4. 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360
The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 was a compact muscle car that ingeniously integrated a 360-cubic-inch V8 engine into an economy car chassis. (musclecars.howstuffworks.com) Standard models featured a two-barrel carburetor producing 245 horsepower, while the optional “Go” package, priced at $199, included a four-barrel carburetor and ram-air induction, boosting output to 285 horsepower. (motor-car.net) This combination enabled the SC/360 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 6.7 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds at 95 mph. (motor-car.net) Despite its impressive performance, only 784 units were produced, making it a rare and noteworthy example of compact muscle engineering. (musclecars.howstuffworks.com)