The Ten Most Badass Muscle Cars Ever Made

While there are some muscle cars that have gone away from this mixture, we admire and love them anyway and want to give them some love.

What makes a muscle car? Typically, we think of these cars as rear-wheel-drive sports cars with V8 engines. We love them to be naturally aspirated to give us good-old honest-to-goodness power that translates into speed.  Let’s take a look at the ten most badass muscle cars and admire what they bring to the market.

Shelby Cobra 427

The first versions of the Shelby Cobra 427 were marketed in the UK as the AC Cobra in 1962. When brought to America, it was produced in Detroit, MI, and made in the Shelby American plant. This amazing car used a Ford V8 that power the car to give you the fun and drive you desire. The Shelby Cobra 427 is similar to other Cobra models except that it had a slightly larger and newer chassis when it was produced.

Today, the Shelby Cobra 427 can fetch top dollar at auctions and owners often keep them in pristine condition in their collection to preserve this part of American muscle car history.

Chevrolet Camaro

You can’t deny the historical significance of the Chevrolet Camaro or argue that it’s a muscle car. From the beginning in 1966, the Camaro was made to challenge the Ford Mustang and it has always offered a muscular and aggressive build. This is truly one badass muscle car that can give you the power and performance you want.

Whether you’re looking at a classic model or one of the newest versions available, the basic formula of a muscle car is present to give you the serious grunt and growl that you’re looking for. And if you shop around or even put in a request at your local Chevy dealer, you could end up with your ideal Camaro model.

Plymouth AAR-Cuda

If you’re wondering why the Plymouth Barracuda wasn’t the choice for this slot, the AAR-Cuda is slightly more powerful and specialized than the Barracuda ever was. This version of the car was designed by the company for All American Racers (AAR) and it was a spectacular car with a massive engine to offer the power desired.

The AAR-Cuda and Barracuda both had short lifespans in the market but are still considered some of the most incredible muscle cars ever made. Too bad we don’t still have the Plymouth brand making this car.

Pontiac GTO

Muscle cars can’t be discussed without the Pontiac GTO being part of the conversation. This car is probably the most popular muscle car ever made, even though it wasn’t sold in the greatest numbers. The GTO has a production run from 1964 to 1974 and then again from 2004 to 2006. This car defined what American muscle cars are and gave us a serious badass car to love.

If you’re looking for a great muscle car, look for the Pontiac GTO and become part of driving history with the greatest muscle car ever made.

Plymouth Road Runner

The Plymouth Road Runner was around from 1968 until 1980, to make it one of the longest-running cars that we no longer see today. This car was produced in Michigan and Missouri to give us an alternative to the more expensive muscle cars on the market. This means it contained fewer features and basic trim.

The Road Runner name is one that Chrysler had to pay Warner Bros. for, because of the famed cartoon character which it’s named after.

Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

While short-lived, as most of the badass muscle cars were, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 was a car that gave us lots of power and gained serious popularity. This car was offered from 1963 until 1977, which spanned three generations in which this car was offered as a coupe, sedan, convertible, and station wagon to give you the powerful engine and right build.

You might find a supersport version of this car in both manual and automatic models to give you a special Chevelle SS to enjoy.

Ford Mustang Mach 1

The Ford Mustang is the most popular muscle car ever produced and sold in the US. The Mach 1 version is a high-performance version of this car that was introduced in 1968 to give us a model that lasted ten years the first time only to appear again from 2003-2004. This car came as a two-door that is equipped with a V8 engine for serious power.

If you’re looking for a Ford Mustang Mach 1, look for one from the early versions to have a car that’s a classic beauty with the power you want to enjoy.

Shelby Mustang

Carroll Shelby was so instrumental in the success of Ford racing in the 1960s that the Shelby name continues to be part of the Mustang offered today. If you find a Shelby Mustang, it’s one of the high-powered, high-performance models of this car that can give you the fun and active drive you want. This car was originally offered from 1965-1968 and then again from 1969-1970.

Today, we see a pair of Shelby Mustang models in the lineup to give us a reminder of what this car has meant to the automotive world while carrying on the name of Carroll Shelby.

Boss 429

Can another Mustang truly be part of this list? Yes, it can. The Boss 429 Mustang offered a high-performance variation of the classic Mustang and it was only produced for a short time. That time was from 1969-1970 and only 1358 models of this car were ever created. This makes it one of the rarest cars on this list and a car that has a special place in badass muscle car history.

If you find one of the Boss 429 models, you’re likely going to find a car that will cost a lot at auction. Asa rare muscle car, you can easily admire what this model has to offer.

Dodge Charger R/T

Original versions of the Dodge Charger R/T were more popular than its counterpart, the Challenger. This car has made its way into the movie scenes and gives us a look at what we want to see in a powerful muscle car that has a strong reputation for performance. The Charger was first shown in 1965 and was one of the fastest and most efficient streetcars ever.

The Dodge Charger has become such a powerful car that many law enforcement divisions use them as patrol cars. The fastest police car in America is a Charger that resides in Michigan.