17. Oldsmobile 442
Although the Pontiac GTO takes the credit for being the first modern muscle car, not many people know the Oldsmobile 442 started the same year as the GTO. However, Oldsmobile was much more discrete about advertising the new model as an option on the Cutlass line. From the beginning, they marketed the 442 was marketed as a “gentleman`s hot rod.” It was an elegant, well-equipped muscle car with luxury appointments, reserved styling, and brutal performance.
The name 442 caused a lot of controversies back in the day, but the meaning was simple. It had a 400 CID engine, four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust. The buyers could order it with an automatic but if they wanted to get the most from their 442, they would go for the manual. In 1970, Oldsmobile introduced the biggest engine in the muscle car class, the 455 V8. When they installed it in the 442, they created one of the fastest cars of the era, especially with the performance-oriented W30 optional package. Today, the 442 is highly-desirable for its style, limited availability, and performance.