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40 Amazing Muscle Cars Today’s Drivers Somehow Forgot

Cameron Eittreim April 19, 2022

13: 1965 Dodge Coronet

This was a more common Dodge from this era because it was used as a police car. The Coronet sold well among police forces because it was a time before Ford’s dominance in the law enforcement segment. The Coronet had a great platform to build on for racing and performance (via Hagerty).

The rear-wheel-drive design of the Coronet made it a unique car. These days, the Coronet has become a relic of the past, and most gearheads don’t remember it, but the car had many great aspects. It was one of the original police cars on the market and drove well.

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12: Plymouth Belvedere

You can’t talk about the muscle car era without acknowledging the Plymouth Belvedere. The style of the Belvedere is highly regarded as one of the best-looking Plymouths of all time. The driving characteristics of the car are still desirable to this day and the aftermarket community is diverse (via Hagerty).

Although the Belvedere is not as popular as some of the better-known muscle cars from this era, it had a unique design that made it a great piece of automotive history. With a Hemi V8 under the hood, this is one of the first Plymouths that cemented the company’s performance reputation.

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11: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi

Also building on the legendary Hemi name was the Barracuda Hemi. This car tends to get overshadowed by other models in the Plymouth lineup but it was quite the powerhouse. The styling was in line with the rest of the performance lineup around this period (via Autowise).

As far as true enthusiasts are concerned, the Barracuda is the stuff of legend. The car took the nameplate from boring to being the pinnacle of performance. Of course, other well-known Plymouths could break records on the track, but this was the main one.

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10: Chrysler New Yorker

The Chrysler New Yorker has always been a big and comfortable car, but as the muscle car bubble continues to get higher, this is an often-overlooked muscle car. You can do a lot with the New Yorker platform, although it was not originally intended to be a muscle car (via Autowise).

Chrysler makes modern Hemi kits that are geared toward enthusiasts. These kits can transform a run-of-the-mill New Yorker into a car that you can respect on the track. The Chrysler New Yorker has a great deal of potential for a restoration project as they can find these for next to nothing.

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9: Chrysler C-300

The Chrysler 300C that we see today is not the only Chrysler that has bared that nameplate. The 300 line has been around in one form or another for decades. The C-300 was built on the initial success of the line, and the car has become a sort of hidden collectible in Chrysler circles (via Autowise).

The unique design is only amplified but the fins on the rear deck of the car. The engine that came in this beast was the 331 V8 Hemi, which was one of Chrysler’s earliest successes. If you want a car that no one will remember right off the top, this is the hot rod for you.

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8: Plymouth Fury

Few cars have been as polarizing and iconic as the Fury. This isn’t a car that resonates with gearheads right off the bat, but if you know anything about movies, you’ll remember this car. The Plymouth Fury was the haunted car that played the part in the movie Christine (via Autowise).

The Plymouth Fury isn’t an easy car to get your hands on, but if you do, it will not break the bank. Many aftermarket accessories can bring the Fury into the modern era. The car is fun to drive, and it has a lot to work with for classic muscle car restorers.

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7: Dodge Dart 413 Max Wedge

The Dart 413 Max Wedge is fairly rare in the automotive world. The car was a true performance car in every sense of the word. The lightweight design and the powerful V8 engine made for a stellar formula and the car managed to sell well initially (via Autowise).

This car had a successful run in the racing world, and part of that was due to the unique build quality. If you find one of these, you’ll have a lot of fun with it. Slap a modern Hemi under the hood, and the Dart Max Wedge will be a serious sleeper.

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6: Dodge Charger

The Charger isn’t necessarily a forgotten muscle car, but it has been overshadowed. There are muscle cars that have come and gone in the world, but the Charger has stood the test of time. The performance of the Charger was unparalleled with the competition (via Autowise).

The Charger had a unique look that was different than the rest of the Dodge lineup. In recent years, the car has managed to increase in value dramatically. If you can get your hands on one, the Dodge Charger is one of the most unique muscle cars on the road.

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5: Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock

Dodge was big in the racing scene in the 1970s, so it should be no surprise that the Dodge Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock is a rare and forgotten legend. The styling of the car let you know that it meant business on the track and its performance could back it up (via Autowise).

This was the smallest production model in the Dodge lineup at the time, and it resonated well with consumers. There have been a few performance cars that came out from Chrysler during this period, and this is by far one of the most impressive.

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4: Dodge Coronet Super Bee

The Dodge Super Bee line has been impressive over the decades, but the originator of this line was the Dodge Coronet Super Bee. The design of the car made it stand out from the other muscle cars on the market. The unique yellow two-tone paint job made the car unique (via Autowise).

Dodge Coronet - Dodge Super Bee — Photo Credit: Hot Rod

The Super Bee was a popular model because of the bright yellow paint job and unique decals. The performance was also top of the line for this model. While the Coronet doesn’t bring that kind of excitement ordinarily, the Super Bee version of the car was on a whole new level.

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3: Dodge Charger Daytona

The Charger Daytona is one of the most iconic Mopar muscle cars. The orange color and the giant spoiler on the back of the car made it unlike anything else. Production numbers for this car were quite low, which has made it unique and rare in this modern muscle car market (via Autowise).

Performance-wise, the 440 V8 was a top-notch engine for the period. Obviously, with a modern Hemi V8 swap, this car could be tremendously different than you’d expect. From the performance to the styling, the Charger Daytona is an unforgettable muscle car.

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1970 Plymouth Superbird — Photo Credit: Hot Rod

2: Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird

The Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird is one of the most revered NASCARs in history. Richard Petty won numerous races while driving this car, and in return made the Plymouth brand an icon. The Superbird is one of the most desirable muscle cars drivers can get (via Autowise).

When it came to the design of the car, it had a lot of input from Richard Petty. The design of the car was meant to excel in the NASCAR circuit, and it did exactly that.

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1: Plymouth Cuda AAR

Another Plymouth that isn’t well remembered is the Plymouth Cuda AAR. This was a performance version of the car that was geared toward specific enthusiasts. The car was a street-legal race car in every sense of the word, and it was designed to perform as such (via Autowise).

Production numbers of the Plymouth Cuda AAR were only 2,724. This means the car is very rare, and it can be hard to get your hands on one. But if you do find one of these, it is a car that has a lot of potential and can perform well.

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