20 Muscle Cars To Buy Before the Oil Runs Out

2. Plymouth Hemi Cuda

Two of the biggest Chrysler legends from the classic days of the muscle car culture are the Barracuda and the 426 Hemi engine. All through the ‘60s, those icons of the industry didn’t mix. But in 1970, Plymouth offered this legendary engine in the Barracuda body style, immediately creating one of the fastest and most desirable muscle cars they ever made.

The mighty Hemi engine was an expensive, top of the line option for 1970 and 1971 available in coupe or convertible form. It cost around $900 over the price of a standard Barracuda and they installed it in just about 600 coupes and only 17 convertibles during the two-year production period. The power was rated at 425 HP, but everybody knew the orange monster delivered more than 500 HP straight from the box.

3. Dodge Charger

In 1968, muscle car fans were wowed by the fantastic lines of the new Charger. It featured the popular “Coke bottle” styling and a big grille. The car had a muscular shape, recessed rear glass and four round rear lights. In those days of crazy designs and aggressive muscle car styling, the 1968 Charger was in a league of its own. In fact, no other model could compete with this coupe.

Also, the interior was new, featuring full instrumentation and a decent amount of space. Since the 1968 Charger was one of the biggest muscle car coupes ever, the trunk space was generous, as well. Despite the unique design, they based the Charger on the Coronet. However, it gained new engine choices, such as the 440 V8 and one new trim package, the R/T. The R/T or Road and Track package was a popular option.

It included wild graphics, as well as a beefier suspension, and steering. Also, it came with the 440 engine as standard. But if you wanted full power in your 1968 Charger, you would choose the Hemi, which was significantly more expensive. The 1968 Charger proved to be a huge success for Dodge, so they built over 96,000 cars in that year alone.

4. Dodge Ram SRT-10

From 2004 to 2006, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 was one of the craziest, most powerful and fastest pickups they ever produced. That itself is a hard thing to say since Dodge always had wild special versions of their trucks. But, just look at the specs. It got the 8.2-liter V10 engine with over 500 HP, a 0 to 60 time of fewer than five seconds and fuel economy in single digits.

They topped it all off with a crazy bright red or yellow paint job, two white racing stripes, and big shiny chrome wheels. Take one look at it, and you’ll get the idea what the SRT-10 is all about. It was something you couldn’t miss if you saw it on the street. Of course, with a price tag of over $45,000 the SRT-10 wasn’t exactly a sales hit. However, they produced a decent number of them in the three-year production run.

5. Chevrolet Impala SS 409

The legendary SS or Super Sport package has its place in muscle car history as an important model that promoted performance to the public. This was one of the first high-performance automobiles that were relatively affordable and fast. Everything started when Chevrolet decided to transform the 409 truck engine to use for passenger cars. They found out the unit was powerful and could outrun all other cars on the road.

Just by mild modifications to the engine, it could produce up to 409 HP. And that was enough to propel the Impala from a standstill to 60 mph in six seconds flat. At the moment, that was Corvette territory. So, as a mid-year introduction, Chevrolet presented the SS package featuring bucket seats, a sports trim and other details. Also, it came with the 348 V8 engine with 350 HP. However, the most interesting option was the 409 V8 with up to 409 HP if you optioned for dual quad intake system.

Interestingly, the 409 option was available for all Chevrolet full-size models in 1961. So, it was possible to install this engine into plain-looking sedans and wagons. But those cars have yet to surface. Today, as expected, the 1961 Impala SS 409 is one of the most valuable cars in Chevrolet muscle car history.

6. Pontiac GTO Judge

Muscle cars started as affordable performance machines with lots of power and reasonable prices. However, due to their high demand, some models started to get more expensive. Soon, there was a need for a budget-friendly muscle car aimed at the youth market who wanted a fast car but couldn’t pay much.

However, the Plymouth Roadrunner was the perfect example of such a model. It was affordable, fun and fast. Pontiac wanted a similar car so in 1969, the company presented the GTO Judge. The Judge became a legend in its own right. First, because it took the name from the popular TV show. And second, because it was a bright red muscle car with a big spoiler and funky “The Judge” graphics all over.

The GTO Judge wasn’t slow either with 366 HP and a four-speed transmission. Available from 1969 to 1971, the Judge always represented the top of the line model, which makes it desirable today.

7. Plymouth Superbird

As one of the craziest muscle cars they ever offered, Plymouth produced the Superbird with one of the most recognizable designs ever. To homologate the car for racing, during the 1970 model year only, Plymouth built just under 2,000 road-going Superbirds, selling them all over America. They based the car on the Roadrunner. It came with a 440 V8 as standard and the 426 Hemi as the only engine option.

However, to make it as aerodynamically efficient as they could, Plymouth installed a nose cone, hideaway headlights and an enormous spoiler on the back. Also, it transformed the rear glass from the standard concave shaped one to regular that was more slippery in wind tunnel testing.

8. Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

The Camaro ZL-1 was the same as the regular 1969 Camaro on the outside, but it was so fast, it was barely street legal. The official 1969 Chevrolet literature doesn’t mention the ZL-1 option for the Camaro. But if you were a successful drag racer or a dealer, you knew about this expensive option. That is why they only made 69 Camaros ZL-1s.

The secret of Camaro ZL-1 was its engine. It was a high revving, 7.0-liter V8 with around 550 HP in mild tune. Chevrolet produced around 200 of those engines. And while most of them went to Can-Am racing teams, they installed 69 ZL-1s in C.O.P.O Camaros, selling them to drag racing teams.

9. Ford Mustang Boss 302

The third redesign of the Mustang appeared for the 1969 model year and the car grew in size once again. They changed the engine choices as well as the equipment list, concentrating the Mustang lineup in two main directions. One was luxury with the new Grande notchback model, and other was pure muscle with three new models, the Mach I, Boss 429 and Boss 302. Also, Ford introduced the legendary 428 Cobra Jet engine as a regular production option, putting the Mustang among the fastest muscle cars of the era.

But for most Mustang fans, the Boss 302 is the most important model. They produced it for only two years, in 1969 and 1970. The Boss 302 featured the 302 V8 engine they conservatively rated at 290 HP. But the real output was closer to the 350 HP mark. The Boss 302 was a model they intended for racing in the Trans-Am championship. Apart from blackout hood, spoiler on the trunk and other details, it featured a stiff, track-tuned suspension, close ratio gearbox and high revving engine.

Also, the car was light and without any unnecessary luxuries. This model is on this list because it was a perfectly balanced car with great performance and driving dynamics. It was a muscle car, obviously, but its handling characteristics, high revving engine, and overall feel made it a sports car with racing success. Basically, it’s the best of both worlds and a unique model in Mustang’s long history.

10. Buick GNX

The story of this model is an interesting one. Back in 1982, Buick started experimenting with turbocharging its line of standard V6 engines. The results were satisfying so the Buick engineers got permission to take things further. So, they decided to develop a performance version that would deliver better acceleration figures.

Soon, there was the Buick Grand National with 175 HP, which wasn’t impressive but it was a start. In the next couple of years, the Grand National got a bigger engine and more power, jumping from 175 HP to 200 HP and finally to 235 HP. With those numbers came acceleration times of less than six seconds, making those black Grand Nationals seriously quick cars.

But in 1987 came the ultimate version they called the GNX or Grand National Experimental. It featured the same 3.8-liter turbocharged V6. But now, it delivered 275 HP and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. Nobody expected such a bold move from Buick. After all, Buick was a company for old people that offered boring cars without any excitement. And suddenly, there was a turbocharged V6 coupe that broke every classic muscle car mold that was faster than a Ferrari.

At that moment, the Buick GNX was the fastest accelerating production model in the world. At $29,000, it was expensive. However, there is a widespread legend that the owners paid the lease on these cars just by street racing them for money. Unfortunately, the Buick GNX was a one-year-only model so they made just 547 of them. Today, people praise those cars as equally as they did in the late ’80s.

11. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The legendary Z/28 version returned for the 2014 model year in an interesting, 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 that delivered 505 HP. It provided more than enough power and grunt, but the rest of the car was all highly engineered for precision.

The stiffer shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, special wheels and brakes, and a 300-pound lighter body all helped Z/28 achieve better numbers at the racetrack. With its supercharged engine, the Camaro ZL-1 was faster in the straight line. However, the Z/28 was a better all-around performer and a perfect track day vehicle.

12. Callaway Corvette C4

Rives Callaway established Callaway Cars in 1977. But it was long after the muscle car craze ended and high horsepower performance machines were a thing of past. He specialized in producing turbocharger kits for installation, mostly on European cars. And when his knowledge, expertise, and the start of the turbo era lined up perfectly, the company took off.

To show the real potential of the twin turbo C4, Callaway produced the legendary Sledgehammer Corvette. It was a highly modified and heavily turbocharged 1988 Corvette that produced 898 HP that could go over 250 mph.

13. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

If the 707 HP from the Hellcat package is not enough and you want the ultimate modern muscle car as well as the most powerful street Hemi engine ever made, the Demon package is for you. With standard fuel, it will deliver an insane 808 HP. But, if you use the high-octane stuff, it will pump out almost 840 HP. The rest of the Demon package is equally insane.

It includes the special transmission, suspension, brakes, widebody stance and exterior details. The acceleration from 0 to 60 is less than three seconds. Also, under full power, the Demon will accelerate with the 1.8 G force. That is faster than being dropped off a cliff. The car can cover a quarter mile sprint in less than 10 seconds straight from the box.

14. Dodge Charger Hellcat

In 2014, the car community went crazy when Dodge released the Hellcat Charger and Challenger models. After all, they expected such a reaction since the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 with 707 HP is a proper muscle car that shouldn’t be on the streets. But, Dodge did just that, allowing the public to buy one of the fastest, most powerful muscle cars and muscle car sedans they ever built.

But despite being overpowered in every aspect, those Dodge Charger Hellcats are surprisingly good to drive. And they can even be docile at low speeds. It’s only when you press the throttle to unleash the fury of 707 supercharged Hemi horses can you can feel the brutality of the Hellcat and the power going to the rear wheels. The 0 to 60 mph times are in high, in the three-second range and the car can top 200 mph.

15. 2013 Shelby GT500

The swan song of the SVT supercharged Mustangs is the 2013 Shelby GT500. This glorious muscle car had a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 that pumped out a mind-boggling 662 HP with 631 lb-ft of torque. At the time, this was the most powerful American-made V8 engine and a proper beast of an engine.

When they installed this engine in the rear wheel drive, live axle platform it became a tire smoke generator. However, besides its burnout and show potential, it was also a serious performance machine. The 0 to 60 mph sprint took only 3.5 seconds, so buyers loved this overpowered Mustang.

16. Cadillac CTS-V

The CTS is a mid-sized Cadillac sedan with the performance “V” option. Arguably the most successful was the second generation they produced between 2008 and 2014. Under the hood was a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 556 HP.

And that’s what made 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. As a result, people considered the CTS-V a full package and one of the best cars available.

17. Dodge Viper ACR

They discontinued the last generation Viper in 2017 due to slow sales, but it wouldn’t go without a fight. So, they revealed the last special edition, which was the 2016 Viper ACR. And it was the best and one of the fastest track-ready cars in the world. As you probably know, ACR Vipers were always a purist’s dream.

They were specially prepared road/track cars with immense possibilities, sublime handling and respectable performance numbers. But the real secret of the ACR Viper was a slightly more powerful engine that delivered 645 HP and a significant weight loss. They added a perfectly balanced chassis, race tires and powerful Brembo brakes. Unfortunately, at $120,000, it was expensive, but it was worth every cent.

18. Pontiac Trans Am

In 1969, Pontiac wanted to present a model they could homologate for Trans-Am racing, but the company was under a racing ban from GM. So to mask its intentions, Pontiac introduced the Firebird Trans Am as a loaded version. It featured big block power from the famous 400 V8 engine with the Ram Air III or IV intake system.

The difference between those engines was significant since the Ram Air IV featured a lot of improved engine internals and components. However, they rated them both rated at 366 HP, which was underrated. Sadly, this special version with its signature white paint, blue stripes, Rally II wheels, and other equipment proved to be a tough seller. So, the only sold 634 Firebird Trans Ams. And among those, only eight were convertibles.

19. Chevrolet Chevelle SS

The Chevrolet Chevelle was always a popular muscle car with its combination of an affordable price, attractive design and powerful engines. But for 1970, Chevrolet offered an expanded line of engines including the famous 454 V8 big blocks. The regular version was the LS5 and it was powerful.

But there was an even stronger LS6 variant Chevy installed in just 3,700 cars. The LS-6 had an almost racing compression of 11.25:1. Also, it used a bigger carburetor with much stronger engine internals. And although they rated it at 450 HP, it is more likely it produced over 500.

20. Shelby Cobra 427

With a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 4.3 seconds, the Shelby Cobra 427 was the fastest production car in America in the ‘60s. Putting the biggest Ford V8 engine in the lightest roadster body was as equally extreme as it is today. But there’s one thing you must know.

The Shelby Cobra 427 has the 7.0-liter V8 delivering around 400 HP in a tiny roadster body that weighs just 2,000 pounds. So, with around 400 HP sent to the rear wheels in a body that is so light, the Cobra 427 spelled trouble form the moment Ford debuted it.

These are the top 20 muscle cars you should buy before the oil runs out. Which one appealed to you? They are all amazing vehicles, so no matter which one you choose, it’s a win-win.