Home Cars 10 Muscle Cars With Forced Induction

Cars

10 Muscle Cars With Forced Induction

Vukasin Herbez April 16, 2025

We all know that the recipe for a muscle car is simple—a big, naturally-aspirated V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, and a sleek body that emphasizes performance image. However, throughout the history of the segment and in a relentless quest for speed, car manufacturers presented cars with forced induction systems, enhancing power and torque. Although rare, those models are impressive and valuable parts of the segment. Let’s see what the ten most memorable are.

1. Oldsmobile Jetfire

1962-1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire — Photo Credit: Hot Rod

Unfortunately, the Oldsmobile Jetfire is an essential model in automotive history that never got the respect it deserved. Along with the Chevrolet Corvair Monza, it was the first turbocharged passenger car. For the standards of the day, the Jetfire V8 was state-of-the-art technology, and initially, the market was very interested.

63 Olds F85 Jetfire 3 — Photo Credit: Barn Finds

The new V8 delivered 215 hp, which was one hp per cubic inch, making it one of the best performance cars of the day. It was almost as fast as the Corvette, with a 0 to 60 mph time of around 8 seconds.

NEXT >>

2. Pontiac Trans Am Turbo

1977 Pontiac Trans Am — Photo Credit: Barrett Jackson

The second-generation F-Body Firebird was introduced in 1970, and by the late ’70s, it was one of the dominant cars in the segment. Unfortunately, the days of big cube motors and high horsepower ratings were gone, so Pontiac decided to invest in new technology to generate power. That new technology was turbocharging, and in late 1979, it introduced the Trans Am Turbo.

1979 Pontiac 034 Smokey And The Bandit 034 Trans Am 7 — Photo Credit: Mecum

The engine in question was a 301 V8 with a Garrett turbocharger bolted onto it. The power output was relatively modest at 200 to 210 HP, but the torque was high at 340 lb-ft, resulting in a hint of performance.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

3. Ford Mustang SVO

Ford Mustang Svo 44 — Photo Credit: Ford

The Fox-body Mustang was sleeker, more modern, and aerodynamic than its predecessors and revolutionized the range. It was also somewhat lighter and more nimble, which reflected the performance. However, the biggest news was the introduction of the turbo engine, a very modern device for the time.

Ford’s SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) department introduced a special Mustang SVO for 1984, featuring a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 175 hp. It was quite the power output for a small engine.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

4. Chevrolet Corvette C4 Callaway Sledgehammer

1988 Callaway Sledgehammercorvette 0 1536 — Photo Credit: Bring a Trailer

Rives Callaway established Callaway Cars in 1977, long after the muscle car craze had ended and high horsepower performance machines were a thing of the past. He specialized in producing turbocharger kits, which were installed chiefly on European cars.

1988 Callaway Sledgehammer ZR1 Corvette — Photo Credit: Motor Trend

To show the twin-turbo C4’s real potential, Callaway made the legendary Sledgehammer Corvette, a highly modified and heavily turbocharged 1988 Corvette with 898 HP and a top speed of over 250 mph.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

5. Buick GNX

Autowp.ru Buick Gnx 13 — Foto Credit: Mecum

Nobody expected such a bold move from Buick. After all, Buick was a company for old people, producing cars without any excitement. And all of a sudden, there was a turbocharged V6 coupe that broke every classic muscle car mold and was faster than a Ferrari.

Autowp.ru Buick Gnx 12 — Foto Credit: Mecum

At that moment, the Buick GNX was the fastest-accelerating production model in the world. It featured the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 with 275 hp and 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. It’s too bad that Buick made just 547 examples of this extraordinarily influential car.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

6. Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

Mustang Svt Cobra Coupe 6 — Photo Credit: Ford

Ford had a problem with the 1999 Cobra, and it turned out that the cars delivered significantly less power than the advertised 320 hp. So, in 2003, they decided to make amends with the SVT Cobra, which featured a supercharged V8 and 390 hp.

Ford Mustang Svt Cobra Coupe 96 — Photo Credit: Ford

Even though the 390 hp was more than enough to beat the competitors, the 2003/4 was underrated, and its real power was almost 450 hp. The SVT Cobra was the first modern Mustang with independent rear suspension (the first for a production Mustang), insane power, and performance.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

7. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

2019 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 1le — Photo Credit: GM

As you know, the ZL-1 was a unique 427 V8-powered drag beast from 1969, and its 2012 counterpart follows the same formula. Chevrolet took GM’s biggest and most powerful engine—a 6.2-liter supercharged V8—and stuffed it into the Camaro.

The result was 580 hp street terror with highly advanced Magnetic Ride suspension, performance Goodyear tires, Brembo brakes, and more.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

8. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Will Smiths Ford Mustang Shelby Gt500 From I Am Legend For Sale At A Discount 147816 1 — Photo Credit: Ford

The first Mustang to wear the Shelby name in almost 40 years was the 2007 model. The SVT department that conceived the Cobra R models consulted with Carroll Shelby. And it sounded terrifying, thanks to the new 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with 500 HP and 480 lb-ft of torque.

Shelby Gt500 Svt 91 — Photo Credit: Ford

This was the first production Mustang to break the magic 500 HP barrier, making it the most powerful muscle car at the time.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

9. Cadillac CTS-V

2015 Cadillac Cts V Coupe — Photo Credit: GM

Under the hood was a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 556 hp, making the CTS-V the most potent performance sedan on the market. The suspension and the rest of the drivetrain were advanced and up to the task, so the CTS-V was considered a full package and one of the best driver’s cars available.

With a 556 HP LS9 V8 engine and a 0 to 60 mph time of just 3.8 seconds, the second-generation CTS-V was one of the fastest four-door vehicles on the planet and a true muscle car sedan.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

10. Dodge Challenger Hellcat

2014 Dodge presented the Hellcat, and the car community went wild. After all, the reaction was expected since the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 707 hp is a proper monster of a muscle car that shouldn’t be released on the streets. But Dodge did just that, allowing the general public to buy one of the fastest and most powerful muscle cars ever built.

2015 Dodge Challenger Srt Hellcat — Photo Credit: Dodge

Only when you press the throttle and unleash the fury of 707 supercharged horses can you feel the brutality of the Hellcat package and all the power being sent to the rear wheels? The 0 to 60 mph times are in the high 3-second range, and the car can top 200 mph.

<< Previous