Classic muscle cars are all about power and torque. Poor fuel economy is not an aspect that needs to be considered. If it was, many of the machines that had monstrous engines would not have ever been manufactured. Not to mention the cars that have been modified to the max.
Many names stand out from the past. Corvettes that had a unique look and sound. Hemi’s that pushed out more power than most people ever need. And of course, the cars that we all know and love to tinker with to get the most power that we can out of the motor, and the torque to the tires to make it worth the effort.
Here are the top 10 muscle cars that came out of the factory with some massive amounts of power.
10 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
The Judge. Nobody likes to see one unless it is this beast. This muscle car came into existence towards the end of the engine wars. It came as an option for those power-hungry people that also wanted some semblance of fuel economy. “Here comes the Judge” was a mantra that would quickly make its way into history.
The GTO Judge had a couple of options when it came to the engine, but the 6.6L big block is the one to look at. It could produce 370 hp, with many people saying it was closer to 400 hp. The torque from front to back was "only" 445 lb-ft, which is why the car's drag times were not at the top. The Judge could roll through the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at a finishing speed of 97.8 mph. Not too bad, but definitely not up to speed with the top dogs of the time.
9 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
The Cougar Eliminator was one of those muscle cars that was forgotten due to all the other more popular models available. The suspension on these cars was upgraded from the original versions to offset the 428-cobra jet that was neatly stashed under the hood.
The Mercury could push out around 355 hp with a noticeable 440 lb-ft of power to the tires. When on the track its extra bid of weight shows, only being able to run the quarter in 14.4 seconds with the final speed being 99.8mph. It did not match up to the Mustang of the time with the same engine, so within 2 years this beast was pulled from the market.
8 1970 Plymouth Barracuda 426 Hemi
The reason all the other car makers brought on huge motors in bigger cars is because of 426 Hemi that could be found in the Plymouth Barracuda. This car had its start back in the ‘60s but did not have muscle car enthusiasts take interest until 1970. Now, it is a collectible that can bring some big money at auction.
To get down to the brass tacks of things, the 426 Hemi pushes out an impressive 425 hp and had a torque of 490 lb-ft. Not many cars had a chance against the Hemi Barracuda. It put up numbers at the strip that made it hard for the competition. The Plymouth would finish the quarter-mile in 14 seconds at a speed of 102 mph. A good jump off the line and this car could beat most of its competition.
7 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
The 429 Boss Mustang is one of the rarest muscle cars today. When it first came into production it was designed for the racetrack, but the muscle car wars were raging on, so Ford threw it up for grabs for street use. Less than 4000 of them were manufactured, which is more than some of the others listed here, but it is a monster that is still sought after today.
The 429 big block could shoot the car down the strip at a final speed of 103.1 mph. The car would sprint down the track in 14 seconds flat. The 'Stang was rated at 450 lb-ft of torque and had a horsepower rating of 375, which is claimed to be on the low side. It was only produced for a couple of years so finding one of these muscle cars may be difficult.
6 1970 Oldsmobile 442
Oldsmobile had struggled throughout the years when trying to compete with the big dogs, until this year. The old engine that had numerous issues was replaced with the big block 445. And living up to the reputation of changing the looks of these rides, Oldsmobile replaced the black grille up front with chrome bars, and they added four lights onto the back, instead of two.
The 445 may sound like a beast of a motor, and in all aspects it is. The engine would produce 370 hp and would generate up to 500 lb-ft of torque. The power generated to the rear wheels would propel this car down the strip in a matter of 13.9 seconds. The ending speed for the race was 103.3 mph, which puts it right up there at the top of the list.
5 1969 Dodge Charger 440 Six Pack
The ’69 Charger came with a few engine options, one being the same Hemi that came in the ‘Cuda. The engine that sticks in the mind of most car enthusiasts is the Six Pack car. The 440 Six Pack had a sound all to its own, and it started the concept of the dual carb monsters that are built for the racetracks.
The Six Pack could deliver 390 hp straight from the factory, with a torque rated at 490 lb-ft. The dual carbs gave it the performance needed when on the track, allowing the Charger to rip down the track in 13.8 seconds at a finishing speed of 104.2mph. The Hemi was slightly slower, but when looking at the difference in torque it is easy to see why.
4 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZR2
As with other years, the Stingray was one of the top contenders in the days when muscle cars ruled supreme. Very few ZR2 cars were ever produced, so this ride is not only fast but rare as well. It was designed with an improved drivetrain and upgraded brakes to accommodate the power that the 454 big block puts out.
Even though this was the same motor that was placed in the Chevelle, it only had a rating of 425 hp. What catches the eye is the amount of torque that this monster had. The massive engine spun the wheels with 644 lb-ft of torque, and the car ate the quarter-mile up in 13.8 seconds at a speed of 104.7 mph. Almost good enough to make it the top dog, but not quite.
3 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The ’69 ZL1 was another one of the cars that came into existence for stock car racing. The ones that were circulated into the mainstream public were outfitted with the biggest motor ever produced for street use. The massive 427 aluminum big-block was a one-of-a-kind, and as such deserves the place that it has around the top of the list.
The Camaro could easily gain speeds of up to 150 mph due to the ZL1 engine that pushed out 430 hp with 403 lb-ft of torque. The strip was blown through in 13.2 seconds at a speed of 110.6 mph. The Camaro is one of the names that muscle car enthusiasts take notice of, especially the '69.
2 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
When it comes to Chevy vehicles, the SS emblem is a sign of a creature built to tear up the streets and spit out anyone crazy enough to tempt the owner into a street race. When the big block 454 is added into the mix, a beast is created. The LS6 engine, more commonly known as the 454, only came in a few of these cars.
This engine in the Chevelle SS had the most power straight from the factory when compared with the other muscle on the road. It produced a thundering 450 horsepower alongside 500 lb-ft of torque. It would run the quarter-mile in a mere 13.1 seconds at a finishing speed of 107.5 mph. Not bad for a stock machine.
1 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
If the selling price of this car at auction is not enough to turn heads the style will. The 5.5 million price tag shows how rare this car is, and how much it is coveted. The stock 427 had two superchargers on top of it, which can be intimating to anyone trying to match up.
The Super Snake could hurdle down the strip in 12.4 seconds, making it the very top dog. The car itself could reach over 200 mph at top speed, which is enough to make the biggest adrenaline junkie smile. The torque of this beauty was 480 lb-ft and it could rip out 800 hp. Hold on tight when the gas is hammered down in this car.
Final Thoughts
Big block engines crashed onto the scene and took over the streets and tracks, burning through tire after tire, guzzling gas like it was water, and roaring through in the way that only a huge motor can. When these beasts rolled onto the scene with their monstrous motors under the hood, people stood up and paid attention.
Muscle cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s used to rule the roads. Some of them can even give the newer vehicles a run for their money. As for cost, the auction numbers speak for themselves. No new car on the market can bring as much money as some of the rare muscle cars that have been forgotten in fields and barns across the country.