American cars have always had a reputation for poor build quality, unreliability, and generally being inferior, particularly when compared to European cars. However, once in a while, an American automaker builds a model that's so good that it can rival anything from Europe when it comes to looks, performance, and even price.
Of course, these special models are idolized by every American gearhead, which is why they pull insane prices at auctions. In this article, we'll explore ten superb American classic cars we'd blow all our savings on.
10 Ford GT40
The GT40 is undoubtedly one of the greatest Ford models ever, if not the greatest. The GT40 was developed out of Henry Ford's desire to get revenge on Enzo Ferrari, who had pulled out of a takeover deal.
Ford decided to hit Ferrari where it hurt most by developing a car that could end the Italian marque's dominance at Le Mans. The GT40 became a huge success, ending Ferrari's winning streak at Le Mans and repeating it three years in a row.
9 Shelby Cobra Super Snake
The Shelby Cobra is an absolute legend in the auto industry, as it shows how good a US-Britain partnership can be. However, as awesome as the Cobra was, its creator, the legendary Carroll Shelby, didn't think it was powerful enough to be his personal vehicle. So in the late '60s, Shelby built the Cobra Super Snake.
The Super Snake is a Cobra on steroids. Equipped with a monstrous 7.0-liter twin-supercharged V8 pushing out 800 horses, the Cobra Super Snake could hit 200 mph, a crazy figure in the '60s. Only one Cobra Super Snake survives today.
8 1969 Camaro ZL1
The Camaro has always been one of the most popular American muscle cars, which is why it's still in production five decades after its introduction. Of all Camaros ever made, the 1969 ZL1 is the most desirable.
The 1969 Camaro ZL1 was a limited edition model sold through Chevy's Central Office Production Orders department. Equipped with an all-aluminum 7.0-liter V8 developed specifically for drag racing, the 1969 Camaro ZL1 was a beast. With only 69 units built, this car is incredibly rare and expensive.
7 Dodge Viper
Dodge shocked everyone in the early '90s when it built the Viper. After two decades of horrible performance cars, the Viper was like a breath of fresh air for the American auto industry, as it showed that Americans could compete with Europeans in the sports car market.
The Viper's combination of a beautiful design, mighty V10 power, and affordability earned it many fans, which is why it stayed in production for almost three decades. With the Viper discontinued, prices will only go up.
6 Vector W8
Dodge wasn't the only American automaker trying to take on the Europeans in the high-end sports car market in the '90s. Little-known Vector Motors Corporation also tried it with one of the greatest American sports cars most gearheads haven't heard of, the W8.
The W8 was a huge hit, largely thanks to its Lamborghini-rivaling futuristic wedge-shaped design. It also had tons of power to play with, thanks to a huge twin-turbocharged V8 engine belting out 625 hp. Only 17 W8s were ever made.
5 Buick GNX
In the late '80s, Buick wanted to build the ultimate muscle car to show that it could also make fast cars. To ensure success, Buick partnered with McLaren and turned the Grand National into the fear-inducing GNX.
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Although it was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, the GNX was all muscle. Thanks to McLaren's magic, the GNX produced 300 hp, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds.
4 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Although Pontiac is dead, we'll always remember it fondly for giving us one of the greatest muscle cars ever, the GTO. Although the GTO wasn't the first car that fit the muscle car description, most gearheads consider it to be the first proper muscle car and the template that other manufacturers used when building their muscle cars.
Of all the GTO models that exist, the 1969 Judge is the most desirable and expensive. A gorgeous design, wide tires, unique details, and mighty Ram Air IV V8 producing just under 400 hp made the 1969 Judge a collector's dream.
3 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
The second-generation Corvette has to be one of the greatest model upgrades of all time. The C2's new shark-inspired design with the iconic split-window rear end earned it a spot on every beautiful cars list.
The 1963 Corvette was also a much better car to drive than its predecessor. It had up to 360 hp on tap, was lighter, and had better handling than the C1. Since the Split-Window Sting Ray was built for only one year, it can sell for crazy figures at auctions.
2 1955 Ford Thunderbird
When Chevy introduced the Corvette in the early '50s, Ford couldn't just sit back and let its rivals have all the glory. So, in 1955, Ford rolled up its sleeves and built a worthy competitor, the Thunderbird.
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The Thunderbird was an instant hit. It arguably looked better than the Corvette and had 3 more horsepower than the Vette. We don't know why Ford decided to do away with the two-seat Thunderbird after 1955, but that decision has made it a pricey collectible.
1 Dodge Charger Daytona
After a disappointing 1968 NASCAR season, Dodge knew it needed to up the ante if it was going to improve the next season. So in 1969, Dodge built one of the most iconic NASCAR cars ever, the Charger Daytona.
The Charger Daytona was based on the 1969 Charger R/T but was equipped with an elaborate body kit with a massive rear wing to boost aerodynamics. Equipped with a monstrous 7.2-liter V8 generating up to 425 ponies, the Charger Daytona was super quick.