24 Most Underappreciated Muscle Cars

Everyone talks of the good old days. When cars were built differently – to look fancy and go fast, we can’t stop reminiscing the fun times when you’d fill up your gas tank and rip some donuts without feeling like you’ve wasted a month’s worth of grocery shopping.

Ask anyone about the best muscle cars ever developed, and you won’t miss the ‘70 Plymouth Road Runner, Superbird, Ford Mustang GT 350, ‘92 Viper, ‘64 Pontiac GTO, or the Chevy Chevelle SS. It’s easy for muscle car fanatics to blame automakers for losing sight of what they feel were iconic designs, but think about it for a minute – the consumers are the ones to blame for the ‘slapdash releases’ we have today.

We are a bit fickle when it comes to fast cars. And to their defense, car manufacturers will always prioritize profits over keeping a handful of aficionados happy. They are in the business of making money, after all.

As we look at the new generation of performance cars and fail to appreciate them for not having half the character their predecessors had, let’s not forget the fine builds of the past we overlooked. The following are some amazing muscle cars of the past that most car enthusiasts regret they ignored.

1971-1972 Dodge Dart Demon

If any automaker wanted to take over the American muscle car scene in the early 1970s, all they needed to do was beat the Chevy Nova SS. Dodge had the Nova SS’s antidote—the 1971 Dodge Demon. Thanks to the 2018 Dodge Demon and all the media hype that followed, its legacy might forever be lost.

Unfortunatley, it was only made for two years, earning it a spot on this list. The designers at Chrysler outdid themselves by fusing the front and rear of the Dart and Duster to make a kickass mashup, the Dodge Demon.

1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2

The 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 was indeed a weird release. It was specifically designed to beat Ford at NASCAR in the late 80s. GM’s solution was to fix its blocky G-body coupes with more aerodynamic designs to have a competitive advantage over the ovals.

The result was the Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe. Compared to its G-body predecessor, it looked worse thanks to all the enhancements (beaky, plasticky nose). Under the hood, it packed a 165 hp V8, which was middling for a street car. Still, its NASCAR appeal is something muscle car lovers overlook and are less grateful for.

1964 – 1966 Plymouth Barracuda

The second-generation Barracudas were a phenomenal release. However, the third-gen takes the cake as the most desirable thanks to the fearsome 426 HEMI. Due to this, the entire first generation, from 1964 to 1966, even though exotic, is totally ignored.

Despite being underrated, the first-gen Barracuda gets a lot of props from diehard pony car lovers for its design, notably the enormous rear window and two-piece front fascia. The first-gen came with three engine options—a small block V8 and two inline-sixes.

1969 AMC SC/Rambler

To date, the 1969 SC/Rambler is quite rare and a ferocious contender, thanks to what lies under the hood. It was based on the final generation of Rambler American, built for the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) F/Stock class. It was arguably the spiritual predecessor of the Rebel Machine in several ways.

It ran a 6.4-liter 390-cubic-inch V8 good for 315 horsepower and had a host of goodies, including a limited-slip differential, front brake discs, a chunkier sway bar, Magnusm 500-style wheels, and race-spec mirrors.

1970 AMC Rebel Machine

The 1970s were big on muscle cars, and to get in on the action, American Motors cleaned out their piggy bank and went all in. The result was the 1970 AMC Rebel Machine. It had a fantastic design and was more desirable in the aggressive machine trim.

Under the hood, it packed a 390 cubic-inch V8 good for 340 horsepower and was the automaker’s most powerful release (mid-14 seconds on a 1/4 mile sprint). Only 2,500 gracious beasts were developed, but muscle car lovers still overlook them.

1970 AMC AMX

According to American automotive history, the AMC AMX was an attempt to compete with the muscle cars of the era, namely, Barracuda, Camaro, and the Mustang. However, the AMX was a 2-seater, and as a result, it was more of a Vette contender than a Mustang.

It wasn’t a hit in the market, and its stint in the showrooms was withdrawn after three short years. It was offered with a 5.9-liter 360 cubic-inch V8. There’s been a recent interest in the AMX as a collector classic, thanks to a few rare trim color combo releases.

Mercury Cyclone

It started as the performance version of the then-popular Mercury Comet and was developed to counter the steep Falcon and Mustang sales in the market.

You could get the Mercury Cyclone with the 390 cubic inches or the 427 cubic inch option. However, the most popular options, the 428 Cobra Jet and the Boss 429 were available in the 1960 and 1970 model years.

1963 Studebaker Lark Daytona

Not many people know about the Studebaker Lark. The automaker bid goodbye to the automotive scene in 1967 after an unsuccessful merger. Fortunately, a few of its iconic builds still carry its flag high. One of its underrated models is the 1964 Studebaker Lark Daytona.

It was offered between 1962 and 1966 as a range-topping version of the Lark. For the 1964 model year, Studebaker made the unassuming high-performance Daytona version, which featured a supercharged 4.7-liter 289 cubic-inch V8 good for 289 horsepower capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds.

1970 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet

If you are looking at early 1970s muscle cars, the 429 CJ Mustang might be an attractive option, but muscle car enthusiasts with historical intel will rather pick the ‘70 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet. It’s obviously the less attractive option and a bargain compared to the Mustang.

It came with the same 429 CJ you’d get on the Mustang, which means it still made 370 horsepower. What’s more, the Falcon came with better goodies, including a Hurst shifter and disc brakes.

1970 Dodge HEMI Coronet R/T

The Dodge Coronet R/T was introduced in 1966 and ran for six years. Under the hood, it packed the monstrous 7-liter 426 cubic-inch HEMI V8, which produced 425 horsepower. The HEMI powerplant was so popular that it powered several iconic vehicles of the era, including Dodge and Plymouth.

This Dodge Coronet R/T could be underated, but it is also rare, Chrysler used this HEMI engine on about 8,921 vehicles in total. The 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T drop-top is among the rarest (only one unit was developed).

1970 Dodge SuperBee

At the time of its production, the 1970 Dodge SuperBee was the easiest way to get into muscle car territory without breaking the bank. It was originally based on the Dodge Coronet, but sales never took off.

The Super Bee was developed between 1968 and 1971 (1970 and 1980 in Mexico only) before the modern version resurfaced. It was available with the 6.3-liter 383 Magnum, 7-liter HEMI, or 7.2-liter 440 Six-Pack.

1971 GMC Sprint SP

There is no doubt that the Chevrolet El Camino was a hit, and several automakers tried to cash in on the trend—some failed terribly (1983 Rampage). If you think GMC’s habit of recycling Chevy SUVs started recently, then you need to check out the 1971 GMC Sprint SP.

Simply put, it’s a rebadged Chevy El Camino SS. The 70s might have been a bad time for guzzlers, but GMC managed to get their El Camino version out in time. Don’t get too excited; it didn’t come with the 450-hp LS6 V8, but the LS5 and it made a decent 365 horsepower.

1970 Buick GSX stage 1

Let’s call a spade a space. Buick, like Chrysler, is one of those forgotten American brands that somehow still manage to stay afloat. It’s confusing as much as it’s sad, considering their illustrious history in the American performance car segment. When Buick was a name to reckon with, between the 1950s and ‘70s, it developed the GSX to shake off its reputation for making gentlemen’s muscle cars.

The 1970 GSX was developed to contend with HEMI-powered competition in the market. The Stage 1 package came with a GM 455 engine, easily topping the street scene as one of the quickest street-legal muscle cars of the early 1970s. It was capable of bolting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.

1973/74 Super Duty Trans Am

The 1970s were a difficult time for muscle cars, and by 1973, most American automakers had ditched their once-loved performance models for economic variables. Pontiac still had one card to play, the 1973 Super Duty Trans Am, against the tide.

The standard 1973 Trans Am engine was a non-high-output variable (detuned) of the 1971 7.5-liter 455 cubic inch L75, making a meager 250 hp. The Super Duty Trans Am, on the other hand, was capable of 290 hp, earning the title of the last thoroughbred muscle car of the Golden Era.

1965 Belvedere 1 (A990)

Born into a family of golden-era superstars such as the Barracuda and the Road Runner, the Plymouth Belvedere is underrated and a rarity in the muscle car hall of fame. Fortunately, it was prepared with the same recipe its popular siblings enjoy, namely the 7.2-liter 440 cubic-inch and the 7-liter 426 cubic-inch HEMI V8.

While the latter powerplant offered some tasty figures on the track, it wasn’t its most potent iteration—the A990, which was essentially a drag-developed Belvedere. Only 100 of these beasts were developed, and they were capable of a maximum of 425 horsepower.

1965 Buick Riviera GS

Most new-age performance car enthusiasts know nothing of Buick. Muscle car aficionados who lived through the golden era respect and loathed the automaker in equal measure. Its stodgy lineup of crossovers and SUVs is nothing like the lethal show it put on during the golden muscle car era. The 1965 Buick Riviera is one of its unassuming releases.

It was a hit when it was released, with more than 112,000 units sold. The 1965 Buick Riviera was dubbed the high-performance GS version (Grand Sport). It packed the fearsome 7-liter 425 cubic-inch Super Wildcat lump, capable of 360 horsepower.

1971 Ford Maverick

On its debut, the Ford Maverick came with an option of two engines—both six-cylinders producing 150 horsepower. The base model 170 made 105 horsepower, while its more aggressive version, the 200, was capable of 120 horsepower.

While most Ford Mavericks still rolled off the assembly lines in 1971 with straight-six engines, the blue oval added a 302 V8 capable of making 210 hp.

1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am

The third-gen F-body platform gets a lot of slack from muscle car enthusiasts due to the meager power options offered with pretty much every engine. Pontiac decided to stir the water, stealing some of the Chevy (Thunder Hawk) IROC sales by slipping a 3.8-liter turbo V6 into the 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am.

The mill was yanked out of a GNX and put into the Pontiac Turbo Trans Am. The result was a lighter, more affordable, stealthier, and better-handling muscle car.

1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 

When we talk about the golden muscle car era, Detroit’s big three take the biggest piece of the cake, and for a good cause—they produced some of the most lethal muscle cars in history. But they weren’t the only ones—AMC (American Motors Corporation) also enjoyed a tiny bit of that fame.

Unfortunately for the Winsconsin-based automaker, some of its good releases went unnoticed, like the 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 (for a good reason). It debuted as a compact family car and featured a line of inline-sixes. The most potent option was a 210-hp 304 cubic-inch V8. The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 (two-door sedan) featured a 5-liter 360 cubic-inch V8 from the 1970 AMX. It was capable of making 245 horsepower.

Dodge Magnum SRT8

Dodge is known for placing its bets all over when it comes to model releases. And even though they made some mistakes in their German partnership with Daimler, the Dodge Magnum SRT8, as most people might feel, isn’t one of those missteps.

For the Magnum SRT8, Dodge utilized many components from the E-Class and S-Class, such as the suspension, transmission, and electrical components, turning it into a full-size American performance wagon. Powered by a V8 Hemi, the Magnum was good for 425 hp.

1989 Ford Taurus SHO

In the ‘80s, Ford decided it was time for them to make a performance V6. Even though they were already working on the Vulcan, they couldn’t figure out how to make it powerful and compact at the same time. And that’s how Yamaha slipped into the picture.

When the Japanese company was done with the commissioned project, it was introduced in one of the most underrated high-performance sedans, the 1989 Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output), capable of 220 hp. The project was successful, leading to a larger V8 SHO engine.

Ford Torino GT

The Ford Torino, which debuted at the Blue Oval in 1968, had a short stint. Its first generation lasted only two years, and the second year already included several notable changes. The ‘69 model came with a two-door sports roof and hardtop trims.

However, an iconic and rather underrated engine option for the Torino was the 7-liter 428 Cobra Jet, which was capable of running low 14s and was, in essence, quicker on asphalt than a mid-90s Mustang GT.

1991 GMC Syclone

History will remember the GMC Syclone as a Ferrari slayer—a worthy title that led to a devastating result paired alongside the Italian race track legend on a straight line. The Syclone started off as a concept that blew the minds of Ford management and later the public at auto shows. What followed was production.

The 1991 GMC Syclone packed a brutal turbocharged 4.3-liter that was good for 280 hp. The result was an impressive time of 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. This compact performance pickup truck could complete a 1/4 mile in 14.1 seconds.

Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6

We’ve got to give it up for Pontiac for trying to keep the muscle car dream alive despite everything that was happening to kick out the performance car from the automotive scene. The Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 WS6 was one of the releases during this perilous time.

The base model, which came with a 5.7-liter V8, made a laughable 155 hp, but a higher power option, a 6.6-liter V8 codenamed WS6 package, made 220 hp. That’s not all. There were more goodies, including better springs, sway bars, and improved braking.