50 Cool Muscle Cars

Are you someone who loves muscle cars? Are you a fan of powerful American vehicles? Then you should check out this article that deeply delves into the 50 most excellent muscle cars to ever be produced. Muscle cars have been around since the 1950s, and since then, Americans and people worldwide have fallen in love with the style and power of these unique cars. Many different types and brands have produced muscle cars over the years; each one is as unique as the next. 

Muscle cars are something that America brought to the world, and many car enthusiasts keep these cars in pristine condition to cherish what beautiful machines they are. Muscle cars have been popular since they were released, and even today, there are modern-day muscle cars that still wow people. So if you want to see what 50 cool muscle cars look like, then you should check out this list that will leave you satisfied. 

The 1964 Pontiac GTO has been a favorite among muscle car collectors as it was the first muscle car that Pontaic released and one of the main reasons muscle cars started getting famous during the 1960s. It is credited for making the iconic style of a muscle car and was relatively cheap to purchase. 

The AC Cobra 427 is one of the most popular cars in the motorsports industry. Although it is not labeled a muscle car by Shelby Cobra, many people have categorized it as a muscle car because of its style and incredible power. The V8 engine made the AC Cobra stand out during the 1960s. 

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is one of the most popular muscle cars that Dodge produced, and the 1968 model is the most sought after as it looks like a classic muscle car. The standard Dodge Charger didn't have the same power and looked like the R/T model, which was equipped with a 426 Hemi. 

Plymouth hasn't been around for years, but their muscle cars still live on. A favorite among muscle car enthusiasts is the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi which stands out among the other years because of its iconic look. Something else that stood out was the engine that was behind the car, which was a V8 Hemi engine that was able to produce 425 horsepower. 

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was built for speed as it was designed by Dick Harrel, who was the top drag racer in America at the time. The Camaro ZL1 was built for drag racing, making it one of the fastest muscle cars produced during the late 1960s. 

The 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra is one of Ford's best muscle cars, as it was the most potent Mustang made at the time. The 428 Cobra has a distinctive look that captivated everyone upon release as it was a new updated look for the Mustang, which was long overdue. 

Before the Camaro became one of Chevrolet's best-selling muscle cars, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS made the company famous for making muscle cars as the car was made for speed and style. One of the years that stood out was the 1970 Chevelle SS which received a lot of praise for its substantial V8 engine that produced 450 horsepower. 

Regarding rare muscle cars from the 70s, the 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible is one of the top ones. The Cuda Convertible got most of its looks from Plymouth's Barracuda as it has a similar body style, but what makes the Cuda ten times better is the engine that it was equipped with, which was a V8 engine that produced 425 horsepower. 

The 1973 De Tomaso Pantera is the only muscle car on the list that was produced in Italy but is still worthy enough to be on the list of some of the most excellent muscle cars. The Pantera was made possible by Alejandro De Tomaso, the company's founder, and a famous Argentine race car driver. 

AMC was known for making great station wagons, but something else they started to get into during the 1960s was muscle cars. A model that stood out was the 1970 AMC Rebel Machine which has an iconic muscle car look and enough power to take anyone on. 

Plymouth was one of the top car manufacturers making muscle cars during the 1960s, and almost every model they released was popular as Plymouth had a unique style. Another model that stood out was the 1970 Plymouth GTX 440, an upgraded version of the GTO that sported a different look. 

The 1970 Plymouth Superbird 426 is another classic muscle car that is among one of the coolest when it comes to its design. The Superbird was an upgraded version of the Plymouth Road Runner based on modern racing cars that sported a 426 Hemi V8 with two more powerful engines to choose from. 

The 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator is another cool American muscle car that became quite popular among muscle car enthusiasts. Mercury was a division of Ford, so many people trusted the brand as the engines were all made by Ford. The Cougar Eliminator is equipped with a Boss 302 V8 engine, the same engine that was in the Boss 302 Mustang, which came out around the same time. 

When it comes to Ford's best-performing muscle cars, the 1969 Ford Boss 429 is at the top of the list. The Boss 429 is a rare muscle car as Ford only produced 429 in 1969. This muscle car was made for speed as it was equipped with a Boss 429 V8 engine that produced 375 horsepower. 

1970 was the year that Buick decided to go with a different look and released the Buick GSX 455. Buick realized that they had a big following in the muscle car community and wanted to make a high-performance muscle car that would be able to drive more sales. The GSX 455 became one of their most popular models as the public was pleased with the Skylark appearance and the engine they chose to run this bad boy. 

The Pontiac GTO Judge has to be the most popular muscle car that has come out as it is very recognizable because of its unique paint job and style. The Pontiac GTO Judge was only sold between 1969 to 1970, with only a handful produced. The Judge referenced the show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, which featured the phrase "Here Comes The Judge." 

Oldsmobile started making muscle cars during the 1960s and realized that it was the market they needed to get into. After a couple of years of refinement, they released their pride and joy, the 1970 Oldsmobile 442. The 1970 model was the best-performing muscle car that Oldsmobile released and one of the more stylish ones. 

The 1969 Dodge Charger 500 is another recognizable muscle car as it was featured in the television series The Dukes of Hazard. The Dodge Charger 500 is a beast of a vehicle as it is equipped with a 426 Hemi and was inspired by NASCAR. The Charger 500 was meant to beat the Ford Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II but failed in almost all the races at the time. 

The Dodge Challenger R/T is a classic muscle car that is still around today, but nothing beats the first generation of Challengers. Car muscle enthusiasts have come to love the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T because it was the first of its class and has an iconic look that cannot be replicated. The R/T was the performance model that Dodge offered and featured a Magnum V8 engine that produced over 330 horsepower. 

The Ford Torino Cobra is a rare and classic muscle car that was awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award in 1970 because of how well it performed. Ford was one of the top car manufacturers creating muscle cars, and the Torino Cobra took everyone by surprise because of its handling and power. 

Any muscle car named Shelby means that performance and speed are the top priority. The 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR is among the best muscle cars that both Shelby Cobra and Ford produced. The GT500KR resulted from Ford and Shelby Cobra coming together to make one of the best-performing cars during the late 1960s. 

The Camaro has also been a unique sports car. When Chevrolet decided that they wanted to get into the muscle car industry, they dominated and were a big revival for Chevy. The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko was by far the best model released as it had a unique style for everyone. This is the most desirable Camaro on the market, and Don Yenko was the reason why this muscle car rose through the ranks. 

The 1964 Plymouth Belvedere was the first muscle car that Plymouth designed, and because of that, it has become very desirable for muscle car enthusiasts. The Belvedere was around since the 1950s but transformed in 1962 as Plymouth went for a new design that catered to the muscle car collectors. 

The 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt is another classic muscle car that was specifically made for drag racing. There were only 100 units that were sold to the public, so not many survived the years, making this a pretty rare car. The Fairlane Thunderbolt was able to win the NHRA Super Stock championship in 1964, making it an even more legendary vehicle. 

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is another muscle car that was commonly seen on the road during the late 1960s as it produced over 85,000 units. The 1969 Firebird Trans Am is a favorite among car enthusiasts because it's the first of its kind and was made for racing. 

The 1969 Plymouth Barracuda 440 was one of the most significant pony muscle cars produced. Because of that, car enthusiasts have always loved these cars as they look like actual American muscle cars. The Barracuda 440 was equipped with a 440 Super Commando V8, a powerful engine that could move this heavy car. 

The Dodge Dart went through several different changes ever since it was first sold in 1960. Back then the Dart looked more like a classic American car than a muscle car. It wasn't until 1969 that Dodge decided to make the Dart into a muscle car as they saw the success with their other models. 

The Dodge Coronet Super Bee was an affordable muscle car that had a similar look to the Plymouth Road Runner. The 1969 Super Bee is among the most desirable among the other years as it has an iconic American muscle look and had a decent engine for the price. There were three different engines that you could choose from that were labeled as Magnum, Hemi, and Six-Pack, each being more powerful than the other. 

The 1960 Chrysler 300F is considered one of the first muscle cars during the 1960s as it was powerful and a flashy-looking car. The Chrysler 300 series were first produced during the 1950s but didn't sport the same look as the 1960 model as Chrysler started experimenting with their designs. 

Chevrolet was ahead of the game when it came to making muscle cars. The 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS is among one of the most sought-after that the company created as it has a distinct style and a powerful engine. The Impala SS was equipped with a 409-CID V8 engine that produced over 330 horsepower, which was a hell of a lot for its time. 

Regarding the early muscle car models that Ford produced, the 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 is at the top of the list. The Galaxie 500 was used in NASCAR races back in the 1960s and proved to be a beast. These muscle cars might look a little outdated, but that is why they have become so popular, and despite the looks, these cars can go fast. 

The Buick Riviera has a long history as the car was first sold in 1963 and had a completely different look than the 1971 Buick Riviera GS that took on the muscle car look. The 1971 model had a completely different look while still being able to pay remanence to the past as the shape was almost the same as the first model but looked more aggressive. 

The 1965 Chevrolet Nova SS was among the first of its kind as production for them started in 1965. The Nova SS might look a bit simple, but that is because Chevrolet decided to make this one of the lightest muscle cars on the market, making it one of the fastest for its time. The Nova SS was equipped with a massive V8 engine that could propel this car down the road with no problem. 

The 1965 Ford Mustang is a beautiful muscle car with an iconic look and is one of the cars you think of when you think of muscle cars. Ford was one of the best at making muscle cars, and the Mustang has been around for years and still dominates the road to this day. The Mustang 289 is equipped with a C-code 289 V8 engine and is outfitted with a 3-speed transmission. 

The 1965 Pontiac Catalina is an American classic that wasn't labeled a muscle car but ended up becoming one as it had enough style and power. Several models were released, each sporting a bigger engine than the next. Pontiac knew that people wanted cars with big engines and didn't let anyone down when it came to the Pontiac Catalina. 

Of course, another Ford Shelby Mustang would be on this list as they were some of the best muscle cars that were produced. Although the previous year was already featured, the 1969 Ford Shelby GT350 is just as beautiful with slight differences. These cars were made by one of the best race car drivers in Carrol Shelby and one of the top car manufacturers in Ford. 

The 1967 Mercury Cougar stands out among the rest of the years as it has the best style and is outfitted with a powerful engine. The 1967 Cougar was the first of its kind and was Mercury's way into the muscle car industry. The Cougar was equipped with a WindsorV8 engine that was more than enough to take on its competitors. 

The 1968 AMC Javelin was the first designed by Dick Teague, who wanted to make a muscle car that would appeal to the ordinary person. The AMC Javelin ended up being a hit as it was a bit smaller than its competitors and could still keep up. You can either choose between a V6 engine or a V8 engine for the base models, which was more than enough power. 

When it comes to one of the first muscle cars, the 1957 DeSoto Fireflite has to be at the top of the list as it was outfitted with an engine that was made for speed. The Fireflite was first released in 1955, but the most desirable year was 1957. The Fireflites were equipped with V8 engines from the start, which they needed to tow around the car's weight. 

The 1952 Hudson Hornet is another excellent and classic muscle car with more than enough power. What makes the 1952 model stand out is that all the Hornets were equipped with a Twin H Power engine that produced over 170 horsepower. Over the years, the Hudson Hornets have become quite popular as they are from an era that has gone away. 

The 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado was the first of its kind as Oldsmobile started getting more into the muscle car industry. The Toronado stands out because of its unique look and massive Rocket V8 engines. The Toronado produced around 375 horsepower from its Rocket V8 engine, which was known to perform amazingly. 

The Monte Carlo SS is another American muscle car made famous because of its name and reputation. The first generation Monte Carlo SS was the best produced and was one of the top muscle cars during 1970. The Monte Carlo SS had a huge engine bay needed for its massive V8 engine that took up most of the bay. 

Rambler Marlins always had the muscle car look ever since they were first produced in the early 1960s and created one of their best muscle cars in 1967. The Rambler Marlins have a unique look that stands out and is one of the reasons why they are sought after by car enthusiasts. The Rambler Marlin was, of course, equipped with a powerful V8 engine that allowed it to compete with the other muscle cars at the time. 

When it comes to Buick's muscle car line, the 1965 Skylark Gran Sport is at the top as it was one of the most potent cars produced at the time. The Skylark Gran Sport was a lightweight alternative to a muscle car, making it even faster on the road as it was equipped with a big block V8 engine. 

The Chevrolet El Camino first came out in 1959 and was only sold for two years until it was discontinued. It wasn't until the third generation El Caminos came out that Chevrolet started making them more of a muscle car. The 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS is the most desirable year because of the look as it had a more modern look and sported a V8 engine. 

The Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is probably the most recognizable and desired muscle car on the market. The look alone makes the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray stand out, and Chevrolet reinvented its design when it comes to handling. There were around 22,000 Sting Rays that were sold in 1963, but now it is believed that there are about 18,000 in circulation. 

The Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS is another one of Chevrolet's muscle cars that they created during the 1960s. This was the time that almost every car manufacturer in America was producing muscle cars as it was the thing to do and what came out of these years were priceless cars. The 1965 Chevelle Malibu SS was the upgraded version of the Chevelle and was made for speed. 

The Mercury Cyclone was already a great muscle car, but when Mercury decided to add an upgraded package that was named the Cobra Jet, things just got even better for the Cyclone. The Cobra Jet V8 engine produced over 330 horsepower, which was perfect as everyone at the time wanted more power. 

Oldsmobile had a plethora of muscle cars to choose from and another great model was the 1970 Oldsmobile F-85 which was outfitted with a V8 engine perfect for racing and showing off. There were around 8,000 F-85s that were equipped with a V8 engine with 350 horsepower. The style of Oldsmobiles is why muscle car enthusiasts love collecting and restoring them.