Dodge Challenger R/T 440
The Challenger R/T was a close relative of the Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda. However, it did not have the expensive and sometimes tricky-to-maintain Hemi V8 engine. Under the hood was a 440 Magnum V8 with a famous Six-Pack intake (three two-barrel carburetors). That allowed this massive engine to deliver a healthy 390 hp. Although not as exotic as some other cars on this list, the Challenger R/T was more affordable. It was also more accessible to modify and tune, and almost as fast straight from the dealership (via How Stuff Works).
The 1970 Challenger R/T could be equipped either with an automatic or a four-speed manual. Regardless of the transmission choice, when you hit the right pedal hard enough, you could reach 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. It did the quarter-mile in 13.62 seconds at 104 mph, which was enough to put this Dodge among the fastest cars of the era. All told it is a true classic of the muscle car genre.