In the early part of the ’70s, many carmakers were still of the mindset that there was no replacement for displacement. This was a common mantra spoken when discussing muscle cars, which had more power and torque than the average vehicle. Today, that notion has been proven to be untrue, but in 1973 Ford decided to push the limits in the mid-duty truck, the F-250. The model line was offered with various choices of engines, but the one that pushed out the most power and torque was the big block 460, which could produce up to 245 horsepower, making it number 10 on this list. It is important to note, however, that the horsepower of the 360, which was a common choice for buyers in 1973, could only produce 215 horsepower, so going with the bigger motor was a simple choice for those who needed extra power.
9 1974 Dodge D-series – 255 Horsepower
Even though Dodge D-series trucks do not have the most power, they were offered with a 426 Hemi straight from the factory. Because of the increasing gas prices and the crunch on better emissions, the once mighty 426 Hemi was detuned and lost some power. However, it could still push out 255 horsepower, which is more than many of the rival pickups on the market. The best thing about Dodge trucks in the ’70s is that they were built to last. The designers used galvanized steel to create a body and frame that would not rust, which can be seen today when finding a used one up for sale. They will have far less body corrosion than any other car or truck maker from the decade.
8 1970 Ford F-150 – 255 Horsepower
The Ford F150 has been the best-selling truck for 45 years straight, so it is no wonder it would have a couple of places on the list of 10 of the most powerful pickup trucks of the ’70s. There were numerous options available to the buyer when ordering the truck from the factory, but one of the most common, and arguably one of the best classic engines ever produced by Ford, was the 390. In 1970 the 390 could reach horsepower amounts of up to 255, which is more powerful than the heavy-duty F250 that Ford produced solely for work and towing. Today the classic 390 is not very easy to find, but it is one of the most prized engines for truck and car lovers.
7 1978 Dodge Midnite Express – 255 Horsepower
In the 1970s, one of the most sought-after trucks to come off the assembly lines was the 1978 Dodge Midnite Express. It was one of those Dodge performance versions that were not necessarily built to work, but it could pull a boat up a pass or haul some hay out to the horses in the field. The 440 inserted under the hood could pump out up to 255 horsepower, getting the truck from 0 to 60 in under 12 seconds. It may not have been as popular as the Dodge Lil Red Express, but since only 200 trucks were ever built, it is one of the hardest pickups of the era to find.
6 1979 Dodge’ Lil Red Express – 295 Horsepower
The muscle car ended in the first part of the decade because of changing emissions rules, but Dodge did not give up on the idea of producing a high-powered vehicle for the public. The engineers found a loophole in the system that let them build a truck that did not have to have a catalytic converter installed, which is one of the biggest killers of horsepower. Since the pickup could haul over 600 pounds, it was outside the new regulations, so Dodge slid a high-performance 360 into the engine bay. The 295 horsepower engine and the upgraded transmission and suspension propelled this truck to the top, making it the fastest production vehicle for 1978 from 0–100 MPH.
5 1971 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn – 300 Horsepower
Like most classic trucks, numerous engine options were available for the buyer of a 1971 Chevrolet C20 Longhorn. The base-level engines were the 6-cylinder that was good on fuel or the 350, which had plenty of power and torque for most tasks. An optional engine, the one that makes it in the middle of this list of most powerful pickups, was the 402 big block. This powerful engine could push out up to 300 horses and had a torque rating of 340 pounds-feet. Since it was built by Chevy, it was one of the top choices for consumers that wanted comfort and reliability along with a truck that could handle a full day of work or a weekend of fun in the sun.
4 1971 GMC C2500 Sierra Grande – 300 Horsepower
The 1971 GMC C2500 and K2500 were built using the same primary platform as the Chevy C20 models, but the company tried to keep itself separated from its parent company. The engine that went under the hood of the Sierra Grande had some options, such as the 4.1L inline six-cylinder and the hefty 396 engine that was bored out to a 402. Like the Chevy C20, this engine could produce up to 300 horsepower and had enough torque to complete any task quickly. The Sierra Grande version was simply the top-of-the-line truck that offered standard options that the base-level pickups did not. The one main difference between the GMC and the Chevy can be found in the rear axle. GMC used a fully floating Dana 60, while Chevy chose to go with a Saginaw drop-out unit.
3 1970 Chevrolet C10 – 350 Horsepower
In 1970 the C10 pickup truck came with an inline 6 cylinder unless one of the many options was chosen to upgrade to a bigger and more powerful engine. The 396 was the biggest engine that could be opted for, but since many of the 1970 engines were bored out to a 402, there was more power and torque than expected. The 402 engine was designed to give low-end torque rather than centering around high amounts of power. The engine was primarily intended to slide into the engine bays of the bigger muscle cars on the market, but some of the lucky C10 trucks also got to sport a brand new, bored-out 396 that could produce up to 350 horsepower.
2 1970 Ford Ranchero – 375 Horsepower
To some, the Ford Ranchero should not be on a list of pickup trucks, but since it has a bed that allows it to haul up to 3500 pounds and could tow a trailer with toys that weigh no more than 6000 pounds, it is a truck by nature. On the other hand, it also fits into the muscle car group because many versions were designed to take on the mighty big blocks that ruled the streets. In 1970 the Ford Ranchero could be ordered from the factory with a 428 Cobra Jet engine nestled under the hood. A Cobra Jet engine that was designed to push out 375 horsepower, which is considered to be an underrated number, especially when a functional shaker hood scoop is added into the mix that offers Ram Air induction.
1 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS – 450 Horsepower
The end of the muscle car era was drawing to a close in 1970, with only a few years left for the carmakers to offer power and torque as the biggest selling factor in their lineups. One of the most beastly classic muscle cars/muscle trucks to ever cruise the streets of the continent was the 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS. It was built like a truck and could work like a truck. But the big block 454 that produced 450 horsepower created a muscle truck that could take on even the decade’s biggest and most powerful cars. The El Camino Super Sport was indeed the master of the trucks in the 70s when judging by the amount of horsepower that a single pickup could put out when playing or working
