The Muscle car era was a very important time in the growth and development of the American automotive industry. Muscle cars came at a time when the average American was tired of owning generic rides and wanted something that could deliver greater speed and performance. This simple need birthed all muscle cars.

We’ve come a long way from the classic muscle cars of the ‘50s, '60s, and ‘70s. But even though we cannot deny the popularity, and performance advantage currently held by supercars, hypercars, and EVs over the modern muscle car, we can still boldly state that all the success and development these modern cars enjoy today was drawn from the successes and failures of the American muscle cars.

Times have changed and with it, our focus. The average American doesn’t only want speed and horsepower, the average American wants a sweet, luxurious car that’s fast but also emission-free. And even though muscle cars of today still have a long way to go, we acknowledge the fact that their evolution is worthy of praise.

So take a look below and see how muscle cars, in general, have changed over the years.

15 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88

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The Rocket 88 is the car that began the reign of muscle cars in America. The car was styled like a rocket and carried a V8 engine that could generate 135 HP and 238 LB-FT of Torque, small figures now, but back then it was revolutionary and the American population embraced this 97 MPH car that takes 13 seconds to reach 60 MPH with pure joy. The Rocket 88 was the first car that started it all.

14 1955 Chrysler C-300

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Chrysler quickly released the first muscle car with an engine that supplied 300 HP and moved with a top speed of 130 MPH and 60 MPH in 9.8 seconds. 1,725 units of the Chrysler C-300 were sold, and we weren’t surprised to learn that these Chryslers ruled stock car racing during their time. Chrysler’s innovation would be the push other manufacturers needed to raise the muscle car performance bar.

13 1964 Pontiac GTO

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Pontiac sold 32,450 units of the ’64 Pontiac GTO and became the most illustrious muscle car of its time. Pontiac released this car with an engine that generated 348 HP and 428 LB-FT of Torque that enabled the car to make 60 MPH in 6.6 seconds. The GTO was sold at a base price of $2,852.

RELATED: The Real Reason Gearheads Love Restoring Old Pontiac GTOs

12 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner

A Brown 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner
Mecum Auctions

When the iconic Plymouth Roadrunner was unleashed in 1968, the American population thronged after this car not just for its performance but because of its affordable price. The roadrunner could reach 60 MPH in 5.3 seconds, all thanks to an engine that generated 335 HP and had a top speed of 105 MPH. All these performances were offered at $2,870

11 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM

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By the start of the ‘70s, the American muscle car industry would suffer one of their deadliest setbacks, and it came in the form of the oil price embargo, emission control laws, and the quick rise of muscle car insurance. The Pontiac Firebird Trans AM was released during this time and despite the odds, it still stood out, becoming one of the best muscle cars of its time. The Pontiac’s styling was great and the performance was supplied by a 225 HP generating engine that could push the car up to 120 MPH in 7.3 seconds.

10 1982 Chevy Camaro

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When Chevy released the Camaro in ’82, it sold 173,000 units. But although the ’82 Camaro had a sweet look, it was lacking any serious performance. One of its three engines, a 2.5 liter Iron Duke I-4 only produced a disappointing 90 HP and 132 LB-FT of Torque, much weaker than the very first muscle car.

9 1987 Buick Regal GNX

GNX
Via classics.autotrader.com

The 70s and 80s were the worst years for muscle cars, seeing that the emissions laws kept getting stricter as the year went on. The gloomy-looking ’87 Buick GNX was a really heavy car that could manage a sprint at 125 MPH. Its V6 engine generated just 245 HP and 355 LB-FT of Torque and it cost $16.617.

RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Buick GNX

8 1992 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM

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The 1992 Firebird had very little similarities with its ’74 ancestor. The design of the ’92 Firebird was a perfect representation of how muscle cars adapted to the changing times in the auto industry. Sports cars were already becoming popular and the Firebird's top speed of 137 MPH was already a clear sign that the era of muscle cars was coming to an end.

7 1997 Dodge Viper GTS

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The 1997 Dodge Viper was a smart step that showed everyone that muscle car could adapt to the times. The Dodge Viper had a sporty look and could generate 185 MPH. this muscle car flaunts its performance against other high performing sports cars. The 1997 Dodge is definitely a great muscle car to own.

6 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra

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By the turn of the new century muscle cars were stronger and better than their predecessors, having survived the emission laws these cars featured improved comfort, something earlier muscle cars lacked, they were stylish and could run very fast. The Ford Mustang Cobra was a muscle car that stood tall among its peers. It carries a V8 that produces 385 HP, 385 LB-FT, and a top speed of 170 MPH.

5 2005 Ford Mustang

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The 2005 Ford Mustang GT was a muscle car in looks and blood. Its exterior looks could be easily traced back to its ‘60s and ‘70s ancestry. The Mustang’s engine could generate enough power to reach a top speed of 140 MPH and also complete a 0-60 MPH sprint in 5.5 seconds.

RELATED: Hardcore Ford Mustang Mach 1 Set To Return In 2021

4 2010 Chevy Camaro

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The 2010 Chevy Camaro still maintained the classic muscle car shape, its performance remained top of the line and the Camaro brand was an established success when it came to high performing cars. The 2010 Camaro’s speed reaches 170 MPH and can reach 60 MPH in 4 seconds. This Camaro remains a daily driver for many.

3 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

motor1.com

The 2016 Dodge Charger doesn’t really have that aggressive look that later models would come to embrace but it still packs enough performance to challenge any rival. The engine of the 2016 Charger rains hell on the tracks with 707 HP and a top speed of 204 MPH. But be aware that this racer is very thirsty.

2 2020 Ford Mustang GT500

whichcar.com.au

The 2020 Ford Mustang GT500 remains one of the most powerful muscle cars of our time. The super-aggressive exterior is a clear testament to this car's power. The GT500 stands strong and delivers a remarkable performance from a powerful V8 engine that propels the car to an electronically limited top speed of 180 MPH while generating 760 HP and 625 LB-FT of Torque. Say hello to the most illustrious muscle car of 2020.

1 2020 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

caranddriver.com

The engine of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat is really powerful, generating an incredible 797 HP and 707 LB-FT of Torque. This astonishing muscle car delivers a glimpse of its aggressive power in a sprint to 60 MPH in 3.5 seconds and flaunting a top speed of 199 MPH. The challenger is one of the fastest GT production muscle cars in the world.

NEXT: The Evolution Of The Sports Car...And How They Became So Fast