seconds.
3 1971 Plymouth Hemi'Cuda Convertible - 425 HP
This rare muscle car is highly desirable as a collectible and is one of the most sought-after classic muscle cars today - an unsurprising fact especially when you consider the extremely limited production run. There is always a bidding war whenever any of these beauties surface for auction and pristine examples can easily command 7-figure sums.
In 1971, the Hemi'Cuda convertible was fitted with a V8 that made 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. It was enough to ensure that this elegant muscle car was much than just its classy looks.
2 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi - 430 HP
In recent times, this carmaker's obsession with power is borne out with models like the Challenger SRT Demon and the Durango SRT Hellcat. However, they also had classic models that boasted insane amounts of power - cars like the 1970 Challenger R/T.
There were a variety of V8 engine options for the car but one of the most powerful was the 426 Hemi V8 that carried an official rating of 430 hp at 5,000 rpm and 490 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
1 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 - 450 HP
There's good reason why the Chevelle SS454 was referred to as the 'King of the Streets'. In an era where horsepower reigned supreme, this Chevelle was unmatched. The car was fitted with a monstrous 454 cubic-inch LS6 engine block that cranked out a thumping 500 lb-ft of torque.
That insane power gave the tire-shredding muscle car a macho attitude that rivals struggled to match. The LS6 Chevelle had no problem smoking its way to 60 mph in just 5 seconds.