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In 1964, when the geniuses at Pontiac put a 360 horsepower 400ci V-8 in a LeMans and called it a GTO, the muscle car was born. It was such a hit that it sent the other automakers scrambling to replicate it. Existing cars like Novas, Darts, and Coronets got bigger motors and cool new performance rides like Camaros, Challengers, and Javelins burst onto the scene. The classic era of muscle cars went from '64-'71, when even a Plymouth Fury station wagon came optional with a 426 Hemi. Almost as fast as it came, the classic era of muscle cars disappeared. Due to a global oil crisis, environmental regulations, and shifting consumer trends, these once mighty street beasts were tamed. Many of the great nameplates like Charger, Mustang, and Firebird continued, but they were shells of their former selves. American muscle entered the Dark Ages, and it would be decades before there was light again. Just as Europe emerged from the plague of Medieval Times with a Renaissance, the muscle car w...

Because it is a genre that enthusiasts are passionate about, you are bound to generate some criticism when compiling a list of the 7 greatest muscle cars of all time. However, we stuck its neck out to do just that. Some enthusiasts trace the history of muscle cars to the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. But the heyday of this genre ran from 1965 to 1970 before collapsing under the weight of higher gas prices, more stringent exhaust emissions regulations and soaring insurance costs. What is a muscle car? There isn't a settled definition, but most experts agree it's a smaller, 2-door car powered by a high-displacement engine typically found in a larger, full-size sedan. Some argue that pony cars, such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, aren't muscle cars at all, but for this list, we chose not to make that distinction. Manufacturers engineered muscle cars for straight-line speed, inspiring more than an occasional Saturday night drag race between traffic lights. Neither built...

A classic muscle car is the dream of young car enthusiasts to this day. For anyone in the market to purchase a new, vintage muscle car, options might seem somewhat limited. The divide between high-end options and the realities of the typical car-buying budget quickly comes into focus. This can be immensely frustrating for someone scoping out the market for an old classic that hasn't been in production for decades. While there's a huge resale space for a contemporary Honda Civics, and buyers are therefore able to be a little picky with their choice, finding a vintage muscle car that matches your specifics is a little tricky. Fortunately, the range of excellent models that remain out there for a discerning buyer is fairly wide open. Cheap options abound in the marketplace for those that are willing to be patient and put in the work to research and identify great examples. These are some classics that any buyer should keep their eye out for when looking to buy a fantastic vintage ...

America has had a love affair with muscle cars. From vintage models to newer iterations of these brawny beasts, car enthusiasts are taken with the power and bravado they exude. Muscle cars are icons of American pop culture, and the most popular models have their origins in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s eras. These cars are known for their torque that lay down the rubber on short run tracks and the horse power of the V8 engines most commonly used to power them is surprising. For your enjoyment, we’ve put together a collection of the 15 greatest muscle cars of all-time. 1. 1964 Pontiac GTO Without being certain at 100%, there is speculation that the Pontiac GTO is the first ever American muscle car. The strong engine and affordable price made this an attractive model, one that started a whole revolution in American-made car history. The name GTO was actually taken from Ferrari, and it stands for ¨Gran Turismo Omolgato¨, or street legal cars that can also race. The original 1964 version came w...

Some of the most iconic muscle cars of all time had extremely limited production numbers and can sell for 6 figures or even 7 figures in some extreme cases. Many collectors are willing to pay such exorbitant price tags for outstanding condition vehicles with original factory parts and matching serial numbers because these models literally defined what many see as the greatest era of American muscle cars. With that in mind, the American scene really started to take off with iconic muscle cars from the 1960s leading to what many would call the most iconic muscle cars ever made in the 1970s. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 425 HP, 0-60 MPH In 5.4 Seconds The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T had 4 engine options: the 383 Magnum, 440 Magnum, 440 Six Pack, and 426 Hemi. The 426 Hemi V8 engine put out 425 hp and 490 ft-lbs of torque which was more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping. The R/T only options included a Rallye instrument cluster which consisted of a 150 MPH speedo, 8,000 rpm tach, and ...

1964 Pontiac GTO The muscle car is one of the most significant innovations ever created by American vehicle manufacturers. Throughout their over 70-year history, starting in the late 1940s and continuing into today, these cars have cemented their place as a central piece of American culture. While most car enthusiasts view the 1960s and 1970s as the muscle car glory days, these vehicles pushed through challenges and manufacturers continue producing exceptional models in the present day. If you love cars and driving, you'll want to learn more about the most famous muscle cars, their origins and their rich history. You may also be interested in finding out answers to common questions about them. Origins of the Muscle Car The first American muscle car debuted in 1949, with Oldsmobile offering the Rocket 88. This car featured a lightweight body built from the Oldsmobile 76 and a high-compression overhead valve V8. This combination of a roaring engine and a light body made the vehicle t...

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Pontiac owned the muscle scene in the early 1960s. In fact, the 1964 Pontiac GTO is widely regarded as the very first of the breed. But by 1968, that car had plenty of competition. The thought within Pontiac was to make a cheaper version of the GTO with a smaller 350-cubic-inch engine called the ET (for "elapsed time") a drag-racing term. Pontiac boss John DeLorean didn't like that idea. To him, no GTO could have an engine that small. Instead, the team built a car one step up from the regular GTO. DeLorean himself named the car after a popular skit on the TV show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. The Judge featured the 360-hp Ram Air III engine standard, but buyers could also opt for the more hardcore 370-hp Ram Air IV. The rarest of all were the GTO Judge Ram Air IV convertibles—only five were built in 1969. Little-Known Fact: The original TV commercial for the Judge featured the rock band Paul Revere and the Raiders singing about the GTO out on a d...