Have you ever considered that some muscle cars might be massively underrated and deserving of more attention? While the original Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are both celebrated as the muscle car greats, there are others that often go unnoticed.
Despite this, some muscle cars don’t get the attention they deserve and are often overshadowed by others. We aim to put this right in this list and show off some of the best muscle cars on the planet that, based on performance and looks, deserve more attention.
1974 Pontiac Firebird Super Duty
One such example is the 1974 Pontiac Firebird Super Duty. Despite the challenging times for muscle cars in the 1970s, this American beauty managed to stand out with its impressive 290 hp from a 455 ci V8 engine. The decade’s oil crises saw manufacturers reduce their engines’ power output to save on fuel and oil and improve efficiency.
The American manufacturer could still extract 290 hp from its 455 ci V8 engine, which were very respectable numbers for the time. Ironically, its pooer counterparts overshadowed Super Duty, leading to its becoming one of the more obscure muscle cars of the 1970s.
1987 Buick GNX
Despite its prowess, the exceptional 1987 Buick GNX never gained the same love and affection as other muscle cars. McLaren’s American division got their hands on the Buick Grand National after the American company commissioned McLaren to turn it into a monster for one last hurrah.
Under the hood, the 3.8-liter V6 engine increased its power to 276 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. However, this was a conservative estimate by Buick, and the reality is the GNX likely produces well over 300 hp in stock form. The GNX also had some impressive performance figures, with 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph.
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am
Like several other muscle cars, the Pontiac Trans Am went through a tough patch thanks to the 1970s oil crises. However, in the late 1980s, it regained its footing somewhat, thanks to the 1989 Turbo Trans Am model, which stole some of the thunder from the Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z.
Pontiac stuffed a turbocharged V6 under the hood of the Trans Am, which happened to be the final powertrain left over from the Buick GNX. These made their way into the Trans Am for 1989 only, meaning the Pontiac produced over 300 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque.
1968/’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee
The Super Bee name is often forgotten in the history of the muscle cars, yet it was once one of the most recognizable in the segment. The 1968 Dodge Coronet Super Bee was the peak of the name, with a 426 ci Hemi V8 under the hood producing 425 hp, incredibly big numbers for the late 1960s.
However, thanks to Dodge giving the Coronet Super Bee a high price tag, the manufacturer struggled to sell as many as it had hoped. There were plenty of rivals on the market, too, such as the recent Ford Mustang, which was more affordable than its Dodge counterpart. As such, the 1968 and 1969 Coronet Super Bee has become something of a hidden gem.
1970 Mercury Cyclone GT
The late 1960s and early 1970s were the peak periods for muscle cars before the oil crises came in and stifled their power outputs. While the Mustang and Camaro might hog the headlines, the 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT is a muscle car that deserves much love.
Under the hood is a 351 ci Cleveland V8 engine, producing 300 hp. The Cyclone GT has some of the most aggressive styling of any muscle car and enough power to satisfy even the most hardcore of muscle car fans. Sadly, the Mustang and Camaro overshadowed the Mercury, and the higher price tag for the Cyclone GT also didn’t help.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
While many people gravitate towards muscle cars with immense power and large displacement, sometimes it is true that smaller is better. Nowhere is this more evident than in the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, which provides that a pony count doesn’t always dictate a car’s performance.
Under the hood of the Camaro Z28 is a 302 ci 4.9-liter V8 engine, producing 290 hp. The engine resulted from a mash-up of the Chevrolet 283 and 327 V8s to create an engine that could fit under the new Trans Am championship’s 305-cube capacity limit. Yet despite less power than the mid-range Camaro SS 350, the Z28 could still beat the mid-range Camaro over the 1/4 mile and from 0-60 mph.
1971 AMC Javelin
AMC is, like Mercury, a forgotten brand within the muscle car field. But there was a time when AMC could produce an absolute gem of a muscle car, such as the 1971 Javelin. The Javelin debuted in 1971; however, it never sold, unlike other muscle cars. AMC sold just 7,105 units of the base Javelin, 17,707 units of the SST version, and 2,054 units of the range-topping AMX trim.
Despite that, the 5.9-liter V8 and 6.6-liter V8s under the hood provide plenty of power. Not only was peak performance good, but the linea power delivery was exceptional, creating one of the best driving experiences of any muscle car. Thanks to other muscle cars, the AMC Javelin has become a lot more obscure.
1969 Dodge Dart GTS
In 1969, Dodge wanted to get a few of its Darts upgraded by Hurst Performance to see just what they could do. So 80 Darts went and came back with a 426 Hemi V8 under the hood, creating the Hemi Dart solely for drag racing.
Dodge then decided to produce their version, the Dart GTS 440, to sell to the public. Instead of the 426 Hemi, the 440 ci V8 went into the Dart GTs, producing 375 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. The Dart GTS was no sloutch, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 146 mph. More impressive still was the 1/4 mile time for the Dart GTS of just 13.7 seconds.
1974 Ford Maverick Grabber
The Ford Grabber of the mid-1970s was a rare lightweight muscle car, and having little power didn’t matter to the customer. Under the hood was a 4.9-liter V8 that initially produced just 129 hp, but Ford was able to increase the power levels to 140 hp.
Despite its lightweight aiding its performance, the sub-200 hp engine meant the 1974 Grabber attracted few customers. Despite Ford’s best efforts, it was still a victim of the gas crises, and the Blue Oval was sadly forced to stop production of the Maverick Grabber in 1974. Their relative unpopularity makes them a bit of a bargain on the classic car market, and thus, a great beginner muscle car with excellent modifying potential.
Plymouth Superbird
It is an all-time classic and extremely valuable, but the Pymouth Superbord’s one-year age and high price mean many more typical muscle car enthusiasts overlook this fabulous creation. Plymouth designed the Superbird to dominate NASCAR in 1970, taking the fight to Dodge’s Charger Daytona.
The streamlined shape with the large rear wing saw the Superbird and Charger Daytona become the “aero-cars” and NASCAR speeds at crazy levels. The series had to step in and ban aero specs on cars with engines bigger than 305 cubic inches, effectively outlawing the aero vehicles by the 1971 season. By 1972, they were all gone, with the cars looking much more conventional.
Dodge Charger Daytona
The Dodge Charger Daytona is the Chrysler sibling to the Plymouth Superbird, and it is another muscle car that attracts a high value at auctions. Speeds in NASCAR at the time could reach over 200 mph thanks to how fast and aerodynamic the Charger Dayona was.
Under the hood, you would find a 426 ci 7.0-liter Hemi V8 or the 440 ci 7.2-liter Magnum V8. The Charger Daytona set numerous race and pole records before NASCAR stepped in with its aerodynamic and engine restrictions. The Charger Daytona and Superbird would race for just a couple of seasons in total.
1989–95 Ford Thunderbird SC
There were some poor attempts at muscle cars in the 1980s. The early 1980s Chevrolet Camaros on the F-body spring to mind. However, the 1989–95 Ford Thunderbird SC is one of the exceptions, thanks to the supercharging that boosted its power output.
The Thunderbird SC had an offshoot of the Windsor V8 under the hood, the Ford V6. The engine produced 210 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque under the muscle car’s hood, more than enough to match its rivals Chevrolet and Dodge. Ford upgraded the engine in 1994 to boost power up to 230 and 330 lb-ft of torque, and the 1/4-mile time of the Thunderbird SC was just 15 seconds.
Jensen Interceptor
Built in Britain by a British company, the Jenesen Interceptor is as every bit an American sports car as the first-generation Ford Mustang. That is thanks to the small block LA V8 from Chrysler that was under the hood of the British icon, which has its cult following in the country.
One of the best versions of the Jensen Interceptor was the Jensen SP, which packed a 440 ci V8 under the hood, producing 330 hp. Jensen produced just 232 examples of the SC, making it one of the rarest forms of the Interceptor. The muscle car provided a big sales boost for Jensen, which at the time needed it, and it remains one of the most loved British performance cars in history.
