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It's easy to forgo modern muscle cars when you have these classic ponies.
American classic cars from the late '60s and early '70s are highly valued vehicles. Many enthusiasts even prefer them to more modern muscle cars. It all began with the combination of a light body and a powerful V8 engine in the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. Following the Rocket 88's success in the 1950 NASCAR season, other carmakers soon joined the bandwagon.
With the arrival of the muscle car's golden era in 1964, the V8 engines had become bigger and more powerful. Running on a 7-liter twin-supercharged V8 rated at 800 hp, the 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake could hit 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds. Some other top models that roamed the highways included Hemi-powered Dodges and Plymouths, Chevrolet's Camaro ZL1, and Chevelle SS. Many gearheads believe that cars from this era are the true muscle cars. Here are 10 classic muscle cars we'd rather buy than any brand-new model.
The GSX was an appearance, performance, and handling package that Buick offered on the Grand Sport 455. It was Buick's answer to heavy hitters like the Chevrolet Chevelle SS and Oldsmobile 442 W-30. Under the hood, a monstrous 7.5-liter V8 power mill cranked out 350 hp and an insane 510 lb-ft of torque.
For 33 years, it boasted the highest torque output of an American production performance car. Other equipment included black bucket seats, quick ratio steering, disc brakes, and a limited-slip rear differential. Only 678 of these babies were built for the 1970 model year.
Introduced as a pony car in 1964, the Ford Mustang had an incredible first year on the market. Created by Caroll Shelby, the GT500 joined the Mustang lineup in 1967 with the 7-liter Ford Police Interceptor V8 engine under the hood.
For 1968, it got a more aggressive styling. Backed by 355 hp and 420 lb-ft of twist, it could hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and breach the quarter-mile in 14.97 seconds. In the middle of the model year, it got a new engine option, the 7-liter "Cobra Jet" V8 engine, and was rebranded the GT500KR.
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The Camaro was introduced for 1967 as a direct rival to the Ford Mustang. Sharing the then brand-new GM F-body platform with the Pontiac Firebird, the first-generation Camaro came with several optional performance packages. But none of them measured up to the 1969 COPO Camaro, available as two dealer-installed options.
COPO 9561 ran on the 7-liter L72 V8 engine that was good for 425 hp and 460 lb-ft. Under the hood of the COPO 9560 lay the all-aluminum ZL-1 created specifically for drag racing. Built by hand, the 430-hp ZL-1 was an extremely-expensive power plant.
Chrysler was not left behind in the quest for drag strip supremacy. In 1969, the Dodge Challenger was introduced for the 1970 model year. It came in many guises packing power from nearly every engine in Chrysler's arsenal.
The high-performance R/T (Road/Track) version sported a shaker hood, rear spoiler, and racing stripes. A 6.3-liter V8 mated to a 3-speed manual transmission was the standard power source. Buyers, however, had a choice of other engines including the 7-liter Hemi V8 rated at 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.
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After riding the A-body platform for two generations, the Plymouth Barracuda entered the third generation built on the E-body platform. For 1971, the highest performance variant, the Hemi 'Cuda ran on Chrysler's 7-liter Hemi V8 engine. With 425 hp and 490 lb-ft on tap, it had the brawn to complement its aggressive looks.
To handle the power, the 'Cuda's structure was reinforced in addition to an upgraded suspension. A handful, with higher price tags, were offered in convertible body style. The Hemi 'Cuda, one of Plymouth's finest muscle cars, is a valuable collector's car.
Following the Charger R/T's and the 500's not-too-impressive NASCAR outings, Dodge introduced the Charger Daytona in 1969. Designed to floor the competition at NASCAR races, in March 1970, it became the first NASCAR car to cross the 200 mph speed barrier.
It rode on a heavy-duty suspension and sported a nose cone and a 23-inch rear wing that provided stability at high speeds. Under the hood, the standard power option was a 7.2-liter Magnum V8 while the iconic 7-liter Hemi V8 was an option. Together with the similarly designed Plymouth Superbird, Hemi-powered Daytonas are highly coveted.
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The pinnacle of Chevrolet's muscle car lineup for the 1970 model year was the Chevelle SS 454. It came with a 7.4-liter power mill that churned out 360 hp in its base form. Fitted with a 4-barrel 800 CFM Holley carburetor, the LS6 version dialed output to astronomical levels.
With 450 hp and 500 lb-ft to play with, the SS 454 could hit 60 mph in about 6.1 seconds. In addition to the insane output, it also impressed with sports car-like handling. Buyers could also get the cowl induction hood option to enhance appearance and performance.
Although it was small and overshadowed by Ford, GM, and Chrysler, AMC (American Motors Corporation) has some incredible muscle cars to its name. One of its all-time best was the 2-seater AMX, built from 1968 through 1970. Introduced in 1969, the AMX Super Stock was powered by a 6.4-liter V8 mill fed by two 4-barrel Holley carburetors.
Designed to excel on the drag strip, it got tons of modifications while comfort features were deleted. Officially rated at 340 hp, the 3,050-pound AMX SS was a rocket that could clear the quarter mile in 10.73 seconds.
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Arriving in 1968, the Hurst Oldsmobile 442 was a joint creation of Oldsmobile and Hurst Performance. For 1969, it came with the iconic gold-on-white paint scheme, rear spoiler, blacked-out grille, and dual air intake port on the hood. Underneath, it retained the excellent chassis of the 442.
The interior gained gold stripes on the headrests, a wood grain mini console, and a dual-gate Hurst shifter. Power was supplied by a 7.5-liter power plant mated to a 3-speed heavy-duty TH-400 transmission. Rated at 380 hp and 500 lb-ft, it was one of the largest engines in an intermediate-size GM car.
The Boss 429 was a limited edition Mustang built in 1969 and 1970 to homologate Ford's 429 engine for NASCAR racing. Displacing seven liters, the large V8 mill paired with a 4-speed manual transmission to crank out a claimed 375 hp and 450 lb-ft.
To offset the big engine's weight, a rear sway bar was fitted while the battery was moved to the trunk. These changes gave the Boss 429 better handling and made it more capable on the track. 1970 models were adorned with a big black fully-functional hood scoop and got a Hurst shifter as standard equipment.
Jay Moren is a car enthusiast who loves everything with an engine. When he's not writing about cars, he plays the saxophone and keyboard. He also plays as a goalkeeper for a non-league side in his native Nigeria