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12 Muscle Car Legends We’re Glad are Back

Vukasin Herbez September 2, 2024

Most big muscle car fans are hoping for the return of those glorious models of the past. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, it was impossible to imagine that, a decade later, they would have most of the legendary nameplates at the dealership. Models like Chargers, Challengers, Camaros, Shelbys were gone and nobody expected them to come back.

However, the automotive gods decided those models were so good, they deserved another go. Today, you can enjoy those cars that packed lots of horsepower like those from the ’60s. So, keep reading to learn about the 12 muscle car legends most car fans are glad to see back.

1. Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H

With the retro-looking car craze came the return of the legendary Mustang and special versions like the Shelby GT-H. Back in 1966, Shelby offered its GT350 model as a rental car through the Hertz network. The cars were black with gold stripes and the GT350-H model designation. Exactly 40 years later, Ford presented the 2006 Mustang they tuned to Shelby specs they named the GT-H.

The cars were regular GTs with a 19 HP power increase, new front end, some details and of course, black paint with gold stripes. Once again, Ford offered the Shelby GT-H as a rental car at select locations. After the use, they sold all of them to the public as used cars. So, if you want a cool piece of modern Mustang history, search the ads for a Shelby GT-H in nice condition.

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2. Chevrolet Camaro SS

The Camaro fans were disappointed when Chevrolet decided to retire the nameplate for the 2003 model year. But its moment came in late 2009 when a brand new, fifth-generation Camaro was introduced to the eager market. After a few years of showing concept cars and design renderings, Chevrolet was finally ready to introduce its modern interpretation of the classic Camaro shape with brand new and highly advanced chassis and engines. The 2010 Camaro was a triumph of retro-futuristic design and engineering since GM`s Zeta platform was highly sophisticated and allowed the new model sports car-like road holding and driving dynamics.

The base engine was a V6 but right from the start, the fifth-generation Camaro buyers had the option of SS model with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and 426 HP which made 2010 Camaro SS one of the fastest domestic cars at the moment. With advanced chassis and brutal performance, the Camaro SS was far better than Mustang GT of the same vintage which helped Chevrolet beat Ford in sales war.

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3. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

If for any reason 707 HP from the Hellcat package is not enough for you and you want the ultimate modern muscle car and the most powerful street Hemi engine ever made, then the Demon package is just the thing. With standard fuel, it will deliver insane 808 HP but if you use high octane stuff it will pump out almost 840 HP.

The rest of the Demon package is equally insane from the special transmission, suspension, and brake to widebody stance and exterior details. The acceleration from 0 to 60 is less than 3 seconds and under full power, the Demon will accelerate with the 1.8 G force. That is faster than being dropped off the cliff! The car is capable of covering a quarter-mile sprint in less than 10 seconds straight from the box. If the reports are true and Chrysler is considering discontinuing the Hemi engine lineup, this is the best way to go! Demon name was used in the early `70s and we are glad it is back.

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4. Ford Mustang Boss 302

Ever since the first retro Mustangs appeared in showrooms across America, Ford fans asked for the return of the Boss 302. For those who don`t know, Boss 302 was first introduced in 1969 as a racing car homologation special intended for Trans-Am races. 43 years later, Ford revived the Boss 302 with a new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 which delivered 444 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Again, this was almost a pure racing car with no back seats, factory-installed roll cage, and a host of other external and internal modifications.

As you would expect, the performance was better than regular Mustang GT and 2012 Boss 302 could accelerate to 60 mph in 3.97 seconds and top 155 mph. Until we see the future version of the Boss 302, the 2012 model is widely considered one of the coolest Mustangs of all time and deserves a place on our list.

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5. Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

Engineers ar Chevrolet knew that the Camaro platform could handle much more than 426 HP and it is capable of delivering fantastic cornering speeds and world-class handling. So it was only natural that as soon as the new generation hit the streets in 2010, engineers started developing performance versions. First, of those was the great Camaro ZL-1 introduced in 2012 and sold throughout 2015.

The ZL-1 as you know it was a special 427 V8 powered drag beast from 1969 and its 2012 counterpart follows the same formula. Chevrolet took the biggest and most powerful engine GM has got – 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 lots more. The 2012 Camaro ZL-1 was not the one-trick pony like its 1969 predecessor was, but rather a pure sports car which could put Porsche 911 to shame and outhandle and outrun much more expensive and exotic cars. It was not cheap at $57,000 MSRP but it was well worth it.

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6. Shelby GT500

The first Mustang to wear the Shelby name in almost 40 years was the 2007 model. Conceived by the SVT department, the same folks who brought us Cobra R models, the 2007 Shelby GT 500 was something else. It looked mean, it had an aggressive design with multiple upgrades and it sounded terrifying thanks to the new 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine with 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.

This was the first production Mustang that broke the magic 500 hp barrier and the most powerful muscle car at the moment. With racing stripes on the hood, roof and trunk, four exhaust pipes and scary rumble from the massive V8, the 2007 Shelby GT 500 would make Carroll Shelby proud. Of course, the performance was amazing and 0 to 60 mph took only 4.5 seconds. We guess that this car probably could do better, but massive torque burned the rear tires if you pushed the pedal too hard.

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7. Pontiac GTO

The first year for the modern GTO was 2004 and the car met universal praises from the buyers and car press. The design wasn’t exactly new or aggressive but the GTO had the muscle car form and street presence. Under the hood was LS1 5.7-liter V8 with 350 HP and enough performance to be one of the hottest American cars for the 2004 model year. The target sales figure was 18,000 and Pontiac sold almost 14,000 which could be considered success. The 2005 model year saw the introduction of the 400 HP 6.2-liter engine and even better performance (0 to 60 mph time of just 4.6 seconds) but sales started to decline to 11,000 and for 2006, the final model year, GTO sold in just 14,000 examples.

So, what was the problem with the 2004 to 2006 GTO? Was it bad, slow or underpowered? No, the car was just fine but it failed to excite the customers in the same way the original GTO did. Simply, the design was restrained, not particularly aggressive and pretty pale. The car was fast and performance was convincing but as an overall package, the new GTO wasn’t so appealing to new customers. This was the main reason for its early demise and relative market failure. However, we still feel that this car is one of the best modern muscle cars.

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8. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The legendary Z/28 version returned for the 2014 model year and in a very interesting and extremely capable package. Once again, the Z/28 was a track day car, road racing-oriented Camaro with brakes, suspension and steering dedicated to precision and driving dynamics.

Under the hood was a 7.0-liter V8 from the Corvette Z06 which delivered 505 HP and provided more than enough power and grunt, but the rest of the car was all highly engineered for precision. Stiffer shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, special wheels and brakes, and even 300 pounds lighter body all helped Z/28 to achieve better numbers at the race track. With its supercharged engine, the Camaro ZL-1 was faster in the straight line but the Z/28 was a better all-around performer and a perfect track day vehicle.

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9. 2013 Shelby GT500

The swan song of SVT supercharged Mustangs is the 2013 Shelby GT 500. This glorious muscle car had a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 which pumped 662 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque. At the moment, this was the most powerful American-made V8 engine and it was a proper beast of an engine. Installed in RWD, live axle platform it was known as a tire smoke generator, but besides its burnout and show potential, it was also a very serious performance machine.

The 0 to 60 mph sprint took only 3.5 seconds and the $50,000 Mustang could embarrass a $250,000 Ferrari at the stoplight drag race. Buyers loved this overpowered Mustang and despite being discontinued it still is the king of the hill among Mustang fans.

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10. Dodge Charger SRT-8

The brand new Charger sedan debuted in 2005 as a true American four-door with rear-wheel drive platform (AWD was optional), 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine as a top engine choice and aggressive muscular design which reminded the buyers of Charger`s heritage and history. Immediately, this was a fantastic success since it combined modern technology with retro styling and Hemi power in a great package. It wasn’t what the muscle car fans asked for but it was a proper performance car which they needed. The engine choices started with 3.6-liter V6 and buyers could get newly introduced 350 HP 5.7-liter Hemi.

But, Dodge didn’t forget the burning muscle car market and soon after the introduction of the regular model, the Charger SRT-8 was released. Under the hood was a 6.1-liter Hemi with 425 HP and fantastic performance which connected with Hemi Chargers of the past.

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11. 2018 Shelby GT 350

But, for those who want the classic, screamer Mustang with Shelby heritage but with modern technology and unbelievable V8 performance, the new GT 350 R is a perfect choice. Although Shelby was based on the Mustang GT, much of the car’s suspension, design, aero package, and engine were new. The biggest single difference was the fantastic Voodoo engine, which has a 5.2-liter displacement, 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque.

The main feature of this high-revving powerplant is flat-plane crank technology which allows the big V8 to scream to almost 9000 rpm. It is the same technology that is used by exotic manufacturers like Ferrari and this is the first time that a muscle car has such an advanced engine. Ford`s investment into Shelby GT 350 R paid off since the performance is mind-boggling with 3.9 seconds for 0 to 60 mph. But the numbers don’t do justice to this car.

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12. Dodge Challenger Scat Pack

Despite the fact we are living in times in which muscle cars are faster than European sports coupes, have advanced technology and innovative systems, some people still want a good old American muscle coupe with roaring V8 and a whole lot of attitude. For those folks, Dodge has the Challenger, a cool retro muscle car with modern technology and fantastic Hemi V8 with 6.1-liters and 485 hp.

Our price limit doesn’t allow you to buy a crazy Challenger Hellcat with 707 hp and rear tires as wide as the highway but you can still get the Scat Pack version which is more than enough. The 0 to 60 mph times are in 4.5 seconds range which is decent and top speed is close to 170 mph.

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