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Muscle cars were the kings of the road in their days; now, car lovers are still in love with them.
The perfect example of why muscle cars are so appealing is this article. Here, you’ll discover the best classic muscle cars available nowadays.
And so there are hundreds of classic muscle cars out there, so it’s no surprise that it’s hard to narrow down your favorite.
Here are my rankings for the best classic muscle cars.
Top 10 Best Classic Muscle Cars
1.1968 Ford Mustang GT500 KR
Ford created a more powerful version of the Shelby GT500‘s engine in 1968, even though the GT500 had already established itself in the muscle car market.
Ford’s ambition for a distinctive Shebly Mustang gave birth to the 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 engine.
Ford unveiled the brand-new Shelby Cobra GT500 KR in April 1968, claiming it to be the “King of the Road.” The GT500 KR is swiftly propelled from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 6.5 seconds thanks to the 428 Cobra Jet V8 engine’s 335 horsepower and 440 pound-foot torque.
This engine also achieves a quarter-mile time of 14.8 seconds.
2.1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Pontiac introduced the “Judge” options package when its original GTO range, which sat in the middle of the premium and economy categories, started to lose popularity in the automotive industry.
The Judge became a classic among lovers of muscle cars because of its special options package, which was only available for the 1969 GTO model year.
The Judge adds aesthetic modifications to the 1969 GTO as an options package, including a rear spoiler, striped body paint, and “The Judge” decals.
The choice shoppers have between the Judge’s two engines—a 336-horsepower Ram Air III and a 370-horsepower Ram Air IV—is more intriguing.
Only 108 convertible GTO Judge models were made, compared to 6,725 hardtop models sold by the coupe body type, which was more widely used.
The 1969 GTO Judge, when powered by the Ram Air IV, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 5.1 seconds and covers a quarter mile in 14.77 seconds, regardless of the body style combination.
3.1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO
The 1969 Chevy Camaro is well-known to lovers of muscle cars worldwide. However, only some are aware of the 69 Camaro’s COPO variation, which outperforms the competition.
The COPO Camaro version was not listed in the factory paperwork’s usual manufacturing options, making it readily unknown to most customers.
The COPO procedure was created because General Motors (GM), the parent corporation of Chevrolet, banned the installation of engines larger than 6.6 liters in smaller vehicles like the Camaro.
The 427-cubic-inch Chevy big block in the COPO version of the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro produces 430 horsepower and speeds the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.
The 1969 Chevy Camaro COPO is the fastest historic muscle vehicle on our list, with a quarter-mile pace of 13.5 seconds.
4.1969 Dodge Charger RT
The 1969 Dodge Charger R/T, perhaps one of the most well-known vintage muscle vehicles, is powered by a 440 Magnum engine that generates 375 horsepower and is mated to a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
The 1969 Charger received aesthetic improvements based on the external design of the previous year, including the signature recessed grille split vertically in the middle, restyled taillights, and square safety reflectors.
The location of the door locks was altered in the 1969 model year to address safety issues from the 1968 model year. Due to the high volume of break-ins, door locks have been placed further away from the seam created by the two windows.
Additionally, automakers were only permitted to create automobiles with the ignition key mounted on the dashboard rather than the steering column for the 1969 model year.
5. 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
While other manufacturers were preoccupied with creating the best muscle car for drag racing, the Plymouth Superbird had its sights set on Nascar.
The Plymouth Superbird, with some of the most recognizable external styling, has a sharp snout and a huge, sky-high rear wing that it uses for aerodynamics to improve its Nascar winning chances.
Built from the Plymouth Road Runner, the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Charger Daytona were stock race vehicles.
The famous rear wing of the Superbird was created as a result of Nascar regulations from 1970, which required 1,920 specimens of the vehicles entered into a race to be road registered to be eligible to compete.
For the trunk open completely, the rear wing was expanded to its unprecedented height after being created in a wind tunnel for aerodynamic efficiency.
The most popular of the three available engines for the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner was the 426 cubic inches, 7.0-liter V8 “Hemi” engine, which produced 425 horsepower.
6. 1970 Dodge Challenger TA
Most classic muscle car enthusiasts are familiar with the 1970 Dodge Challenger in its road and track (R/T) form but are unaware that Dodge also produced a Trans Am (T/A) model of the Challenger in 1970.
Dodge produced 2,400 street cars in T/A form in 1970 to meet the production demands for the Trans Am racing series run by the Canadian-American Challenge Cup Series (SCCA).
A specific configuration of Dodge’s 340-cubic-inch V8 engine with an aluminum intake manifold known as the “340 Six Pack” was used to manufacture each 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A.
The 1970 Challenger T/A cemented its exceptional build quality and uniqueness as one of the first mass-produced sports cars to feature various-size tires on the front and back.
7. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
The 1963 Grand Sport distinguishes itself among the sea of unusual Corvettes because it was the first vehicle in mass production to use the Grand Sport appellation.
In the early 1960s, the Ford Mustang pony car and the Shelby Cobra on the racing scene were excellent ambassadors for America. However, GM could not watch as Ford represented America alone on the racing scene.
The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport was General Motors’ response to the Cobra, with a 377-cubic-inch all-aluminum V8 engine with 550 horsepower and a gross weight of under 1,900 pounds.
The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport is a rare classic muscle vehicle sought after by classic automobile enthusiasts worldwide.
Initially, 125 versions of the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport were planned to conform with international racing regulations but were halted after just five units were completed.
8.1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport (Repeated 7.)
The 1963 Grand Sport distinguishes itself among the sea of unusual Corvettes because it was the first vehicle in mass production to use the Grand Sport appellation.
In the early 1960s, the Ford Mustang pony car and the Shelby Cobra on the racing scene were excellent ambassadors for America. However, GM could not watch as Ford represented America alone on the racing scene.
The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport was General Motors’ response to the Cobra, with a 377-cubic-inch all-aluminum V8 engine with 550 horsepower and a gross weight of under 1,900 pounds.
The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport is a rare classic muscle vehicle sought after by classic automobile enthusiasts worldwide.
Initially, 125 versions of the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport were planned to conform with international racing regulations but were halted after just five units were completed.
9. 1968 Hurst Oldsmobile 442
The 1968 Hurts/Olds 442 was the first official American muscle vehicle that George Hurst, the creator of the Hurst shifter, officially branded. This helped him build his name in the automotive business.
The two-door hardtop and two-door sedan versions of the Olds 442 were both available, with the hardtop version accounting for the majority of the production.
The hardtop variants were the most common at the time, but the few two-door sedans built in 1968 made the sedan variation much harder to locate.
A 455-cubic-inch V8 engine with 390 horsepower powers the Olds 442 and propels it from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, setting a quarter-mile time of 14 seconds.
Oldsmobile participated in the muscle car wars on an equal footing with Hurst, creating a vintage muscle vehicle that could compete with the best.
The 1968 Olds 442 model year included unusual options, such as “Force-Air” rally stripes, twin-gate Hurst shifters, power disc brakes, and a positraction axle.
10. 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee
The 1970 Dodge Cornet Super Bee weighs approximately 4,000 pounds and accelerates down the drag strip in 14.46 seconds on average.
The Super Bee produces a respectable average speed while delivering more hot rod styling than other vintage muscle vehicles like those on our list.
Even though the Super Bee has three different engine choices, finding a 1970 Super Bee with a 426-cubic-inch Hemi engine that generates 425 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque is extremely difficult.
There were only 125 Super Bees delivered with the Hemi engine. However, for those select few customers, as their Super Bee accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, emissions are the furthest thing from their minds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Muscle Cars Hard To Maintain?
Again, there is considerable discussion about this issue.
Some owners claim that maintaining their muscle car is simpler than maintaining their more modern daily driver. In contrast, other owners use far more vivid language to describe the maintenance problems with their particular vehicle.
The most frequently mentioned benefit is that antique automobiles were produced when life was considerably simpler. Compared to a modern car, they are easier to get to and, in certain situations, easier to fix.
Additionally, they require less maintenance because most individuals do not drive their historic cars regularly.
Are Muscle Cars Expensive To Repair?
The price to repair a muscle car varies depending on the automobile’s type and the location where the repairs will be performed.
Finding original components may be challenging, depending on the type of car you drive, and the year it was built.
Since most of the components are no longer produced, you either need to find secondhand ones in decent shape or cross your fingers and hope one is lying on a shelf someplace.
The simplest approach to cut costs on repairs is to perform them on your own.
Fortunately, fixing older automobiles is simpler than fixing modern ones, and much can be done without specialized equipment.
However, if you don’t get along with wrenches, you’ll have to pay someone else to make the repairs, which may be expensive.
How Many MPG Do Muscle Cars Get?
The specific MPG a muscle car will achieve varies on the car. In general, you can anticipate getting less MPG from an older vehicle.
A 1992 Dodge Viper, for instance, might achieve up to 20 MPG, whereas a 1953 Chevrolet Corvette typically gets 10 to 14 MPG. Older muscle cars will typically achieve between 10 and 16 MPG.
How Many Miles Do Most Muscle Cars Last?
Although these cars might seem durable enough to last a lifetime, they frequently experience severe rust damage before 100,000 miles.
However, if they are kept in a garage and properly maintained, they can keep these beauties running well beyond the 100,000-mile mark.
In addition, many more recent muscle cars are constructed using technologies enabling them to travel 200,000 miles or more and are less prone to rust damage.
Conclusion
And that is it!
Muscle cars are known for their high speeds and performance and often feature V8 engines, rear-wheel drive, and light two-door bodies.
Recently, the car industry has created V12 engines that can run up to 950 horsepower, but the V8 engine in modern muscle cars may still produce up to 500 horsepower.
These stunning creatures screamed “drive me” with their performance and speed and didn’t want to be treated politely.
Driving muscle cars should be done cautiously and in complete safety because going too fast can be fatal.