From extreme weather to scientific advancements
The Boss 429 engine was so big that the chassis had to be adapted. It became famous for winning the 1966 Le Mans.
The 1957 Chevy is an indisputable classic. There is no car quite like it. The Bel Air was the more upscale model and included features such as a tissue dispenser!
Not as popular as the Charger, the Dart did find its place in muscle car lovers' hearts. This version included a 426 V8 Hemi engine that produced 425 hp.
And then there was Steve McQueen's mean machine: the 1968 Ford Mustang GT. One of the cars used in the movie was sold for US$3.74 million, making it the most expensive Mustang ever sold!
Those blue Le Mans stripes are recognizable worldwide. The stock GT350 had plenty of muscle, with a V8 and 271 hp. But the GT350R took it to another level. Fitted with Kobra Kustom upgrades, it made things roar with 306 hp.
KR stands for "King of the Road," and how cool is that? Only around 1,200 of these were built, making them rare and expensive. This beast featured a 428-cid Cobra Jet engine with 335 hp.
Reportedly only 11 convertible Hemi 'Cudas were ever built. These are worth quite a lot now. In 2013, one was sold for US$1.32 million.
The design of the Sting Ray was unique, and some might describe it as exotic. The manta ray-looking split rear window in the hardtop models really made it stand out.
AMX stands for the "American Motors experimental" code used on concept cars. Its most powerful engine was a V8 that revved 340 hp.
You probably recall this one from the 1968 movie 'Bullitt,' racing against the '68 Mustang GT.
Only 3,733 LS6 cars were ever made, so these are really sought-after (and expensive) classics. In 1970, Hot Rod Magazine described the Chevelle as "one of the brutes, and all it needs is a way of staying in contact with terra firma."
2+2 does equal 4: two seats in the front and two seats in the back. It's a cool muscle car, and there's even a site "devoted to preserving the history and lore of the Pontiac 2+2."
Yes, Road Runner, the cartoon! Plymouth paid Warner Bros. so they could use the Road Runner character to market the car. The horn even sounded like the "meep meep" from the cartoon character!
This was based off of the Road Runner Hemi, but clearly had a more futuristic look. Aerodynamics was a big thing, as it was adapted for NASCAR racing.
Elected Motor Trend's 1970 Car of the Year, the Torino Cobra was a mean machine. It featured a roaring V8 delivering 375 hp that would take it from 0-60 mph in 7 seconds.
Some people might recognize the Fury from the early '80s horror movie 'Christine.' But the only thing scary was how much power it had back then: 315 hp.
Dubbed the original muscle car, the Pontiac GTO made history and kick-started the whole horsepower race in the automotive industry.
The "442" is a reference to the car's four-barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission, and dual exhausts. It went from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and reached a top speed of 109 mph (175 km/h).
These are very rare and expensive classic muscle cars. Not so long ago, one was listed for US$250,000.
Essentially a stripped-down version of the Dodge Coronet, though the Super Bee V8 engine option would put a smile on any driver's face with its 335 hp.
The Mercury Cougar stroke the right balance between muscle and luxury. With its distinct grille, and a softer ride when compared to the Mustang, the V8 version still revved up 320 hp.
The first Buick muscle car featured a potent V8 engine with 325 hp. It would go from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds.
The engines might have not been the best in this third generation Firebird (i.e. a 2.5-liter with 90 hp), but the car became a classic with movies and shows such as 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Knight Rider' featuring Firebirds. Who wouldn't want to drive KITT, right?
See also: Cuba's coolest classic cars
Somewhere between a truck and a coupe, the El Camino combined functionality with muscle. Its 454 engine stopped being produced in 1976 due to its prohibitive price of around US$5,000.
Some purists might say this is the best Camaro ever built, and they might just have a point. The legendary ZL1 had 435 hp on paper, but in reality it had more power (reportedly over 500 hp). Only 69 of these were produced by GM, making it extremely rare and valuable.
Muscle cars are one of those slices of Americana that spread all over the world. The term "muscle car" dates back to the mid-1960s, when the early Pontiacs were fitted with powerful V8 engines featuring tons of horsepower. Mean-looking cars with big engines and more power than most of us can dream of, it's easy to see why so many people fall in love with them.
While muscle cars continue to thrive in today's market, some have indeed become classics and in this gallery we celebrate some of the finest ever built. Browse through and get your motor running!
Celebrating the best classic muscle cars ever built
Brute, powerful, and beautiful
LIFESTYLE Vehicles
Muscle cars are one of those slices of Americana that spread all over the world. The term "muscle car" dates back to the mid-1960s, when the early Pontiacs were fitted with powerful V8 engines featuring tons of horsepower. Mean-looking cars with big engines and more power than most of us can dream of, it's easy to see why so many people fall in love with them.
While muscle cars continue to thrive in today's market, some have indeed become classics and in this gallery we celebrate some of the finest ever built. Browse through and get your motor running!