1970 Pontiac GTO “The Judge”
Easily one of the most iconic vehicles on this list, “The Judge” featured a blacked-out grille, a rear spoiler, and special “Judge” decals. Designed to appeal to younger drivers at the time, it’s now fondly remembered by old-timers.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
With a longer wheelbase than its cousin, the Plymouth Barracuda (as well as a more plush interior), the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T was a more powerful car overall, which was only further emphasized by its bold front grille and classic (and domineering) E-body shape.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Designed specifically to handle all the twists and turns of a rally track, the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 wasn’t just a great performer all around; it was a truly stylish piece of automotive engineering with its racing stripes, aggressive stance, and cowl induction hood.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Speaking of the Barracuda, it was another classic piece of American muscle that developed a strong following of its own. Performance variants were often referred to simply as “‘Cuda’s”. It was a Mopar icon with a menacing aura.
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
While there’s a strong case to be made for the original Mustang to make an appearance on this list, we’re more partial to the Mach 1 released in 1969. With a more aggressive fastback profile and blacked-out hood, the Mach 1 blended muscle with elegance in a way that few other vehicles could match.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
Although its roaring LS6 454 cubic-inch V8 engine made it famous, there’s no denying that the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 was also a style icon in its own right (which is par for the course for the folks who also developed the legendary Corvette).
1967 Pontiac GTO
Although the Mustang set the standard for all future pony cars, it’s arguable that the 1967 Pontiac GTO was the first muscle car to surpass it. Widely considered to be the quintessential muscle car, the GTO featured that distinctive coke-bottle shape and stacked headlights, setting a high benchmark that others could only aspire to.
1968 Dodge Charger R/T
Arriving just one year after the GTO, the ‘68 Dodge Charger immediately gave that car a run for its money. It also featured a coke-bottle shape, with hidden headlights and a “flying buttress” rear window, all of which gave it one of the most recognizable silhouettes to ever grace the highways.
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was the very first vehicle to bear the legendary Trans Am nameplate. With production numbers limited to just 689 coupes and 8 convertibles, it’s also exceptionally rare, but that hasn’t prevented it from being recognized the world over for its timeless design.
1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport
Arriving just before muscle cars became, well, muscle cars, the 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport immediately stood out for its refined sense of style, offering a fantastic balance between aggression, handling, and dashing good looks.
1971 AMC Javelin AMX
Though many muscle cars were more than happy to fall in line with established trends, AMC took a gamble on the Javelin, giving it a more futuristic design with wide fenders, an aggressive nose, and a ducktail spoiler. While not as successful as some of its rivals, the Javelin is nevertheless an enduring icon of that era.
1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
With a name like that, you had best believe that the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator was a real menace. A high-performance variant of the original Cougar, it came with racing stripes, a spoiler, and a mean-looking blacked-out grille, sealing its place in the minds of many as one of the coolest muscle cars to ever do it.
1966 Chevrolet Impala SS 427
We weren’t about to leave the Impala off this list, but it’s the SS 427 model in particular that made the biggest impact. A full-size muscle car with a long, low-sitting profile, it moved like a sleek panther or some other jungle cat, prowling with menace.
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30
Olds may not be around anymore, but the automaker certainly left its mark on the pony car category. The W-30 was the ultimate version of the 442, and featured a roaring 455 cubic inch V8 engine under the hood. Aesthetically, its elegant styling made it one of the most celebrated muscle cars of its time.
1964 Pontiac GTO
Many cars are claimed to have been the “first true muscle car”. We won’t confirm this either way, but the 1964 Pontiac GTO was definitely one of the first of its kind. Its design influenced all others going forward - how could we not include it here?
1971 Plymouth GTX
The GTX put its own unique spin on the tried-and-tested muscle car design formula. It featured rounded “fuselage” styling, with a deeply set grille and headlights, as well as prominent scoops and a raked windshield. It was bold, experimental—and it paid off.
1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455
Limited production numbers of the 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 only increased the mysterious aura surrounding it. Its "shaker" hood scoop and distinctive graphics gave it unique appeal for a muscle car, and it ultimately represented the end of an era for the Trans Am.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
A unique blend of performance and style, the ‘67 Camaro RS/SS combined the styling of a rally car (the “RS”) with the performance of a super sport (the “SS”). It was a mixture that worked beautifully in its favor.
1970 Ford Torino Cobra
Built entirely for speed and named for its 429 cubic-inch "Cobra Jet" V8 engine, the 1970 Ford Torino Cobra was even more muscular than other muscle cars, with its Shaker hood scoop and Magnum 500 wheels, all of which - along with its phenomenal performance - earned it immense street cred.
1966 Dodge Coronet 500
The 500 was the top-level trim of the ‘66 Dodge Coronet. Its styling was almost minimalistic, simple but effective with its square-jaw looks and aggressive stance. It was also a helluva performer, and was more or less the epitome of classic 60s muscle cars.
1969 AMC AMX
The 1969 AMC AMX may have been smaller than many of its counterparts and rivals, but it certainly wasn’t lacking in either power or style. It was a unique take on the classic muscle car formula with its shortened wheelbase, but one that is nonetheless beloved to this day.
1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler
A high-performance muscle car based on the original Cougar, the Cyclone was a homologation special designed specifically for racing. It thus featured a much more aerodynamic design, with a unique “boat-tail” rear and a front end designed to reduce drag.
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
Featuring a distinctive sloped rear and more compact styling when compared to its counterparts, the 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback is so iconic that tons of other vehicles came to embrace its style.
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
The 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 was designed for power, and though it was based on the GSX platform, it featured a number of exclusive cosmetics, including both front and rear spoilers, distinctive graphics, and a functional hood tachometer. Produced in a limited capacity, it’s one of the rarest muscle cars today.
1967 Dodge Charger
We would be shamefully remiss if we didn’t give the 1967 Dodge Charger a place on this list. Bold and almost futuristic for its time, it featured hidden headlights, a fastback style, and a full-width taillight that made it impossible to mistake for any other muscle car of the time.
1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee
Released just four years after the last entry, the 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee was a more affordable muscle car than its predecessor, but that didn’t mean it skimped on style. With a split grille and a loop front bumper, it was unmistakably good-looking.
1966 Pontiac Catalina 2+2
Although it never reached the heights of success enjoyed by its rivals and even some of its siblings (like the GTO), the 1966 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 was still a stunning vehicle, a big package that remained elegant and timeless despite its larger appearance.
1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 454
Though it shared a platform with the Chevelle, the 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 454 was the more luxurious of the two, trading menace for elegance, power for precision, while still maintaining the classic overall look of other muscle cars.
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
With only 100 units ever produced, the 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt is one of the rarest vehicles on this list. Specifically designed to conquer the tracks, it was simple in its design, which only made its startling performance capabilities all the more surprising.
1967 Mercury Cyclone GT
Released at the same time as the Cougar, the Cyclone was a much more powerful vehicle and featured twin scoops atop a fiberglass hood, blacked-out grille, and rocker panel stripes that instantly made a statement.
1969 Oldsmobile Hurst
As one of Olds’ most exclusive models, the 1969 Oldsmobile Hurst was also one of the automaker’s best-looking with its dual scoops, special striping, and spoiler, all of which gave it a flair and elegance few others could match.
1970 Dodge Super Bee
The 1970 Dodge Super Bee was another performance-oriented model, but one that still maintained a distinctive personality with its “bumblebee wing” loop front bumper, as well as its playful branding that belied its menacing performance capabilities.
1969 Ford Talladega
A special muscle car built specifically for NASCAR, the 1969 Ford Talladega featured a flush-mounted grille at the end of an extended front nose, as well as rolled rocker panels, which not only looked cool but also enhanced the vehicle’s aerodynamics.
1969 Chevrolet Nova SS
Decidedly compact when compared to similar models, the 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS featured a simplified design that only made it all the more timeless in the years and decades to come.
1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst
Luxurious and muscular all at once, the 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst was a grand touring model with a long body, unique gold accents, and tons of upscale features like leather seats and power accessories.
