25 Cars That are Blemishes on the Face of Muscle Car History

2. 1978-79 Oldsmobile 442

Back in the late ’60s, the Oldsmobile 442 was a well-respected car. During the heyday of this model, the name stood for its 400-cubic inch engine, four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust. After they presented the big block and other options, the car changed while the name stuck. Although many legendary muscle cars died in the early ’70s, Oldsmobile kept the 442 alive.

However, it was far from the standards of its predecessors. The mid-70s 442 was just an option on most mid-size luxury coupes. Sadly, it was more of a marketing gimmick than a full-fledged muscle car. The reason was that it lacked a powerful engine that delivered fast acceleration times. Oldsmobile tried to keep the 442’s legend alive, but industry restrictions prevented it from being more than a couple of stickers on a regular model. The lowest point in the 442’s evolution came in 1978 when they offered the model as an option on the smaller, compact Cutlass.

3. 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra

The downsizing of the whole Mustang range meant the introduction of the economical four-cylinder engine. Ford also did some part sharing with other Ford models, which helped the model survive the recession of the ’70s as well as the death of the muscle car movement. But all of that doesn’t mean there weren’t any exciting Mustangs between 1974 and 1978. They just were slow.

However, there was one particularly interesting model, which was the special edition King Cobra. Ford knew their 5.0 V8 engine delivered only 140 HP in the Mustang II, making its performance terrible. But they also knew that by dressing up the car, they could attract some buyers.

4. 1976-80 Plymouth Volare Road Runner

Back in 1976, Plymouth introduced the Volare. It was a successful mid-size model they produced in many versions and exported globally. It was the twin to the Dodge Aspen featuring a rear-wheel-drive platform, wide arrange of engines, and sleek design. Both Dodge and Plymouth had successful muscle car models in the past. So the heritage was still strong when Plymouth presented the Volare.

It would have been the perfect platform for a muscle car, but the grueling emissions and safety regulations killed its performance. Plymouth tried by presenting the Volare Road Runner. It featured a 316 V8 engine that produced a measly 160 HP. What it lacked in the performance department, the Volare Road Runner compensated in looks. It even had a full body kit with rear window louvers, a spoiler, a graphics package, and sporty wheels.

5. 1978 AMC Gremlin GT

AMC tried to extract all it could from the Gremlin by constantly introducing different versions, keeping the old platform alive for almost a decade. But in 1977, AMC decided to turn the Gremlin into a muscle car. They installed a 304 V8 engine that produced 120 HP. The ridiculously low power resulted in terrible performance numbers. On a positive note, the Gremlin GT had a fresh graphics package, sport wheels, and updated interior equipment.

Realizing the performance was painfully slow, even for a wannabe muscle car, AMC installed a 4.2-liter inline-six engine. It didn’t produce much more power, but it created more torque, which was enough for improvement. Sadly, even more torque and massive discounts didn’t help them. The production numbers were low at around 3,000 copies. As a result, AMC discontinued the GT option for the 1978 model year.

6. 1977 Chevrolet Monza Mirage

Chevrolet introduced the Monza Mirage in 1975 as its newest compact model. It came with a modern design, updated equipment, and a wide arrange of trim levels. It succeeded the Chevrolet Vega and sold well in the U.S., as well as the market abroad. However, the lack of a performance version was inevitable due to its compact, relatively light platform. Still, Chevy knew the car would benefit from a powerful engine.

Chevrolet didn’t think a performance model or muscle car version would have a big market, so they didn’t bother developing it. But finally, they contracted Michigan Auto Techniques, an outside company, to make a muscle car Monza for 1977. They called it the Monza Mirage, producing 4,000 examples of this model for just one year.

7. Chevrolet Citation X-11

The Chevrolet Citation X-11 is interesting since most car enthusiasts can’t decide how they feel about this model. It is a compact, front-wheel-drive hatchback Chevy produced from 1980 to 1985. It had a somewhat powerful V6 engine, and muscle car looks. This car drew inspiration from American hot hatches and late model muscle cars because it featured the best aspects of both.

The X-11 featured a 2.8-liter V6 engine that produced 135 HP. Despite the fact it doesn’t sound like much today, it delivered solid power for the time. The X-11 had a few more tricks up its sleeves, such as a sports-tuned suspension, sharper steering, and better brakes.

8. 1980 Mercury Capri RS

The introduction of the third generation Fox-body Mustang had a significant influence on Mercury. The brand got its own version in the form of the Capri in 1979. From 1970 to 1977, Mercury sold the Capri, which was an imported model from Germany with four and six-cylinder engines. But in 1979, thanks to the Mustang, the Capri was new. It even featured a unique front end design.

Since it was a Mercury product, it was more upscale than Ford. However, other than a few aesthetical changes, it was identical to the Mustang. For a performance version, Mercury introduced the RS model. It featured a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine producing 135 HP.

9. 1976-77 Dodge Charger Daytona

You’re probably familiar with the original Dodge Charger Daytona from 1969, a big coupe based on the Dodge Charger. It featured a pointy nose and a massive rear wing. Because Dodge designed it for racing in NASCAR, they produced only 500 examples. Less than 10 years after the memorable Daytona, Dodge decided to use the name again.

However, this time it was on the Dodge Charger, which was basically a Chrysler Cordoba. It was a big, two-door personal luxury coupe with no muscle car credentials whatsoever, so the move was not well received. The Cordoba delivered a lame 145 HP from its V8 engine. Clearly, it was more focused on luxury and a well-appointed interior than on looks, performance, or driving dynamics.

10. Dodge Aspen R/T

Similar to the Plymouth Volare Road Runner, the Aspen R/T was Dodge’s effort to present a muscle car. This was in a period when such vehicles were almost impossible to construct and sell. However, the Dodge Aspen R/T looked like the real deal. It even managed to distance itself from similar attempts from the other brands with disgraceful power outputs.

Under the ram air hood of the Aspen R/T was a 360 V8 engine producing 170 HP. The selling point of this car was the looks. It came fully equipped with all the bells and whistles of the late muscle car era. It had a body kit, stripes, white letter tires with wide wheels, spoilers, and even a T top option.

11. Dodge Magnum

The model name, Magnum, might sound familiar since Dodge used it in a successful line of station wagons from 2005 to 2008. However, the Magnum dates as far back as 1978. The original Dodge Magnum was a luxury muscle car coupe Dodge produced for two years, in 1978 and 1979. For the time, it was a cool-looking coupe with all the right ingredients.

It had rear-wheel drive, a long hood, a short deck, and a heart-thumping V8 in the front. Dodge added the biggest engine they could order, which was a 5.9-liter V8 with 195 HP. With its big weight, slow automatic transmission, and low power, the Magnum delivered pathetic performance numbers. Also, the high price didn’t help the sales, so Dodge discontinued the Magnum for the 1980 model year.

12. Oldsmobile Starfire GT

The mid-70s weren’t especially good for Olds performance, so when they introduced the new compact Starfire, the Olds engineers decided to offer a performance version. They named it the Starfire GT, and basically, it was an appearance package on the regular Starfire hatchback.

With special body stripes, color, details, wheels, and a stabilizer bar, the Starfire GT was more dynamic than the regular model. It was the closest thing Oldsmobile had to a sports or muscle car in 1976.

13. AMC Pacer X

In a desperate attempt to draw the performance-oriented crowd, AMC introduced the Pacer X, a high-performance version of their legendary compact car. They equipped it with the VAM package for 1979. Also, the Pacer X featured a 4.6-liter straight-six engine with raised compression ratio and more power.

The output was around 150 HP, and despite the fact it sounds funny today, this was a serious performing car by late ’70s standards. Of course, with the added power, AMC provided customers with a special appearance package to make the X stand out from the regular Pacers.

14. Pontiac Sunbird Formula

The Sunbird was a typical hatchback-type GM compact of the ’70s almost identical to the Buick Skylark and Chevrolet Monza. However, in the Pontiac version, the Sunbird had an interesting muscle version. They called it the Formula with an optional V8 under the hood.

They borrowed the name “Formula” from the Firebird lineup. It always marked a model they equipped with a V8 engine. If you chose the Formula, you could get a 305 V8 engine with 165 HP and a hint of performance. Since the Sunbird was relatively light, you could call this Pontiac a muscle car, but just barely.

15. AMC Spirit AMX

Debuting in 1978, the AMC Spirit AMX was a real compact muscle car since it had an optional 304 V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. Also, buyers could get it with a manual transmission. AMC designed it as the performance version of the Spirit compact car.

For sale for just two years, the Spirit AMX had some success because it was inexpensive and cool-looking. The AMX package included a body kit, special livery, and wide wheels. Unfortunately, AMC decided to kill the model, so the Spirit AMX didn’t return for the 1980 model year.

16. Chevrolet Vega Cosworth

In 1975, Chevrolet introduced the interesting, although unsuccessful, Vega Cosworth. It featured a high revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder twin-cam motor with 110 HP. Although it wasn’t particularly fast or strong, the Vega Cosworth was attractive with its striking black and gold paint job and unique wheels.

Chevrolet produced the model in cooperation with British engine engineering company, Cosworth, known for its Formula One engines.

17. 1975 Plymouth Fury Roadrunner

Most people know the Plymouth Roadrunner as one of the quintessential classic muscle cars. It’s a model that has always had performance and power. However, for 1975, Plymouth moved the Roadrunny to the Fury line as an option.

On paper, the Fury Roadrunner had the 440 V8 engine option with 260 HP. Despite this being a respectable number by the standards of the day, the 0 to 60 mph times were over eight seconds. That is something that even today’s most affordable economy cars can match.

18. 1977 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The 1977 Z/28 Camaro was an essential model for the breed. That was because it marked the return of the Z/280 package as well as a slight power increase over the standard models. The 350 V8 delivered 170 HP, which was respectable in 1977.

The performance was just a shadow of what the Camaro was capable of just several years before. But it was the best you could get in the late ’70s. Most Camaro fans remember the 1977 Camaro Z/28 as a cool-looking car as well.

19. 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra

The year 1979 brought several significant improvements to the Mustang range. The first was a new model that featured a modern design, better chassis, and wider track. The second was a new performance version they called the Cobra.

Although it was not as powerful or crazy as the Cobra Jets before it, the 1979 Cobra featured a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 140 HP. Even though this was pathetic even by the standards of the day, it was a step in the right direction to helping American performance finally start to recover.

20. 1974 AMC Matador X

When they discontinued the Javelin AMX, AMC was left without any muscle car in their lineup. They decided to introduce the Matador X. AMC redesigned the Matador for 1974, giving it the signature coupe body style that was reasonably aerodynamic.

Soon afterward, the company presented the “X” package that buyers could get with the 360 V8 or optional 401 V8 that delivered a healthy 235 HP. But even with the dress-up kit, big V8 and go-fast goodies, the Matador X wasn’t any faster than the Javelin. Unfortunately, they had to kill the option after just one year.

21. 1975 Buick Gran Sport

In an attempt to connect this 1975 model to the fire breathing 1970 GSX and similar muscle cars, Buick introduced the Grand Sport. They based it on their Century lineup, so gone were the powerful 455 big blocks.

Buyers were left only with the 350 V8 that produced just 175 HP. As a result, the 1975 Grand Sport was an extremely slow muscle car due to the fact it weighed almost two tons.

22. 1974 Mercury Cougar

The third-generation Cougar debuted in 1974, marking a departure from the performance models before it. They no longer based the car on the Mustang. Instead, they moved to a heavier, bigger chassis.

That meant those Cougars were more like the personal luxury cruisers than muscle cars, even though Mercury tried to present them as such. Sadly, even with the optional 460 V8 pumping out 220 HP, its acceleration times were disappointing.

23. 1983 Dodge Charger

The Charger from the late ’70s was a lame, slow car that threatened to kill the muscle car reputation of the glorious late ’60s and early ’70s. And yet, Dodge felt that the name deserved another chance. In those days, the Chrysler Corporation was all about the K-platform front-wheel-drive cars.

However, Dodge decided to introduce the Charger as an option on the compact and dull Dodge Omni for 1981. The appearance package proved somewhat popular. In fact, so much so, it was enough to convince Dodge to try it as a separate model for 1983. That’s how the L-Body Charger was born.

24. Ford Mustang McLaren M81

Ford built this new car with the help of the well-known McLaren racing team in their American operation office in Michigan. The whole idea behind the project was to take a 2.3-liter turbo engine from a regular Mustang and transform it into a street racing beast. They added a race-tuned suspension, a lightweight body, and a host of other modifications. Next, McLaren and Ford installed a tuned turbo engine producing 190 HP.

That was a significant number for the day, especially coming from just 2.3-liters. They changed the looks of the Fox Mustang, as well. The updates resulted in a performance level that was impressive back then, yet it is quite embarrassing today. However, the driving dynamics were excellent. Unfortunately, the car came with a high price tag.

25. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo

Pontiac presented the second-generation F-Body Firebird in 1970, and by the late ’70s, it dominated the segment. Unfortunately, the days of big cube motors and high horsepower ratings were gone, so Pontiac decided to invest in new technology to generate power.

That new technology was turbocharging, and in late 1979 it introduced the Trans Am Turbo. The engine in question was the 301 V8, with a Garrett turbocharger bolted onto it. The power output was relatively modest at 200 to 210 HP, but the torque number was high at 340 lb-ft, which resulted in a hint of performance.

These are the top 25 cars that are blemishes on the face of muscle car history. Although they failed to make the mark, their production led to faster, more powerful cars. Even though they may not have made it, they still were an important part of the muscle car’s evolution.