Muscle cars occupy a unique position in American history. Not only were they strong, powerful and only driven by the coolest of folk, but they also turned into supremely valuable items after Hollywood popularized them in iconic movies.
But which muscle cars were the best muscle cars? Which have withstood the test of time to keep their value and their reputation even after all these years? Here are just four of the greatest muscle cars ever.
1. 1967 Pontiac GTO
Few people realize that the 1967 Pontiac GTO shouldn’t have existed at all. Its manufacturers broke the rules about putting large engines into small cars, and it was almost, almost recalled by GM because of it. However, the response from American consumers was so enthusiastic that GM wound up letting it slide. What followed was a brief but intense period where everyone in the country wanted a GTO.
2. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
Even if you didn’t know its name, you’ve probably seen the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 in dozens of older movies with leather-jacket heroes smoking behind the wheel. It was the muscle car of 1970, especially when purchased with loud, colorful paints, and its bulging hood and swept-back roof added instant style points to anyone seen riding in one.
3. 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi
Like the name implies, the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi was built to tear up the very roads it traveled. With a roaring V8 engine and power of 425 horsepower, it was one of the biggest and baddest cars on the market in the 1960s, and it’s still popular among traders and vintage car restorers today.
4. 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
The specs of the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 aren’t actually that impressive. What makes it so valuable is both its rarity and its story: Less than 1,500 were ever built, and they were all handcrafted by a small company in Michigan that was outsourced by Ford in the late 1960s. Between its scarcity and all the blood, sweat and tears that went into making it, it’s easily one of the greatest muscle cars to ever exist.
These are just a few great vintage cars that you may or may not have recognized. For more information, including how to purchase a muscle car of your very own, click here.