We all know that the bona fide muscle cars are two-door coupes or convertibles. However, every once in a while, Detroit produced four-door vehicles that could carry that name. Such models were often understated but powerful enough to beat the foreign sports cars at the stoplight drags. Today, we will remember the 10 best muscle cars with four doors.
1. Hudson Hornet
In 1951, Hudson introduced the Hornet, a full-size sedan with an affordable price and a few interesting features. First was a sleek design with a sloping roofline, which made Hornets look longer, wider, and sportier. Second was the all-new “Step down” construction, which merged the chassis and body into one structure, helping Hornets achieve a lower center of gravity and better handling. The third important feature was an improved straight eight-cylinder engine with 308 CID and up to 170 HP on tap.
All of this gave the Hornet a big advantage on the race tracks, and Hudson dominated NASCAR races from 1951 to 1954, becoming one of the biggest legends of the sport. In comparison to other models, the Hornet handled better, and the big straight 8 engine had a lot of torque, which helped with performance.
2. Rambler Rebel V8
This is a very interesting early muscle car that was born by chance. Squeezing a 327 V8 engine from Nash Ambassador into a small, compact, and light Rambler body created one seriously fast yet unassuming muscle machine.
The 327 V8 delivered 255 HP, which wasn’t that much, but it was enough in the compact Rambler’s body for a 0 to 60 mph time of just 7 seconds. To make things even more interesting, only the expensive fuel-injected Chevrolet Corvette could beat the small Rambler in 1957. However, the powerful engine option raised the price of an affordable Rambler, and there were just a few buyers ready to pay extra for the privilege of outrunning anything else on the road, so only 1500 were made.
3. Ford Galaxie 428
Like the Chevrolet Impala, Ford’s Galaxie was the Blue Oval’s most crucial series, with high production numbers, many versions, and broad appeal. However, Ford seemed to be on the back of the design trend and still featured heavily chromed models with late ’50s styling cues in 1964. So, for the 1965 model year, the all-new Galaxie was introduced with stacked headlights, fresh sheet metal, and more versions and options than ever.
The most popular were base trim models like the Galaxie Custom. Still, Ford also offered a Galaxie 500 LTD, a luxury version featuring a vinyl roof, upscale details, and creature comforts. In 1965, Ford offered a 427 V8 engine as an option. The V8 in question was not the famed Cobra Jet but the engine from the Thunderbird with 345 underrated horsepower. With over 460 lb-ft of torque, the Galaxie could go despite its size and weight.
4. Chevrolet Impala SS
However, as the muscle car era ended, the Impala SS was discontinued, only to be resurrected in 1994 as an option on the 7th generation of this legendary model. Since the early ’90s marked the return to performance for most American manufacturers, Chevrolet installed the famous 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine in the full-size rear-wheel drive sedan, equipped with heavy-duty suspension and components, and created a modern-day muscle legend.
For two years, Chevrolet produced almost 70,000 Impala SS models in several colors, with dark purple being the most popular and sought-after. The engine delivered 260 HP and propelled the big sedan to a 0 to 60 mph time of 7 seconds. Not exactly spectacular numbers, but for the mid-90s, those were quite good results.
5. Mercury Marauder
Although the Grand Marquis was never intended to be a performance car, Mercury decided to turn it into one by installing a highly tuned 4.6-liter V8 with 302 hp, revised suspension, gearbox, and brakes. These changes turned this sleepy and comfy sedan into a sharp muscle car.
The black paint (one of three colors available) gave the Marauder menacing looks and an aggressive stance, differentiating it from more sedate cousins. The performance was good for big and heavy sedans, with a 0 to 60 mph time of around 7 seconds. But the most significant asset was its appearance, and just the sight of a big black sedan in your rearview mirror made most people move over.
6. Pontiac G8
Pontiac thought that a rear-wheel-drive sedan would help them fight European competitors. The G8 was a good idea, and with Pontiac’s redesign and small-block V8 engines, it was also quite a practical performance sedan. The base engine was a solid 3.5-liter V6 with 256 hp, but the real deal was the G8 GXP with a 6.2-liter V8 and 415 hp. Also, the G8 was delivered with high levels of standard equipment as well as a long list of optional extras.
Unfortunately, the G8 came too late, and the customers weren’t ready to accept the G8 performance sedan, which could beat the overpriced European models. After years of anemic models, front-wheel drive economy cars or minivans of the ’90s, Pontiac lost its performance image, and only a handful of buyers remembered what it was known for and capable of. So, when they finally presented the car capable of reclaiming the title of a performance brand, they ran out of time. In two years, Pontiac sold just over 30,000 G8s.
7. Cadillac CTS-V
For years, Cadillac lacked the proper performance series needed to compete with BMW or Mercedes. Finally, the V-Series was born. It was all that Cadillac lovers dreamed of: powerful engines, world-class handling and suspension setups, and exclusive production. Even competitors noticed when Cadillac rolled up with the brand new V-Series model.
Arguably, the second-generation CTS-V model produced between 2008 and 2014 was the most successful. Under the hood was a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with 556 hp, making the CTS-V the most powerful performance sedan on the market. The suspension and the rest of the drivetrain were advanced and up to the task, so CTS-V was considered a full package and one of the best driver’s cars available.
8. Chevrolet SS
With a 6.2-liter V8, 412 hp, precise steering, and neutral handling, this car rivals Europe’s finest sports sedans. Of course, this is Holden from Australia, but it has been rebadged as Chevrolet and fine-tuned for US customers. The performance numbers are pretty respectable. A 0 to 60 mph sprint is possible in just 4.7 seconds, while the top speed is over 150 mph. Chevrolet SS is a good proposition for people who need a practical sedan but want a sports car.
The styling is elegant and unassuming, which is a good thing since this car can surprise many regular sports models with its performance. This is one of the best sleepers on the market since it can totally blend with the traffic, and nobody can tell that you have 400 hp under your right foot, ready to jump at a second’s notice. Chevrolet SS is destined to be a future classic, so grab your example today.
9. Cadillac ATS-V
Introduced in 2016, the newest American muscle four-door car is the compact but immensely powerful Cadillac ATS-V. With this model, Cadillac attacked the likes of Mercedes C Class and BMW 3 Series with a modern executive sedan with recognizable styling and brutal power.
Under the hood is the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine with 464 HP and 445 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to launch the ATS-V from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and top the speed of an astonishing 189 mph. Although the ATS-V doesn’t have a V8, it is still a proper muscle car and is also available in a two-door form.
10. Dodge Charger Hellcat
Everybody went crazy when Dodge announced the Hellcat Charger and Challenger models. After all, the reaction was expected since the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 707 hp is a proper monster of a muscle car, which 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 and sedans ever built. Despite being overpowered in any aspect, the Dodge Charger Hellcat is surprisingly good to drive and can be docile at low speeds.
Only when you press the throttle and unleash the fury of 707 supercharged horsepower 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. So, is there better proof that a four-door can be a proper muscle car?