10 GREATEST OLD MUSCLE CARS OF ALL TIME

There's just something about that smell of burning rubber, the loping of a high-displacement engine, and that old-school feeling you get when driving a classic muscle car. We've seen a plethora of different models and variations over the years, but that list gets drastically reduced when we start talking about the G.O.A.T.S. - or greatest muscle cars of all time.

The muscle car era really began to take off in the 1960s, however many will argue that its ties actually go all the way back to the late 1940s and '50s with models like the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and the Chrysler 300. Back when Plymouth was still a household name, there were a few select brands that dominated the market - Dodge, Chevy, and Ford were among the chosen ones, and you've probably noticed that these names remain leaders in the muscle car segment to this day.

Related: The Top Muscle Cars Of The 60s And 70s

Mustang Boss 429

0-60 MPH Time: 7.1 Seconds

The Ford Mustang was once known as one of the best muscle cars on the market making its debut in 1964. Five years later, the car was revamped for 1969, and with it came a new model - the Boss 429. We've seen a few different variations of the Mustang Boss since, but the 429 is definitely one that should always be mentioned.

1969 Mustang Boss 429 Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Fastestlaps.com)

Similar to the Superbird, Ford had plans to homologate its semi-hemispherical 429 engine for NASCAR racing to compete with Chrysler's 426 Hemi. According to NASCAR's rules, an engine had to be featured in at least 500 on-road examples before it could be used for racing. Because of this, the 429 began to get thrown into various models, starting with the Cobra Jet Mustang and also being seen in other versions such as the Boss.

Oldsmobile 442

0-60 MPH Time: 7.0 Seconds

The 442 came out in 1964 and was originally dubbed the "B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit" option which was added to the F-85 and Cutlass models. It featured a 310 horsepower V-8, which may not seem too impressive by today's standards - but in 1964 this was actually a solid number, solid enough that it was used to chase down the bad guys.

1968 Oldsmobile 442 Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Hagerty)

It wasn't until 1968 that the 442 actually became its own model. Believe it or not, the name 442 didn't exactly come from the size of the engine displacement. The first four stood for the four-speed transmission, while the second four referred to the four-barrel carburetor, and the last digit, two, came from the dual exhaust.

Related: 10 Fastest Classic Mopar Muscle Cars

Chevrolet Camaro SS

0-60 MPH Time: 6.8 Seconds

The Camaro SS, just like the Chevelle SS, was another car that benefited from the lifting of the engine displacement ban. The SS trim did not, unfortunately, feature the 454 like the Chevelle SS but did allow for a choice between 350 (5.7-liter) or 396 (6.5-liter) engines.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from automobilecatalog.com)

The 1969 Camaro SS is arguably the most desirable year, mainly due to the fact that this was the last year that the gen-1 Camaro SS was produced. The updated exterior comes across as more aggressive than other first-gen Camaros, and the performance is undoubtedly good enough to earn the SS badge.

Pontiac Firebird

0-60 MPH Time: 6.5 Seconds

The first generation Firebird was produced from 1967 to 1969. For '69, the Trans Am was part of a specialty trim featured on the Firebird, enforcing the statement that a Trans Am is always a Firebird, but a Firebird isn't always a Trans Am.

1969 Pontiac Firebird Specifications

The standard Firebird featured the Ram Air III V-8 engine while the more desirable power plant was the 350 horsepower Ram Air IV V-8 engine. Just like the majority of other models on the list, fuel efficiency was less than ideal.

Related: The Definitive History Of American Muscle

Chevrolet Chevelle SS

0-60 MPH Time: 6.0 Seconds

SS, if you weren't aware, stands for Super Sport. For some of you, this term may be self-explanatory, but for those who aren't savvy with muscle cars, we'll get you up to speed. The SS badge came on select models such as the Camaro, Chevelle and El Camino, just to name a few. It was a signature performance option and for many, is the most desirable trim.

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Fastestlaps.com)

In 1970, GM decided to lift the ban on engine displacement, and I'm sure you can imagine what Chevy had in mind. Soon after, the Chevelle began to come off of the lot featuring the legendary 454 engine - and when paired with the 800CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor it was able to produce a whopping 450 horses.

Dodge Charger R/T

0-60 MPH Time: 5.2 Seconds

The classic Charger R/T is undoubtedly one of the most well-known muscle cars from back in the day, partly because of the muscle car guru, Dominic Toretto. The Fast and Furious movie series has made dozens of cars famous over the years, but Dom's go-to has always been the Charger.

1969 Dodge Charger R/T Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Automobile-catalog.com)

While it may not be impossible to find a classic Charger R/T for sale (like the Cobra 427 Super Snake), it has still seen a significant rise in price. A quick search on Classiccars.com turns up dozens of results starting at around $20,000 - although fully restored options will net you closer to $100,000.

Related: Here’s What Makes Chrysler’s HEMI So Special

Dodge Charger Daytona

0-60 MPH Time: 5.2 Seconds

The Dodge Charger Daytona, at first glance, looks just like the Road Runner Superbird. This is because they were (somewhat) twins. The same massive wing and aerodynamic nose cone were featured, which for many was considered ugly, but for others - it was just that much more desirable.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Fastestlaps.com)

This look wasn't due to the designers being short of sleep, nor was it from a weird trend. Dodge, at the time, wanted to be as competitive as possible on the oval tracks - and the previous 1968 Charger 500 just wasn't cutting it. Aerodynamics was the name of the game, and that is why this strange, yet effective design was implemented.

Pontiac GTO Judge

0-60 MPH Time: 5.1 Seconds

The Pontiac GTO Judge isn't just any GTO, it was made specifically with one task in mind - to go fast. Anything that wasn't necessary was stripped from the car, lightening the weight which in turn made it faster. To take things to the next level, Pontiac even got a helping hand from someone whose name probably sounds familiar - John DeLorean.

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Specifications

The GTO, at this time, was a competitor with the Plymouth Roadrunner. Its only issue was that the Roadrunner featured similar performance at a noticeably lower price point. This was one of the original reasons for the GTO Judge having most of its unnecessary components removed - to reduce the price. However, weight reduction proved to be the biggest benefit of this cost-reducing strategy.

Related: Best Generation For A Chevy Camaro Project Car

Plymouth Road Runner

0-60 MPH Time: 5.1 Seconds

The Road Runner may not have gotten the incredible amount of recognition that the Superbird did, but that doesn't mean it isn't a muscle car worth remembering. Take the 1969 Plymouth Road Runner "Mike Myers" edition for example, which recently won "Goodguys Rod & Custom Muscle Machine of the Year" award and is owned by none other than Kevin Hart, comedian and actor.

1969 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Fastestlaps.com)

In 1969, the Road Runner featured a 6.3-liter V-8 that made just over 330 horses. While this was actually a solid number at the time, most muscle car enthusiasts will agree that the 426 Hemi introduced in 1970 is the powertrain to be had in a Road Runner due to the bigger displacement and nearly 100 additional horsepower.

Plymouth Road Runner Superbird

0-60 MPH Time: 4.8 Seconds

The Road Runner Superbird is one of the most well-known and sought-after classic muscle cars. This is probably due to it being featured on shows like Gas Monkey, plus the fact that it was known as a car that was about as close as you could get to something you'd see in NASCAR.

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from Fastestlaps.com)

As you might expect, a car known and loved by so many enthusiasts does not typically come cheap. It's said that the Superbird only saw a production run of about 1,935 cars, while some claim that this number may have actually been closer to 2,700. Either way - the desirability in addition to the limited number of cars produced means the Superbird is a rare sight and could potentially go for over one million dollars. Don't believe it? Check out this 1970 model that recently sold at auction for nearly 1.7 million.

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