Muscle cars have a certain reputation in the automobile industry. They’re big, they’re American, and they go really fast. Because classic muscle cars were decked out with massive engines that packed a ton of power, plenty of classic cars from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s can still burn rubber at incredible speeds –– even if they can’t quite match modern sports vehicles.
So, what’s the fastest classic muscle car ever? Answering this question can be a bit tricky. The truth is that manufacturers produced a huge number of special edition vehicles for a variety of models. As such, judging the speed and performance of a given car can be difficult. For example, consider the 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee. Not only is the Super Bee different from other Dodge Chargers, but 22 Super Bees themselves were specially equipped with Hemi V-8 engines. Plus, what does “fastest” mean? Is it the car with the most horsepower, the one with the top speed, or the one with the best 0-60 mark?
Still, despite the many mitigating factors, we’ve compiled a shortlist of four classic cars that can absolutely fly. Check them out here:
1969 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi
Back in 1969, Car and Driver magazine likened the roar of a new Plymouth Road runner’s exhaust to the sound of a volcanic explosion. The comparison is an apt one. The Road Runner boasted a powerful engine that could outperform a stock Hemi. It hit zero to sixty in 5.1 seconds, and if that wasn’t enough, ten were built with a V-8 racing engine.
Chevrolet Corvette
In addition to producing the highly popular and speedy-in-its-own-right Camaro, Chevrolet also rolled out several exceptional Corvettes throughout the 1960s. The ‘66, ‘67, ‘68, and ‘69 versions of the Corvette all featured incredible horsepower and top speeds. But the fastest of them all? Probably the ‘67, which clocked a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds.
1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO
Pontiac has a long history of developing lightning-quick cars, from the iconic Firebird to the latter-day Firehawk. Still, the most-renown speedster from Pontiac has to be the Tempest GTO from 1964. This beauty pre-dated most classic car models of the late ‘60s and it helped set the tone for what a muscle car could and should look like.
1963 Shelby Cobra
Plain and simple, the ’63 Shelby Cobra was lightning quick for its day. Hitting 0-60 in 4.5 seconds was an amazing feat at the time. Though the ‘66 Cobra (the “Cobra to end all Cobras”) also possesses impressive metrics, this version from 1963 is a unique vehicle that has captivated American and international drivers for decades. Some might not view a Cobra as a muscle car by its strictest definition, but, regardless, this sports vehicle is one for the ages.
Contact the Pros
Love classic cars? So do we! At Precision Restorations, we’re passionate about muscle cars, and we strive to provide high-quality service in restoring, retooling, and refurbishing them. If you’re looking to give your classic ride a performance boost, then know that we also feature restomod services as well. Contact us toll free at 1-844-701-6396 today, or email me directly at [email protected]. We love talking about restoring classic cars!