Muscle cars are renowned for many things, including their performance, good looks, and loud and thrilling V8 engines. In particular, looks are definitely an important factor in the success of a muscle car. Indeed, the sporty styling paired with an imposingly large body and the eye-catching nature all makes plenty of muscle cars incredibly appealing.
No owner really wants a muscle car that looks boring or slow, as this would go against everything that muscle cars stand for. As such, we bring you the most attractive muscle cars since the 1950s. There are many to choose from and there were plenty of good contenders, but these are the best of the best.
8 1950s - Chrysler 300C
The Chrysler 300C was a part of the Chrysler 300 letter series one of the earliest muscle cars. The car was launched in 1955, and there were under 2000 of these vehicles made meaning they aren't easy to come by nowadays. The car was aimed at being a race car for NASCAR and as such was fast. Coming with a 5.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, the car produced 300 hp which made it an incredible car for the 1950s, while the 1956 model came with 355 hp, making it the most powerful production car in the US.
Coming with other performance features that made it work so well, including stiffer suspension and a performance exhaust system, the car was nicely suited to racing. However, it was also renowned for being an exceptionally good-looking car. While the car made use of many already existing parts, the vehicle looked nice and it surely dominated the roads because of this. As such, it makes the car the best-looking muscle car of the 1950s, even though there were few to compare it to at this time.
7 1960s - Ford Mustang Shelby 350 GT
The first generation of the Ford Mustang Shelby 350 GT was launched in 1965 and is the lightest and smallest of the 350 GT cars available. Often called the 'Cobra', the Shelby 350 GT came with the Cobra emblem and optional Cobra valve covers. Also being produced as a performance car, it wasn't the most comfortable to sit in or drive, but it was an outstanding vehicle that looked good and performed just as good too. Coming with a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produced 271 hp with a modified option that came with 306 hp, the car was great in terms of power, and the higher rise manifolds and upgraded disc brakes, the car was definitely suited to performance.
In terms of looks, the Ford Mustang Shelby 350 GT had a very sporty look to it, with the iconic stripe decals running nicely over the body. Indeed, the Shelby 350 GT looked like a true muscle car. Also, the vehicle became more luxurious as time went on, allowing for more comfort which made the car more appealing to buyers. The styling has gone on to produce the base for many Shelby Mustang cars, most recently in the 2020 Ford Shelby GT500.
6 1970s - Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda
The Plymouth Hemi Barracuda, or the Hemi 'Cuda, is one of the most iconic Plymouth muscle cars to ever hit the market. Coming with a 7.0-liter Hemi V8 engine that produces 425 hp, the car was a reflection of the big engine choices which are placed in many big muscle cars like this one. Indeed, it is everything that people thought a muscle car should be, including the noise and the amount of gas that the 'Cuda would drink.
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In terms of styling, the Hemi 'Cuda was outstanding. The bright color options make it an eye-catching vehicle and so does the large size of the car. Its sporty styling and cool shape make it a true early 1970s muscle car.
5 1980s - Buick GNX
Any car that resembles Darth Vader is going to be a good looker, especially when it has the power to back up these good looks. The Buick GNX remains a cool and villainous-looking car from a decade not renowned for high performance. Based on the Buick Regal, each GNX was painted black, featured 16-inch Mesh wheels, and received additional side vents.
Performance was provided by McLaren, who took the standard Grand National and added a Garrett turbocharger among other upgrades to bring power to over 300 hp (Buick underrated performance at 276 hp). The GNX is a highly regarded 1980s muscle car and one of the most stylish cars of the decade.
4 1990s - Ford Mustang Cobra R
The 1990s were not a high-point of American automotive design. Brands were becoming more ambitious with designs but they weren't exactly regarded as pretty, take the fourth-generation Camaro as a prime example. One muscle car that did continue to look good however was the Ford Mustang, more specifically the SVT Cobra R.
This took the fourth-generation Mustang and prepared it for racing. Featuring an SVT-tuned Windsor V8 that produced 300 hp the Cobra R also made use of extensive weight-saving features including a fiberglass hood and delegation of the radio, aircon, and rear seats. It's a cool-looking muscle car and the best the '90s had to offer.
3 2000s - Chevrolet Camaro SS
It's pretty safe to say that the 90's Camaro was never a looker. Indeed, the Catfish Camaro appeared to be the ruination of the nameplate when production ended and no successor was announced in 2002. Thankfully the Camaro nameplate was revived for 2010 (and went on sale in 2009) and it was an absolute stunner.
Far sharper than the fourth-generation Camaro and featuring a body shape reminiscent of the original Camaro, this muscle car quickly became an icon and enjoyed good sales. It was everything a muscle car should be, good looking, powerful, and well priced. A movie tie-in with the revived Transformers film also helped the Camaro look even cooler.
2 2010s - Dodge Challenger Demon
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was released in 2018 and was the Challenger SRT Hellcat performance variant. Coming with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 808 hp through the addition of a supercharger, the Challenger SRT Demon definitely meant business. It is lighter than the Hellcat model, by 215 lb and it uses drag strip tires, making it perfect for high-performance driving and racing. This is especially shown through its 0-60 mph time of 2.3 seconds.
In terms of looks, the Challenger SRT Demon looks incredibly sporty and it looks very much like the extreme car that it is. The car is also available in wide-body form, allowing for the car to be bigger and even more dominating than it already was. It certainly is the most attractive muscle car from the 2010s and it has been loved by many muscle car enthusiasts because of its power and looks.
1 2020s - Ford Shelby Mustang GT500
Also known as the Ford Performance third-generation Shelby Mustang GT500, this car is one of the best performing muscle cars on the market today. The vehicle comes with a hand-built 5.2-liter aluminum-alloy V8 engine that also comes with a 2.6-liter supercharger. Overall, the car produces 760 hp and the Shelby GT500SE update brings an extra 40 hp, producing 800 hp. The vehicle is unavailable in Europe due to its engine, showing just how powerful the Shelby Mustang GT500 is and that it is quite an exclusive car.
Not only is the car a brilliant vehicle in terms of performance and power, but it is also great looking. It is big and domineering, as a muscle car should be and it looks incredibly sporty, showing off just how performance-based the car is. Coming in several colors too, the bright green and red colors show off just how cool the vehicle is. The car also comes with a nice cobra logo on the grille and side, adding to its overall appeal.