There is something about the muscle cars of the 60s and 70s that stirs the blood of so many of us. The 60s ushered in an era of fast cars and metal beasts that made heads turn – there was something special about those cars, something we hadn’t seen before. Here is our short list of the best muscle cars of the 60s and 70s.
Cars became more than just a means of transportation – they were a statement about who we were and what we represented. The big carmakers recognized this and were only too happy to give us what we wanted – bigger and badder muscle cars. Everyone has their own opinion about what the best of these machines were so let’s compare notes. Here are the five cars that will make just about anybody’s list.
1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake
In 1967 a man by the name of Shelby was in the mood to create a car that would bury all of its rivals. If you look up the term “bad ass” in the dictionary there’s a good chance you’ll find a picture of this car right next to it – this beast was fast. With a 427 cu. In.
V8 and dual Paxton Superchargers this car was capable of pumping out 800 hp – there were simply no other cars in its league. While it was made for the street it was actually a modified sports car and only two of them were ever made, so if you have one of these you can count yourself among the luckiest muscle car enthusiast on the planet.
1969 Chevy Camaro ZL1
If you were into drag racing in 1969 there was a good chance you either owned or dreamed of owning the 1969 Chevy Camaro ZL1.
This car was built to be quick off the line and was capable of going from 0 to 60 miles an hour in less than 6 seconds. It featured a 427 cu. In. V8 and was capable of pumping out 500 hp, which meant there were few cars on the road to match it. It didn’t hurt that it was a pretty fine looking machine too.
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS
The Chevy Chevelle was actually first introduced back in 1964, but it was never considered one of the premier muscle cars of its era.
That all changed with the introduction of the 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS. This car instantly catapulted the Chevelle into the annals of legendary muscle cars and it’s a safe bet you’ve seen one of these fine machines in a movie or TV series somewhere.
It has become one of the most iconic muscle cars of its era. With a 454 cu. In. V8 this car produced 450 hp and was capable of traveling from 0 to 62 miles an hour in 6 seconds.
1968 Dodge Charger
The 1968 Dodge Charger was another car that’s become a big hit in movies and TV shows – not least of which was in the Fast and Furious series.
This car has some of the sleekest curves and unique design features of any car from the muscle car era of the 60s and 70s. I can’t speak for anybody else, but I simply love this car in black! The baddest version of this car featured a 426 Hemi and produced 425 hp.
1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet
When it comes to muscle cars no list is complete without the iconic Mustang – this is a car that’s gone through many incarnations over the years, but one of the best versions was undoubtedly the 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet. After a couple of lean years, this car put Mustang back at the top of the muscle car hierarchy. To produce its 400 hp the Cobra Jet relied on the power of a 428 – CID V8.
As with any list this one’s open for debate and that’s because the 60s and 70s simply produced some of the best muscle cars we’ve ever seen.
What made these cars so special was the strength and power that they conveyed – every high school teenaged boy dreamed of owning the fastest, most powerful, muscle car around. Whether your favorite made the list are not, I’m sure you’ll agree that these are five “bad ass” machines!
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The All Time Best Classic Muscle Cars
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Do you have an interesting car or truck that you love? If so, tell us about it in the comment section below. We would love to see a picture if you have one to share (just email it to us) with a brief description and who knows it might end up as a featured article on Daily Rubber or our social media.