24 Most Gorgeous Muscle Cars Ever Made
Muscle cars are firmly ingrained into the United States’s automotive culture. They are as much a part of the country’s landscape as pickup trucks and the Constitution itself.
Over the years, many muscle cars have been produced, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Pontiac GTO. These are also some of the most breathtakingly beautiful vehicles to grace our roads, with the bonus of considerable power under the hood.
We’ve compiled this list of some of the best-looking muscle cars in the business, ranging from the earliest of the 1950s to present-day stunners. To shake things up, we’ve included more obscure muscle cars to add variety to the list. Performance doesn’t necessarily come into the equation with these muscle cars, with this list based solely on looks, but good performance is a bonus.
1981 Ford Mustang McLaren M81
One of the most striking muscle cars ever built is the 1980 Ford Mustang McLaren M81, resplendent in its bright papaya. Ford and McLaren Engines, the U.S. division of the British F1 team, partnered up at the start of the 1980s following Ford’s success at the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona with a car built by McLaren and Motorcraft.
McLaren took the engine of the Fox-Body Mustang and created the M81 with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain now produced 174-hp, thanks to a “hot rod tune-up” of head porting and blueprinting. With only ten made, the Mustang McLaren M81 is one of the rarest muscle car models in the world.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
Few cars evoke as much love for the muscle car segment as the first-generation Mustang. Ford launched the muscle car in 1964 and produced the first generation until 1973, spawning a new segment dubbed Pony Car. The Mustang’s design, with its long hood and short deck, proved instantly popular.
The Mustang launched with a 2.8-liter 170 ci straight-six engine, but Ford added its famous V8s to the range, introducing the 260 ci small-block 4.3-liter V8. The first-generation Mustang remains a hugely popular car in 2024 and has come to symbolize the muscle car segment as a whole.
Plymouth Superbird
The iconic Plymouth Superbird is a modified, short-lived version of the equally famous Plymouth Road Runner. The Superbird, however, was a direct response to the Dodge Charger Daytona, which, when introduced in 1969, began to dominate the NASCAR series thanks to its power and aerodynamics.
The Superbird and Charger Daytona became known as the “Mopar Aero Cars” thanks to their large rear wings and the downforce they produced. Power came from the massive 7.0-liter Hemi V8 and the even bigger 7.2-liter Super Commando V8. Speeds in NASCAR became so high that the series had to curb engine displacement to slow the cars down, which effectively made the Superbird and Charger Daytona obsolete after just two years.
Dodge Charger Daytona
Speaking of Dodge, the Charger Daytona deserves an entry of its own. Chrysler engineers worked hard to make the Charger Daytona as fast as possible, taking the standard car to a wind tunnel to determine what they needed to change. This included the two-foot-tall rear wing, flush rear window, and long, sloped nose. As a result, the Charger Daytona became the first NASCAR car to break 200 mph.
Dodge dominated in 1969 and continued to rack up wins in 1970, along with the new Plymouth Superbird, before NASCAR outlawed them. With an enormous 440 ci and 426 ci Hemi V8 power under the hood, the Charger Daytona has become one of the most desirable muscle cars on the planet, and they have sold for as much as $1.4 million.
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
In the late 1960s, Ford was looking to gain an advantage over its rivals in NASCAR with as powerful a Mustang as possible. It took its muscle car and shoved a 429 ci V8 under the hood, creating the Boss 429 Mustang. The 429 ci V8 was designed specifically for racing and would produce 375-hp. Even better was that Ford had to make at least 500 to satisfy NASCAR homologation rules, which meant the public could play with this massive engine.
The reality was that the big V8 didn’t translate into performance on the street. Ford soon discovered it wasn’t up to the job and was slower than other big-block Mustangs. Too much work was also required to fit the big 429 ci engine into the Mustang, so in the end, Ford produced just a handful of examples for public sale, and they are now worth well over $200,000.
Buick GNX
While it might not be the most beautiful car on this list, the 1987 Buick GNX is one of the most striking. In 1987, Buick wanted to bid a fond farewell to the Regal, so it partnered with McLaren’s U.S. division to create the GNX — the final form of the Regal and one of the most intimidating muscle cars ever made.
Under the hood, McLaren had worked their magic yet again. They tuned the 3.8-liter V6 engine, added Garrett turbocharging, and boosted the power to 276-hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. That was a conservative estimate, and the reality is that the GNX produces around 300-hp and even more torque at 420 lb-ft. The Buick GNX is now worth as much as $300,000, thanks to its rarity.
1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Chevrolet no longer produces the iconic Camaro, but we do at least have classic examples to look back on. The Camaro was Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Mustang, and it arrived three years later in 1967 with extra-meaty engine options, including the 396 ci V8 with 375-hp.
One of the best Camaro packages was the Z28. It came with the lighter 302 ci 5.0-liter small block V8 producing 290-hp, but you could also order it with the big block 396 ci 6.5-liter engine. The Z28 was a gorgeous muscle car, made more striking by the go-faster stripes on the hood, and it has become one of the most popular versions of the Camaro. It also makes us lament the passing of the Camaro even more.
1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
You can regularly debate where the muscle car began, and a strong argument suggests it started in 1949 with the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. This unremarkable car hit the showrooms in 1949, yet Oldsmobile has cranked things up a notch by shoving a massive V8 motor into the Rocket. An engine generally reserved for its bigger saloons.
Under the hood, the Rocket 88 had a 303 ci 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 140-hp. This is not a lot by today’s standards, but it was plenty for the late 1940s, mainly thanks to the Rocket 88’s lightness. The Rocket 88 would compete in NASCAR and won six out of nine races in its first racing season.
2006 Pontiac GTO
Now for something completely different. The 2006 Pontiac GTO was the final act for Pontiac’s legendary muscle car, and despite more mundane looks, the GTO went out with a bang. It packed in a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine, producing 400-hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
With its more subtle design, the 2006 GTO was a true sleeper, and its performance figures still stand up well in 2024. It keeps the GTO in the same ballpark as some modern muscle cars, and there is something quite exciting about a muscle car that can creep up on unsuspecting prey only to unleash more V8 power than its rivals thought possible.
Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist
While modern muscle cars may lack the style or charisma of the classics, they can still take our breath away. The Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist is a prime example, and what starts as a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is transformed by Hennessey Performance into something even more extreme.
Hennessey takes the Camaro ZL1 and adds a new supercharger, rebuilt engine, and new exhaust, which increases the power to a frightening 1,000-hp. If you unleash all that and keep your foot on the gas, the Exorcist will take you to a dizzying 217 mph top speed. The Camaro Exorcist is easily one of the most extreme muscle cars ever created.
1966 Shelby GT350
When automotive legend Carroll Shelby first got his hands on the Ford Mustang, he intended to take the muscle car and turn it into one of the best race cars on the planet. Then, he made it street-legal; thus, the 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 was born.
What began as a Mustang 2+2 fastback would have the Ford Hi-Performance 289 ci V8 under the hood, with modifications such as a “High-Riser” manifold, big four-barrel carburetor, hot cam, and free-flow exhaust headers. Power was boosted to 306-hp versus the 271-hp at the factory, and Shelby would strip the Mustang of weight to shed 300 lbs from the factory model.
1969 AMX/3
One of the more obscure muscle cars on this list, the 1969 AMX/3 looks more like an Italian supercar than an American car. But this striking-looking machine was part of an international collaboration between the AMC team led by Dick Teague, ItalDesign, Italian engineer Giotto Bizzarrini and BMW. The result was a mid-engine muscle car with an AMC 390 ci V8 under the hood producing 340-hp and a top speed of 170 mph.
Despite the promise, the AMX/3 never officially made it to AMC showrooms. The muscle car’s price would have been around $15,000, just a few thousand below the price of the new Lamborghini Miura. As such, the American public never got to experience what the AMX/3 was capable of.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette
The 1980s were a challenging decade for the muscle car. Thanks to the gas and oil crisis of the 1970s, muscle car power was stifled, and manufacturers were lucky if they could extract over 200-hp from their vehicles. Despite this, the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette, with its 205-hp, was still an excellent-looking muscle car with its sleek and slender body.
Chevrolet could at least extract more power from the Corvette during the decade, thanks to the 375-hp ZR1. This was a clear sign that things were looking up once again for the muscle car segment after a tough 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s.
1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
Continuing with the 1980s, the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z was another of the best muscle cars of that decade. Chevrolet launched IROC-Z three years after it launched the third-generation Camaro, with the moniker standing for International Race Of Champions. The package started as an option for the Z28 Camaro.
A 5.0-liter V8 engine powered the IROC-Z, producing up to 157-hp and 245 lb-ft of torque. Its exterior styling made it stand out, with new five-spoke alloy wheels, IROC-Z decals on the doors, and elegant stripes below them. The stripes alone help to make this one of the best-looking Camaros of all time.
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Few muscle cars have the same visual impact as the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. This is, of course, the muscle car made most famous for its starring role in “Smokey and the Bandit” starring the legendary Burt Reynolds, and the sight of the Pontiac muscle car with the Firebird on the hood is one of the enduring memories of that series.
The 1977 Firebird Trans Am was part of the second generation of Trans Ams, and the muscle car received a facelift that year, including four new rectangular headlamps. GM also sourced larger V8s for its Firebirds, including the 403 ci 6.6-liter Oldsmobile V8 and 5.7-liter 350 ci Chevrolet V8.
1971 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette
By nature, the Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car, not a muscle car. However, the Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette turned it into a fully-fledged American muscle car, and it was a car shut down by the US Justice Department using the Clean Air Act of 1970.
Before this, the Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette’s performance made it a legend. Under the hood was a 427 ci V8 with an Edelbrock intake manifold and a 4-barrel Holley carburetor that produced at least 430-hp. Some believe the Phase III GTs could produce as much as 530-hp. Whatever the accurate power figure, these striking Corvettes are some of the rarest on the planet, with just three rumored to have survived into 2024.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette C4 ZR-1
It would be remiss to mention the 1984 Corvette C4 ZR-1 without giving it its unique entry. After the disappointing 1970s and early 1980s muscle cars, the C4 ZR-1 was a breath of fresh air. Its range-topping 5.7-liter V8 engine produced 375-hp thanks to dual camshafts for each bank of cylinders.
The C4 ZR-1’s power came thanks to a partnership with Lotus, which GM owned at the time. The British company tuned the V8 engine and extracted even more power from it in 1993 at 405-hp. Further differentiating it from the standard Corvette was the unique bodywork, including the doors flaring outward to wider fenders.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6
It has been long since the Chevelle name was part of the Chevrolet lineup. Its most significant era was in 1970, with the monstrous Chevelle LS6 sporting the massive 454 ci V8 engine producing 450-hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. That, though, is a conservative estimate, and the high 11.25:1 compression ratio and the Holley 780 CFM carb means the LS6 produces closer to 500-hp.
The Chevelle LS6 was also a striking-looking muscle car, with its bulging hood, large SS badge on the grille, and stripes down the hood and across the trunk. Chevelle LS6s are incredibly valuable, with a highly original convertible version selling for $600,000 in May 2024.
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Pontiac may no longer exist, but in the early 1960s, the iconic brand dominated the muscle car scene. It took the Ford Mustang to take the fight to the incredible Pontiac GTO, and in the late 1960s, boss John DeLorean wanted a bigger, bolder GTO to keep their muscle car in the fight.
This led to the creation of the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge, named after a skit on the popular TV show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. The 1969 GTO Judge had the standard 360-hp Ram Air III engine, but the 370-hp Ram Air IV was also an option. Of all GTO Judges, the rarest is the GTO Judge Ram Air IV convertibles, with just five produced in 1969.
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
Homologation specials are some of the most remarkable performance cars, none more so than the gorgeous 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt. Ford produced just 100 of these to race in the NHRA Super Stock Series, which the manufacturer would go on to win. Now, the Fairlane Thunderbolt is one of the rarest muscle cars of them all.
Under the hood is a massive 7.0-liter V8 producing 425-hp, although allegedly, the engine produces closer to 500-hp. The 100 production examples were actual race cars for the road, and they had the speed to reach 60 mph from a standstill in just under five seconds, and the 1/4 mile was breached in just 12 seconds.
Dodge Viper RT/10
Subsequent generations might be fully fledged sports cars, but the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10 was a brutal, sturdy, and terrifying muscle car. The huge 8.0-liter Dodge Viper Viper V10 was critical to its ferocity, producing 400-hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Making the Viper even more terrifying was its lack of driver aids and safety features.
The Viper had no traction control. Airbags were not considered a requirement, and they didn’t have a proper folding roof or windows. Stability control was out of the question, so driving the 1992 Viper was unlike anything else. That didn’t stop it from becoming one of the best American performance cars ever.
1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
The genuinely stunning 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake is undoubtedly the rarest muscle car on the planet. Carroll Shelby designed the 427 Super Snake as the ultimate street-legal version of the Sobra, and he crammed in a massive 7.0-liter V8 under the hood.
If that wasn’t enough, Shelby added two superchargers to make the Super Snake produce 800-hp. Shelby only produced two Super Snakes, one for himself and one sold to Bill Cosby. Terrified of its power, Cosby returned it to Shelby before selling it to Tony Maxey. Sadly, Maxey crashed and destroyed the Cobra. After he lost control at a traffic light, the throttle stuck open, and the car ended up plunging from a cliff.
1962 Pontiac Catalina Super Duty
Pontiac may be most famous for the GTO and the Firebird Trans Am, but they weren’t the only tricks up its sleeve. The American manufacturer also produced the gorgeous Catalina Super Duty, yet it never meant for it to become a muscle car.
The Catalina Super Duty appeared before the term muscle car had become the automotive lexicon. But with a vast 421 ci Super Duty Pontiac V8 under the hood producing 405-hp, it became a muscle car by default. Pontiac also shed some weight from the Catalina thanks to the use of aluminum body panels and hoods.
1966 Plymouth Barracuda
Another name consigned to automotive history is Plymouth, but the famous manufacturer did not know how to produce a gorgeous muscle car. At the top of the tree came the 1966 Barracuda, with a massive 235-hp V8 under the hood pushing the muscle car to a 0-60 mph time just under ten seconds.
Their popularity means it is relatively easy to pick up a 1966 Baracuda. Early versions are becoming rarer, and the earliest were modified versions of the Plymouth Valiant, leading to their becoming known as the Plymouth Valiant Barracudas.
