If you’re looking for the origin of speed, glorious speed, then the first place to begin your search would be with classic cars, specifically classic muscle cars. Muscle cars have been known to stand out from the pack because of their breathtaking speed and performance. Muscle cars are often small and compact cars that carry engines of remarkable strength under their hood.
Inarguably muscle cars were the super and hypercars of the past. During the time of their prominence, they set and broke countless speed records. Currently, the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, a muscle car, holds the record for The Fastest Car to do the Quarter Mile, beating the Bugatti Veyron Super Sports with 9.65 seconds to the Veyron’s 9.7 seconds.
The classic muscle cars are obviously not so far behind when it comes to performance, seeing that their greatness led to the creation and evolution of both supercars and modern muscle cars. Here are some of the fastest classic cars to the quarter-mile.
15 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda – 14.0 Seconds
Back in the day, Plymouth was a brand known for delivering muscle cars that have enough speed and incredible performance. This 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda can complete a quarter-mile lap in 14.0 seconds and can run at a top speed of 117 MPH, all thanks to its 426 Hemi engine.
14 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet – 13.9 Seconds
Mustangs of the ‘60s were the ideal pony cars and although it was true that Mustangs of the time had lagged behind some of Plymouth’s and Chevy’s pony cars when it came to performance, the ’69 Mustang was built to change history with an engine that generated 335 HP and allowed the mustang to reach a quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds on a speed of 103 MPH.
13 1963 Dodge Ram Charger – 13.8 Seconds
Even though this car may not look like it, its V8 engine is very capable and can generate 415 HP and 470 LB-FT of Torque which translates to a top speed of 126 MPH and a quarter-mile time of 13.8 seconds. So next time you see a Dodge Ram Charger running, do well to steer clear of its way.
12 1996 Camaro Z28 SS – 13.7 Seconds
The 1996 Camaro Z28 SS was a muscle car that could not only be trusted to go the distance but to go fast. This classic muscle car was able to make a quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds at 106 MPH all thanks to its Stock LT1 engine that generated enough horsepower to make this muscle car one of the fastest muscle cars of its time.
11 1966 Chevy Corvette 427 – 13.4 Seconds
Chevy Corvettes have been known for their brilliant performance, something they all seem to have inherited from their muscle car ancestors like the 1967 Corvette which was able to crank out 425 HP and run a quarter-mile lap in 13.4 seconds and at an incredible speed of 105 MPH.
10 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner 426 Hemi - 13.3 Seconds
The 1969 Roadrunner’s Hemi engine generates 425 HP and 490 LB-FT, and just like a true muscle car, your car would need to be able to run a quarter-mile faster than 13.3 seconds if its ever going to have a chance of catching up to the Plymouth Roadrunner 426 Hemi.
9 1997 Chevy SLP Camaro SS LT4 – 13.2 Seconds
The 1997 Camaro SLP could run 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds and complete a quarter-mile lap in 13.2 seconds. The engine of the SLP Camaro could produce 330 HP and 344 LB-FT of Torque enabling this muscular car to crush a quarter-mile with 108.8 MPH, so just make sure you’re not in the way of this Camaro.
8 1992 Viper RT/10 – 13.1 Seconds
The 1992 Viper RT/10 is a muscle car that proudly runs the track with an astonishing maximum speed of 184 MPH. The Viper strikes a quarter-mile lap of 13.1 seconds and it achieves this feat while running at a crazy 108 MPH. Its truly amazing that despite the strict emission laws, the Viper was able to deliver such a great performance.
7 1992 Pontiac Firehawk SLP – 13.0 Seconds
This feisty street-legal performance car’s performance topped the chart in its time. It completed a quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds at a speed of 106 MPH making it one of the fastest muscle cars to the quarter-mile. the engine of the SLP Firehawk had been upgraded and so it could confidently generate 350 HP and 390 LB-FT of Torque.
6 1984 Chevy Corvette - 12.8 Seconds
The Corvette C4 was quick to recover from the strict emission laws that had tied many muscle cars down. The ’84 Corvette C4 entered the game with an engine that produced 375 HP which allowed the Vette to make a quarter-mile lap in 12.8 seconds at an incredible 113.8 MPH.
5 1962 Shelby Cobra 427 - 12.6 Seconds
Shelby Cobra ranks among the highest performing muscle cars. Carroll Shelby must have poured his heart and soul into the creation of this amazing masterpiece. The Cobra, a 1962 muscle car runs 60 MPH in 4.1 seconds and completes a quarter-mile lap in 12.2 seconds. Speed like this is definitely an amazing feat for a classic car.
4 1997 Dodge Viper GTS – 12.1 Seconds
If you were ever in need of a high-performance classic muscle car, then one of the best cars to look at would be with the 1997 Dodge Viper. This masterpiece can put its massive V10 engine to work and cross a quarter-mile in 12.1 seconds with a breakneck speed of 119.1 MPH.
3 1967 Chevy L88 Corvette Stingray Convertible – 11.2 Seconds
The Chevy Corvette L88 is a sleek classic convertible that doesn’t hesitate to fly the flag of performance. Something it does relatively easy with its 430 HP generating V8 engine that provides a top speed of 151 MPH and can equally blast the ’67 Corvette to 60 MPH in 5.8 seconds and a quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds.
2 1969 Corvette ZL-1 – 10.6 Seconds
This awesome Corvette was the best performing Corvette of the ‘60s. This car packed an engine that generated an official 430 HP but was known to be able to push the bar to 550 HP. With such incredible power, the ZL-1 was able to run a quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds with a blinding speed of 132 MPH.
1 1965 Plymouth Belvedere – 12.7 Seconds
The Plymouth Belvedere was a car that needed to be strong, durable, and fast. The car became famous for its performance as a police car. It could run a quarter-mile in 12.69 seconds at a sweet speed of 111.97 MPH, all thanks to its V8 engine that generates 415 HP and 470 LB-FT of Torque.