If you’re a car guy or girl, have some money burning a hole in your wallet, and want to flex big-time — you might need a muscle car.
Muscle cars are two-door sports coupes made in the U.S. of A. that feature powerful engines under the hood — usually V8s. They’re less about comfort and more about performance.
The Golden Age
While there are great muscle cars from various decades, the golden age is the ‘60s. Some will argue otherwise, but there’s a good case for the ’60s being the best decade overall for muscle cars.
Continue reading to learn about 15 muscle cars from the ‘60s that were plenty fast.
1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 achieved a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds. That might not seem like a whole lot these days when electric cars can go even faster, but it’s still plenty quick—especially for a vehicle from the ’60s. Under the hood, a V8 capable of 290 horsepower was mated to a 4-speed manual transmission.
1966 Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi
The 1966 Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi could do 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Its V8 engine produced 425 hp and 490 ft-lb of torque, and the engine was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission.
If you buy a 1966 Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi, don’t expect great fuel economy. According to one source, driving around and about town will get you 10-13 miles per gallon. However, that sort of fuel inefficiency was not uncommon for muscle cars of the day.
1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO
Some enthusiasts call the 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO the first true muscle car. It had a V8 engine with 325 or 348 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. Its 0-60 mph time was around 6.6 seconds. There were three transmission options: a 3-speed manual, a 4-speed manual, or a 2-speed automatic.
1963 Shelby Cobra 260
1963 Shelby Cobra 260 could do 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Under the hood was a 4.3-liter V8 engine producing 260 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. In addition to having a top speed of 140 mph, the vehicle had a 4-speed manual and a Single Holley 4-barrel carburetor.
1967 Ford GT40 Mark III
The 1967 Ford GT40 Mark III had a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds, 306 hp under the hood, 329 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 165 mph. MotorTrend says “the MK III was about eight inches longer than the original GT40.” That was mostly an attempt to create some luggage space. It calls the muscle car “the purpose-built, street-legal version of Ford’s Le Mans-winning racer.”
1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427
The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427 is no joke. It was offered with 390, 400, and 435 horsepower and was capable of a 0-60 miles per hour time of 5.3 seconds. It was a car more suited to a race track than a street.
1965 Ford Mustang GT 289
The 1965 Ford Mustang GT 289 could do 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. When muscle car enthusiasts discuss the 1965 Ford Mustang GT 289, they rave over the 289 engine. It’s highly regarded for its classic design and performance. It offered up to 271 hp with 312 lb-ft of torque and had a 3-speed or 4-speed manual transmission.
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
The 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi’s 0-60 mph time was 5.1 seconds. The standard engine was the 383ci B-series V8. It was equipped with a 3-barrel Carter Carburetor and produced 335 hp and 425 lb-ft. Many enthusiasts describe the vehicle as one of the coolest muscle cars ever.
1968 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi
If you want a muscle car capable of a sub-5 second 0-60 mph time, consider the 1968 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi. It was capable of 4.8 seconds. It produced 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. According to AutoEvolution, 92,590 units were produced. But of that total, only 17,665 were ordered in the high-performance R/T configurations.
1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake
A rare muscle car from the ’60s is the 1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake. Capable of going from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, the 1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake had 530 hp, 610 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 170 mph, and a 4-speed manual tranny. It was one of one, meaning only a single one was manufactured.
1966 Dodge Coronet Street Hemi
If you’re looking for a powerful muscle car, add the 1966 Dodge Coronet Street Hemi to your shortlist. Under the hood was a 426 HEMI V8 that produced 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.
There were two transmission options — a 4-speed automatic and a 3-speed automatic. Its 0-60 mph time was 5.3 seconds.
1969 Ford Boss 429 Mustang
Relatively few 1969 Ford Boss 429 Mustangs were produced. With a 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph, the 1969 Ford Boss 429 Mustang wasn’t the fastest muscle car. But it has been described as a legendary one — and the limited numbers help its cause. Specifically, a mere 859 were manufactured. It had 375 hp with 450 lb-ft of torque and a 4-speed manual transmission.
1968 AMC AMX
Yet another car to consider from this era is the 1968 AMC AMX, manufactured by American Motors Corp. It had three engine options — the most powerful of which was a 6.4-liter VB with 315 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options included a 3- or 4-speed manual and a 3-speed automatic.
1969 Chevy COPO Camaro
The 1969 Chevy COPO Camaro — “COPO” for Chevrolet’s “Central Office Production Order” program — is a coveted muscle car. The two engine options produced 435 hp and 430 hp, respectively. It had a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and had two transmission options — a 4-speed manual and a 3-speed automatic.
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt was designed for use in the National Hot Rod Association competitions. It had a 7.0-liter V8 under the hood, 425 to 600 hp, a 12.0:1 compression ratio, and 480 lb-ft of torque. Its 0-60 mph time was 4 seconds. Only 100 of them were made, so they’re rare.
Muscle Cars From the ‘60s Rule
Are you in the market for a muscle car? Whether you are on the lookout or enjoy delving into automotive history, these 15 selections show some of the best and fastest muscle cars from the ‘60s.
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