The four most loyal fan bases consist of muscle car fanatics, JDM fanboys, European disciples, and supercar enthusiasts. The JDM supporters swear they have the most valuable cars in existence, the Euro crowd is obsessed with appreciating Beemers, and the supercar enthusiasts… well, they struggle to accept some supercars are inferior to the rest. Where does this leave die-hard muscle car fanatics? Well, apart from the newly unveiled Ford Mustang, there isn’t much left for them in the modern world to get excited about.
Most muscle car fans are inevitably forced to look back time and reminisce about classic cars. We sympathize with them, therefore we’ll be having a look at some of the greatest muscle cars that aren’t around anymore. We’ll talk about how great they were, and maybe discuss the possibility of a future revival.
10 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
The Plymouth Road Runner was built between 1968 and 1980. Throughout its lifespan there were three different generations built as well as a few different special editions, but the 1970 Superbird stands out from the crowd.
The Superbird existed to accommodate NASCAR’s homologation rules, that’s the main reason behind its gargantuan rear wing, actually. Not only did it have a stand-out body kit, but its powertrain was also extraordinary. The most powerful engine found in the Superbird was a 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8 that was rated at 425 bhp…. however, that was rather conservative since it actually produced closer to 550 bhp.
9 Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevrolet Chevelle was arguably the most underrated muscle car at the time. There were also three generations of the Chevelle built, but in this instance the most stand-out version of the Chevelle was not an overstyled example, instead it was the handsome 1970 SS model.
Underneath its hood brewed up to a 454 cubic-inch V8 that put out 450 bhp and 500 lb-ft of torque. All this power was solely sent to the rear wheels, and if you managed to not blow up its tires, the Chevelle SS could reach 60 mph from a standstill in just over 5 seconds, and dash down the quarter-mile in under 14 seconds – quicker than a Lamborghini Countach.
8 Buick Grand National GNX
Buick decided to shatter muscle car traditions with the Grand National GNX. Sure, it maintained the same overall muscle car silhouette, but it chopped of two cylinders from the traditional V8 engine, and brought forced induction into play.
The engine that hid underneath the GNX’s hood was a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that put out 276 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. By the ways of muscle car magic, the GNX was able to clock in a 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds – equivalent to that of a new Toyota Supra – and a quarter-mile time of 13.4 seconds.
7 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
We have some good news, and some bad news. The good news is, we’ve already had a go at reviving the Pontiac Firebird through a digital render. The bad news however is that Pontiac is a defunct car company, meaning the chances of seeing a modern-day Firebird Trans Am is unlikely. It is worth mentioning that there is a company called Trans Am Depot who bought the rights to use the Trans Am name from GM. They make coach built examples of the Trans Am based on a Camaro, but that’s probably the closest we’ll get to the real thing.
There have been three installments of the Firebird Trans Am, but our heart definitely lies with the first-ever one created. After all, it was the star of Smokey and the Bandit. It contained a 400 cubic-inch V8 that made up to 345 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque and could complete the quarter-mile drag in around 13.7 seconds.
6 Pontiac GTO Judge
We have to mention right of the bat that there was an attempt to revive the Pontiac GTO in the early 2000s, but in honestly, it was a sales flop. The original Pontiac GTO will go down in history as the best muscle car to sport the GTO badge, especially in the GTO Judge trim level.
The 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge inhabited up to a 400 cubic-inch V8 engine that cranked out 370 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. This allowed the Judge to compete against the likes of the Ford Mustang Boss 302, and its intimidating exterior design was just the cheery on top of the cake.
5 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda
The Plymouth Barracuda existed between 1964 and 1974, the time when muscle cars were at their prime. It incorporated all the attributes that make up a brilliant muscle car: extravagant colors, sloppy handling, a powerful V8 motor and the interior big enough to take an orphanage on a field trip. However, there was one performance model, the ‘Cuda. The apostrophe made a world of difference.
Like many other pony cars on the list, the ‘Cuda also featured a legendary 440 cubic-inch V8 engine. This specific powertrain churned out up to 390 bhp and 490 lb-ft of torque. Evidently, the 1970 ‘Cuda could complete the quarter-mile in 14 seconds and reach 60 mph from a dig in 6 seconds flat.
4 Buick Gran Sport
The Buick Gran Sport might not have been as popular as some of its rivals, but it still obtained a legendary status nonetheless. The 455 cubic-inch V8 engine found in the Gran Sport is also the largest V8 power plant we have to feature on today’s list.
The 455 V8 put out 350 hp and a monstrous 510 lb-ft of torque. With all that power the Gran Sport could clock in a quarter-mile time of 14.5 seconds and a 0-60 time of 6 seconds dead. Buick is still making cars, so perhaps there might be a slight glimmer of hope to see the Gran Sport make a comeback, even if it is as an EV.
3 Ford Thunderbird
Just like the aforementioned Pontiac GTO, the Ford also made an attempt to revive the Thunderbird name, but it too was a failure. The original Thunderbird was the answer to the dastardly Corvette. It was available either in a hardtop coupe shape, or a convertible.
The base model first-generation Thunderbird had a 292 cubic-inch 206-hp V8 strapped underneath its hood, but it eventually grew in size and received a supercharger too. Thus, it had a 312 cubic-inch supercharged V8, and this specific powertrain developed 300 hp.
2 Dodge Viper
That’s right, Dodge killed off the Viper as we know it. Since the world is moving towards electrification and green energy, creations like the V10-powered Dodge Viper are being left in the dark. Now, some people argue the Viper is more of a sports car than a muscle car, and if you’re referring to the later generations, we completely get it. However, if we have a look at the first-generation Viper, it’s simply an evolutionary muscle car.
The first-gen Viper had no airbags, door handles, windows, roof, or any form of traction- or stability control. Oh, and who can forget the diabolical 487.6 cubic-inch (8.0-liter) V10 tucked underneath its hood that unleashed 400 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Yes, the original Viper was a muscle car, an extraordinarily dangerous one at that. One of our digital artists, Rostislav Prokop actually designed what a modern-day electric Viper would look like, check it out!
1 Chevrolet Impala
To end off our list today, we have one of the most recognized muscle cars of all time, the Chevy Impala. There were ten generations of the Impala built. Some of the highlights throughout its 68-year lifespan include the 1963 Impala Z11, the first-ever Impala SS built throughout the ’60s, as well as the understated 1996 Impala SS sedan.
The Impala name as we know it got killed of 2 years, and since then, there has been no word from Chevy whether they’ll revive the beloved muscle sedan, unfortunately. Can’t hurt to keep on dreaming, right?
