1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
There was another Daytona, of course - specifically, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. This one was a limited production vehicle and featured an almost jet-like design that gave it fantastic aerodynamics. Of course, what really gave it its speed was the 425 hp, 7.0L Hemi V8 engine underneath its hood.
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful production cars ever designed, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing is also so much more than its stunning good looks. Equipped with a powerful 3.0L inline-6, 215 hp engine, the Gullwing was the first production car to feature fuel injection, and was capable of reaching 160 mph - a staggering speed for the 50s.
1957 Chrysler 300C
Also known as the “Powerful Brute”, the Chrysler 300C was one of the greatest American cars of the 50s - and also among the most powerful, as its name would suggest. It was powered by a 6.4L Hemi V8 capable of 375 hp, with a top speed of 124 mph, which made it incredibly fast for its time.
1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
When it comes to classic racing cars, few names are held in as high regard as the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961. Not only did it influence many other cars in terms of design, it also set the standard for power with its 300 hp, 3.0L V12, which allowed for a top speed of 167 mph.
1959 Aston Martin DB4 GT
First unveiled at the 1959 London Motor Show, the DB4 GT was a lightweight version of the original DB4, designed and modified specifically for racing. Naturally, it was faster and more agile than its base model, with a 302 hp, 3.7L inline-6 that gave it a top speed of 152 mph.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette Fuelie
The Corvette nameplate has always stood out for its looks, but the ‘57 Fuelie finally made the car a serious performer to contend with. It was powered by a 283 hp, 4.6L V8, which introduced fuel injection to American sports cars, and gave the Fuelie a top speed of 130 mph.
1965 Shelby Cobra 427
Moving on to the 60s, while many powerful cars were introduced during that decade, the first notable example has to be the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427. Designed by the British and powered by an American (Ford) engine, the 427 was a monster of power thanks to its 425 hp, 7.0L V8.
1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”
A grand tourer designed by the legendary Pininfarina, the 1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 - otherwise known as the Daytona - was the most powerful production car of its time. It wasn’t just beautiful—it was terrifying to behold, thanks to its 352 hp, 4.4L V12, which gave it a top speed of 175 mph.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Of course, the 60s was the era of the muscle car, the category that pretty much singlehandedly defined that decade for many Americans. And while most muscle cars were plenty powerful (it’s in the name, after all), few could match the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, a rare model with a 430 hp, 7.0L aluminum V8.
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400S
It may be unfair to mention the 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400S alongside all these other great cars, for the simple fact that this gorgeous beast was a genuine, bona fide supercar. It had a 370 hp, 4.0L V12 engine kicking around beneath its hood, giving it a top speed of roughly 177 mph.
1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda
The 70s was a bad time for muscle cars due to strict emissions regulations, but Plymouth managed one last hurrah with the 1970 Barracuda (or ‘Cuda). Limited to just 352 units, the ‘Cuda was lean, mean, and aggressive American muscle all the way through thanks to its 425 hp, 7.0L Hemi V8 engine.
1971 Chevrolet Corvette LS6
Just like the Barracuda, the ‘71 Corvette LS6 is a rare model, with only 188 units ever produced. It was also among the most powerful American vehicles in its time, largely due to its 425 hp, 7.4L V8, which made it the last big-block beast before emissions regulations choked the life out of American muscle.
1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400
When you think of a Lamborghini, regardless of the specific model, you can guarantee that it was influenced by the Countach, which pretty much set the standard for all Lambos going forward. It wasn’t just beautiful, either - it was immensely powerful thanks to its 375 hp, 4.0L V12, single-handedly defining what a supercar should be.
1976 Ferrari 512 BB
Of course, Ferrari wasn’t just going to allow Lamborghini to dominate the supercar market. The 1976 Ferrari 512 BB was a sleek and sexy supercar in its own right, and came equipped with a 360 hp, 5.0L flat-12 that made it slightly less powerful but more challenging to drive - and more rewarding.
1975 Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
When it comes to luxury, Porsche is better known for the beauty of its cars than for speed, but the 911 Turbo from 1975 was no slouch. It introduced turbocharging to sports cars and came equipped with a 260 hp, 3.0L turbo flat-6 engine.
1987 Ferrari F40
The 1987 Ferrari F40 is special for two reasons. Firstly, it was the very last Ferrari model to be approved by Enzo Ferrari himself. Secondly, it became the first production car in history to reach 200 mph, thanks to its 471 hp, 2.9L twin-turbo V8 engine.
1986 Porsche 959
With groundbreaking AWD, suspension, and a sleek, aerodynamic design, the 1986 Porsche 959 was a supercar that perfectly balanced power with precision, and was one of the most sophisticated cars of its time.
1987 Buick GNX
Limited to just 527 units, the 1987 Buick GNX is one of the rarest Buick models. Despite being bulkier and more boxy than many of the other vehicles on this list, the ‘87 GNX was no less powerful for it, and had a 276 hp, 3.8L turbo V6 that enabled it to outrun even Corvettes.
1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
A high-performance variant of the classic grand tourer, the 1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage proved that the British could also come up with something powerful and impressive thanks to its 390 hp, 5.3L V8. It was hand-built for ferocity and menace.
1995 Ferrari F50
Released to celebrate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary, the ‘95 F50 was a beautiful machine, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. It was also immensely powerful, offering up a raw, driver-focused experience with its 513 hp, 4.7L V12 engine and analog mechanics.
1993 Toyota Supra Turbo
The 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo is instantly recognizable by its huge spoiler, which only hints at the car's overall exaggerated nature. Its 320 hp, 3.0L twin-turbo I6 engine was completely overbuilt, and easily capable of up to 1000 hp with the right tuning.
1996 Dodge Viper GTS
Arguably one of the most iconic machines on this list, the 1996 Dodge Viper GTS wasn’t only a good-looking car, it was plenty powerful, too, with its 450 hp, 8.0L V10 engine and brutal torque that represented a return to classic American muscle.
1995 Lamborghini Diablo SV
More powerful than the base Diablo, the ‘95 SV offered up a 510 hp, 5.7L V12 engine, and was a “purer” alternative to the base vehicle’s all-wheel drive model. In fact, it was one of the very last analog-style Lambos before refinement by Audi.
2005 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
If the 90s laid the foundation for the return of the supercar, then the 2000s showed what they could be when they were untethered. The best example of this is the 2005 Bugatti Veyron 16.4, a hypercar powered by a 1,001 hp, 8.0L quad-turbo W16 engine, which enabled it to become the first car to break the 250 mph record.
2002 Ferrari Enzo
Named after the man who started it all, the 2002 Ferrari Enzo made use of groundbreaking F1 technology to create a true Ferrari for the new millennium. It was powered by a 651 hp, 6.0L V12 engine and capable of reaching 217 mph.
2004 Porsche Carrera GT
Rare and exotic in equal measure, the 2004 Porsche Carrera GT was the last of its kind - an analog-hypercar that delivered a driving experience like no other. It was powered by a 612 hp, 5.7L V10 engine and capable of over 210 mph.
2003 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
The Mercedes-Benz name has always been associated with luxury, but the SLR McLaren has also made it associated with power. Jet-like acceleration (courtesy of a 617 hp, 5.4L supercharged V8 engine) and exquisite design made it a standout.
2004 Koenigsegg CCR
The 2004 Koenigsegg CCR is unique in that it’s one of the only Swedish-made cars on this list, and ultimately proved that Sweden was just as capable as Britain and the USA of delivering a sublime sports car experience.
2013 Porsche 918 Spyder
The 2010s were dominated by the hybrid, and the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder is what eventually drew people over. It showed that you didn’t need to sacrifice efficiency for power and had a staggering output of 887 hp with its hybrid engine.
2013 McLaren P1
A turbocharged hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1 from 2013 is a furious, fast-driving machine capable of up to 950 hp thanks to its hybrid V12 engine. An aerodynamic design also ensures it’s able to maintain those speeds.
2013 Ferrari LaFerrari
The 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari holds the distinction of being Ferrari’s very first hybrid hypercar, and set a high standard for every model to follow. It was a perfect blend of artistry and unparalleled power.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
The original Challenger was so named to challenge the Camaro for muscle car dominance, and the nameplate has never lost that spirit of competition. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was the fastest production drag car ever.
2017 Koenigsegg Agera RS
The 2017 Koenigsegg Agera RS proved once more that Sweden has plenty to offer the automotive world, and became the world’s fastest production car when it was unleashed in 2017, thanks to its 1,341 hp, 5.0L twin-turbo V8 engine, which allowed it to reach up to 277.9 mph.
