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Living Legends: These Memorable Muscle Cars Still Last A Lifetime

Vukasin Herbez April 26, 2023

1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO

In the early ’60s, Pontiac had much success on drag strips across America. Little by little, the performance aspect became a powerful marketing tool. A new generation of buyers wanted fast cars. Pontiac wanted to capitalize on its success, but the company was reluctant to invest in a sports car built from scratch. All their production models were big, heavy vehicles. However, a young engineer named John Z. DeLorean thought of a genius idea. Install a big and powerful 396 V8 into a light, intermediate Tempest two-door body and quickly create an actual performance machine. The result was the Tempest GTO, as it was called, an option on the Tempest intermediate model (via General Motors).

For just $295, buyers got a high-performance 396 V8 with 325 HP in standard or 348 HP in the famous Tri Power form. Manual transmission, unique trim, GTO decals, and dual exhaust were all part of the package. Since the car was light, the Tempest GTO had a convincing performance. In 1964, it was one of the quickest American cars on the market. Even Corvette owners weren’t safe from the Tempest GTOs lurking at stoplights across the country. Pontiac’s sales manager wasn’t particularly fond of the model. He thought that the GTO package didn’t have a perspective. The GTO was a hit amongst younger buyers and a star was born. The GTO had standard mechanics but an innovative package that made it dependable as fast.

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Plymouth GTX

Introduced in 1967 as a luxury option in the Belvedere lineup, this model used the same platform as the Coronet. But it was much more luxurious and had 375 HP 440 V8 standard. Plymouth wanted the GTX to compete with luxury cars of the period. So it installed almost all possible comforts and unique trim to distinguish the GTX from the rest of the model lineup (via Classics).

The GTX was a gentleman’s hot rod with lovely interior and exterior details. There was only one optional engine choice – the mighty 426 Hemi. The 440 Magnum was standard. But if you wanted the ultimate Plymouth muscle luxury, you had to go for the Hemi. It was significantly more expensive than the rest of the Mopar muscle car lineup. Because of that, the GTX was never that popular and is pretty rare today.

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Ford Mustang 289 HiPo

Most of the market was fascinated when they first saw the Mustang in 1964. They saw compact, sporty looks and a very affordable price, which seemed unreal. But there was a small portion of knowledgeable car enthusiasts who were disappointed. The reasons were the technology and engine choices. The Mustang shared modest underpinnings with the economy Falcon. Its engine lineup included pretty mild versions of inline-six and small V8 units. The power output was nothing special and the performance was below expectations (via Motor Trend).

Ford responded by hiring Carroll Shelby and producing an almost race-ready GT 350 in 1965. But for those who could not live with a screaming 306 HP 289 V8 engine in the GT 350, Ford prepared an interesting engine called K-Code. The K-Code was the 289 V8 but with a milder, more street-friendly tune and 271 HP, which was more than enough for the decent performance Mustang fans asked for. With an optional GT package with a stiffer suspension, better equipment, and lots of exterior details, 289 HiPo (High Power) was the choice of many car fanatics. Introduced in 1965 and available until 1967, the 289 HiPo was the first Mustang that ran as well as it looked. Especially if you ordered it in a gorgeous Fastback body style.

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Buick Riviera GS

The Riviera was born in 1963 and immediately became one of the most exciting cars on the American market. The combination of elegant styling, a modern interior, and Buick`s Nailhead engine made the Riviera an instant best-seller. It was the first real competitor to the famous Ford Thunderbird. But Buick wanted more, and they introduced the legendary Riviera Gran Sport or GS in 1965 (via Hemmings).

The car featured a revised suspension, a bigger 425 engine, and a host of other performance upgrades. In this version, the Rivera was a true world-class automobile with 360 HP and acceleration times of 7.9 seconds. That was better than most of the sports cars of the period. The Riviera as a model stayed in production until 1993, the first three generations, especially the GS models, remained the most sought-after as some of the best luxury muscle cars Detroit ever produced.

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Plymouth Roadrunner

When it first appeared in 1968, the Roadrunner proved to be a very influential and important muscle car. It introduced a new trend of inexpensive, fun cars. It was also a strong seller affecting the whole segment. The entire idea behind the Roadrunner was simple. Present a low-priced but powerful model to attract people with a limited budget for performance (via Hagerty).

The most appealing thing about the Roadrunner was the fact that Plymouth used the cartoon character of a roadrunner from the popular Willie E. Coyote cartoon. Chrysler paid $60,000 for the rights to use the name and design, and everybody thought the company was crazy for doing so. The sales proved everybody wrong and the Roadrunner was the first muscle car with crazy graphics and the car that started the trend. The Roadrunner had a bench seat, no luxury options, and manual steering, but it came with the powerful 383 V8 as the base engine, and buyers could also opt for the 440 or the mythical Hemi 426.

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Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Although the 1967 Z/28 wasn’t the most powerful Camaro on offer, it was by far the best choice in handling, braking, and overall driving dynamics. If the SS 350 and SS 396 were pure muscle cars with big engines and loads of tire smoke, the Z/28 was the driver’s machine and a road racing model which could handle most challenges (via American Muscle Car Museum).

The Z/28 package included front disc brakes, close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, revised suspension, and steering. It also had exterior trim details like racing stripes, vinyl roof, and headlight covers, but the real treat was under the hood. The power came from a 5.0-liter V8 with 290 hp and high revving nature. This engine proved ideal for the Z/28 and gave the car thrilling performance while retaining low weight and nimble handling. The Mustangs didn’t have such a version, and the Z/28 was a unique offering.

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Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

The first Monte Carlo left the factory in 1970. Built on the modified Chevelle platform, the Monte Carlo was a handsome coupe-only car with V8 engines and decent performance. Even though most Monte Carlos came with smaller V8 engines, there was one crazy muscle option in the form of the SS 454 package (via Hemmings).

This version was a true full-size muscle beast with a monstrous 7.4-liter V8 engine that pumped 360 HP and propelled the heavy Monte Carlo to an amazing 0 to 60 mph. For just $420 above the base price, buyers could get this trim level, transforming this coupe from a somewhat lazy cruiser to a quarter-mile beast. However, only around 3,800 people decided to do so, and the Monte Carlo SS 454 remains one of the rarest luxury muscle cars ever produced. The reason for such a low number is pretty apparent.

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Ford Mustang Boss 302

The third redesign of the Mustang appeared for the 1969 model year and the car grew in size once again. The engine choices and equipment list were thoroughly changed and the Mustang lineup was concentrated in two main directions. One was luxury with the new Grande notchback model, and the other was pure muscle with three new models. They were 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 (via Mustang Spec).

But for us, the Boss 302 is the most important model. Produced for only two years, 1969 and 1970, the Boss 302 featured a 302 V8 engine which was conservative at 290 HP. The actual output was closer to the 350 HP mark. The Boss 302 was a model intended for racing in the Trans-Am championship. Apart from a blackout hood and spoiler on the trunk, it featured a stiff, track-tuned suspension, a close-ratio gearbox, and a high-revving engine. The car was light and without any unnecessary luxuries.

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Plymouth Duster 340

As an economy brand, Plymouth was very active and successful at the lower end of the market since the early ’60s and the Valiant model. By the late ’60s and early ’70s, the compact market had grown, and Plymouth introduced the Duster 340. This model was a junior muscle car since it looked like bigger competitors, but it had a smaller 340 HP engine rated at 275 HP (via Hemmings).

Plymouth never anticipated the success that Duster 340 had achieved. Production doubled in just a few months. Despite being a compact model, the 340 was a very good muscle car since 275 HP moved the light body to respectable 0 to 60 mph times in just over six seconds. The vehicle may be half the size of some of the heavy hitters of the era, but it was almost as fast.

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Pontiac Firebird 400

When the Firebird debuted, it caused quite a stir among performance-loving car buyers in America. It was a pretty coupe with a wide arrange of optional extras and one of the biggest engines you could get in a pony car – Pontiac’s 400 CID V8. Back in the late ’60s, GM had a rule forbidding manufacturers to produce vehicles with more than 1 hp for every 10 pounds of the car’s weight. This rule aimed at stopping manufacturers from making insanely overpowered models, and all GM’s products and brands had to follow this. The only exception was the Corvette (via Hagerty).

In 1968, Pontiac introduced the new Firebird with a 400 V8 engine, which was rated at 320 HP. Immediately after its introduction, car fans publicly asked the factory why the new 400 V8 engine in the Firebird is rated at 320 HP while the same 400 V8 engine in the GTO makes 366 HP. Pontiac didn’t reply, and soon the answer came from insiders at the factory. The new Firebird 400 weighed 3300 pounds. So, to make it eligible under the GM 1 HP per 10 pounds rule, Pontiac had to rate the 400 V8 engine at 320 HP.

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Chevrolet Nova SS

The Nova was Chevrolet’s compact introduced first as Chevy II in the early ’60s. The small, affordable model was just a scaled-down Chevelle or Impala. Still, it obtained serious street credibility by the end of the ’60s since it became a favorite street racer weapon. The combination of Nova`s lightweight body and potent V8 engines made it very fast (via Motor Trend).

Chevrolet introduced the SS 350 and SS 396 versions in 1968/9, which were extremely fast. The 1970 model still retained classic styling and two powerful V8 engines as an option. Independent tuners like Yenko even offered brutally fast 427 conversions.

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Ford Mustang 5.0 GT HO

The rise in power of domestic cars during the ’80s brought the first actual performance to the Mustang range in almost 20 years. The Fox-body Mustang grew more and more powerful with each model year, starting with 175 HP in the 1983 model. By the late ’80s, the venerable 5.0-liter V8 engine was pumping 225 HP and 300 lb.-ft of torque, translating to reasonably competent 0 to 60 mph times (via Motor Junkie).

This car marked a return to the roots with a strong V8 engine and exciting performance. Also, the late ’80s Fox-body GT was very popular, so they are plentiful today. This makes them an excellent choice for entry-level collectors. On the other hand, the aftermarket for those cars is enormous, so you can modify your Fox-body GT easily and cheap.

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Dodge Challenger

Even though Plymouth had the Barracuda, the first pony car model introduced two weeks before the Ford Mustang, its stablemate Dodge didn’t enter the segment until 1970. Some muscle car historians said that Dodge was almost late to the party. But the Challenger was so good that it truly left its mark and reserved a place in history. Mopar’s E-Body models Barracuda and Challenger were new in 1970. They featured a unique design, better construction, and a larger body (via Motor Trend).

There was no significant mechanical difference between the Barracuda and the Challenger, only the design. But these two cars also had some interchangeable bodywork parts. The Challenger got full firepower from Mopar’s engines, and buyers could get a powerful 383 V8, a hefty 440, and the famous 426 Hemi. Of course, the best performers were the 440 and the Hemi. Depending on the specifications, differential ratio, and gearboxes, Challengers equipped with those engines could accelerate to 60 mph in the 5.5 to 5.7 seconds range, quick for 1970.

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Mercury Cougar Eliminator

Despite being a twin brother to the Mustang, Mercury Cougar gained a cult following and managed to create a name of its own in the late ’60s. For the 1970 muscle car wars, Mercury had something special in the Cougar Eliminator (via Heacock Classics).

The Eliminator was a top-of-the-line model with several interesting engine choices. You could get a Boss 302 engine, high-revving 5.0-liter V8, 351 Cleveland, or the famous 428 Cobra Jet. If you compare this model to the Mustang range, you could say that Eliminator was a cross between Boss 302 and Mach I Mustang. However, the Cougar was slightly longer than the Mustang and had better handling and comfort.

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Oldsmobile 442 W30

The 442 is one of the most legendary muscle car names. In true Oldsmobile fashion, the 442 was a thoroughly engineered and quality-built performance machine and a car that could stand up to any muscle car legends. In 1966, Olds presented a W30 option which was marketed “for performance enthusiasts only.”

But for 1970, this package got a whole new meaning with the introduction of the mighty 455 V8 engine with 370 HP, which was a grossly underrated figure. The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 was luxurious, powerful, and more expensive than the rest of the similar muscle cars. However, Oldsmobile engineers put a lot of time and effort into making it one of the most capable cars on the market with numerous tweaks and improvements unavailable on other GM models (via Top Speed).

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Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

What was a special version for 1969, for 1970, was a full-fledged member of the Firebird lineup. The Trans Am featured a high-revving 400 V8 engine. Although it was smaller than the 455 V8 found in GTO, it was faster because Firebird was lighter than GTO.

The engine was also available in two stages depending on the type of Ram Air induction, and power varied from 345 to 370 HP (via Motor Trend). Design-wise, the 1970 Firebird was a great-looking car, especially in Trans AM trim with front and rear spoilers and a beautiful paint job. With a 57/43 weight split, the Trans Am handled like a dream.

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Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

The third-generation Camaro was famous. But after a while, the buyers wanted more performance and power. So Chevrolet delivered that in the legendary IROC-Z version in 1985. The IROC-Z was a tribute to the Chevrolet-sponsored International Race of Champions racing series (via Car Gurus).

However, it was more than an appearance package and a cool name. Under the hood was a 350 V8 with 225 HP and in later versions, 245 HP. Buyers could opt for manual or automatic and tuned suspensions and steering. Chevrolet even offered a cool-looking convertible: the first Camaro ragtop in 18 years. The IROC-Z proved to be a popular and influential muscle car that finally brought some actual performance to buyers.

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Shelby GT 500

Even though Mustang had some performance versions like the GT with the 289 HiPo V8 engine or Shelby GT 350 in 1965, the first actual performance Mustang with a big block engine and respectable 0 to 60 mph times was the 1967 Shelby GT 500. Bigger and more powerful than before, the 1967 GT 500 featured a new design, modified front and rear end, and a hefty 427 V8 engine with 335 HP and 420 lb.-ft of torque (via Hagerty).

In those days, Ford was notorious for underrating the power output of their engines, and 335 HP sounded too little for the big 427. The enthusiasts claim that the real power was closer to the 400 hp range, and the performance figures backed that claim. The 0 to 60 mph time was 6.5 seconds which was suitable for the day, and thanks to suspension modifications, the GT 500 could handle the curves well, too.

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Living Legends: These Memorable Muscle Cars Still Last A Lifetime

1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO

Plymouth GTX

Ford Mustang 289 HiPo

Buick Riviera GS

Plymouth Roadrunner

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Ford Mustang Boss 302

Plymouth Duster 340

Pontiac Firebird 400

Chevrolet Nova SS

Ford Mustang 5.0 GT HO

Dodge Challenger

Mercury Cougar Eliminator

Oldsmobile 442 W30

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Shelby GT 500

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