18. Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
You probably know that the Corvette is not a true muscle car, but rather a capable, two-seater sports car. However, the ZR-1 version was an important model when Chevy presented it since it provided the confidence that American performance was truly back. The Chevrolet engineers knew the C4 chassis had enormous potential, so they always looked for ways to improve its power and performance. Finally, they got the green light from management to introduce the best Corvette model in years. The company wanted to show the sports car world what the Corvette was capable of. So, in 1990, they debuted the mighty ZR-1. It pumped out a whopping 400 HP, delivering a performance that could beat any Ferrari at the moment.

They called it the “King of the Hill,” and the Corvette ZR1 was exactly that. They built the king of all Corvettes until 1990 when they unveiled the ZR1. Immediately it was obvious that Chevrolet had hit a home run. Under the hood, there was the LT4, a Lotus-engineered V8 engine producing 375 HP at first and later 400 HP. Also, it had quad-cam heads and 32 valves. The engine was an engineering marvel, performing exceptionally well. With the beefed-up suspension, gearbox, and a pair of extra-wide rear tires, the Corvette ZR1 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. And that made it one of the fastest cars of the era as well as a true modern classic today.