Muscle cars-a fleeting romance that turned into a worldwide affair…
Every classic car fanatic will know about the original muscle car era. Before economy and boot space were even a thing, manufacturers were cramming monstrous engines in mid-size vehicles and unleashing them on mankind for our pleasure.
Here’s an example of a muscle car, the Boss 429 Mustang, that was a huge hit and globally recognized. The Ford brand muscle car has become synonymous with that era of size power and fashion, an icon to many and worshipped on the silver screen.
Arguably at the peak between 1965 and 1970, muscle car madness was a craze like no other. That said, many motor junkies look back as far as the 1940s for the earliest example of a muscle car, the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The Mustang, Chevvy SS, MOPAR and Cuda’s got so much love, but what about the rest?
Although you’ll tend to see all of the above in spates at cars and coffee, there’s a lot more out there to be enjoyed. Particularly if you are hoping to buy a muscle car, don’t be fooled into thinking the main sellers from that era and beyond are the only worthwhile purchases.
For the purpose of today’s countdown, we’ll open up the doors to underrated muscle cars from every generation.
1974 Pontiac GTO
By the mid-1970’s, muscle cars were rapidly becoming a thing of the past. The Pontiac GTO, for all its perks and beauty, flopped in the sales department. Offering a 5.7L V8, the surprisingly efficient and sturdy ’74 GTO was a dream to drive.
Nowadays the 1974 GTO will be the cheapest muscle car you can buy, at least in terms of bang for your buck and build quality. The leather interior, beautifully set clocks and smooth lines all add to this classic vehicle’s underrated and understated status.