Fastest Old School Muscle Cars

‍What Are The Fastest Old-School Muscle Cars?

The following cars made our list of the fastest old-school muscle cars (offered in no particular order).

1964 Pontiac GTO

Let's start with what most muscle car lovers acknowledge as the beast that started it all. The 1964 Pontiac GTO was offered as an option for the Tempest LeMans lineup until splitting off to its nameplate in 1966. Pontiac found a loophole in GM’s restriction to place racing motors in mid-sized cars by claiming that since the GTO was a high-performance trim rather than a separate nameplate, it didn’t violate GMs edict.

The car was powered by a standard 6.4L (389 cu in) V8, producing 325 hp @ 4,800 rpm with a single Carter AFB four-bbl carburetor, but there was also an option for a “Tri-Power” unit with three 2 bbl Rochester carbs that produced 348 hp. While that might not seem like much, the car could get up and move down the lane, posting a 0-60 mph track time of just over 6 seconds (with the Tri-power version). A Michigan dealer (Royal Pontiac) found they could tweak the 389 GTO to run a 4.6 0-60 run and a 12.8 quarter-mile. These upgraded units were labeled as “Royal Bobcats.” Since the tune kits were also available via mail order, many GTO owners opted to do the upgrade themselves).

Pontiac seriously underestimated the popularity of the new GTO, thinking that only about 5,000 units would be sold. By the year’s end, roughly 32k GTOs had rolled across dealers’ showrooms, and it wouldn’t be long before other companies followed suit with their own muscle cars). The GTO cost roughly $2500 in 1964, another reason many people bought it. Overall, the Pontiac GTO was not for the faint of heart, and over the next few years, it would continue to dominate the drag scene with its blistering track times.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

A muscle car list would only be complete by mentioning the Chevelle. When GM started offering its models with the 454 V8 (LS-6), Americans flocked to the car that combined aesthetics with power. While most of the 62k Chevelles made in 1970 had the 396 V8, a small number (almost 9k) had the 454 big block motor (LS6) under the hood. The engine produced 450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of over 160 mph.

The 454 (LS-6) had a single Holley 4-bbl carburetor and Cowl induction. The result was a power boost and head-snapping acceleration. The wide racing tires provided plenty of stick on takeoff, launching the car down the track with a 5.4 seconds 0 - 60 mph.

The thrill of the Chevelle didn’t just come from its speed but also its design. There was plenty of room inside the car (the car was large enough to accommodate five). Most SS models were equipped with Strato-bucket seats, with an instrument panel that included three large dials (speedometer, fuel gauge, and clock). There were many other excellent amenities like air conditioning, power windows, locks, a tape stereo system, and windshield wipers activated at the end of the turn signal stock.

Outside, the SS model looked as impressive as it ran, featuring racing stripes on the hood, special “glamour” rims, and dual exhaust. (You could tell the Chevelle had arrived from the throaty, hungry sound it made). This beast had Ford owners peeing in their pants when it pulled up alongside at a red light.

1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 KR

Ford decided to offer the 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 KR as a fast-paced muscle car to the general public. Even though Shelby American had been converting Mustangs for a couple of years, the GT500 KR was a mid-year introduction that offered a 428 V8 drag champion engine producing much more than the 335 hp reported in the sales brochures. (Later, it would be determined that the car’s actual power output was closer to 435 hp).

The car soon developed the moniker of KR (King of the Road) after Shelby beat GM to the punch and copyrighted the name. (GM was about to advertise their 1968 Corvette as the undisputed King). The engine has a large bore (4.13) and a tall stroke of 3.98 inches, with a compression ratio of 10.6:1. The Cobra’s weight, solid rear end, and wide tires helped keep it centered on the strip, and the car lived up to its reputation, posting solid numbers on the track (5.3 seconds for 0 - 60 mph) and 13.9 quarter mile time. The numbers were good enough to keep the Mustang a top performer week after week.

Ford rolled 1,452 GT500 KRs off the assembly line in 1968 (a small percentage were convertibles). Even though Mustang production was down, and owners seemed to be flocking toward other makes and models, it didn’t prevent this Mustang from being one of the rarest and fastest muscle cars ever made. Current models sell for around 150k dollars, including this GT500KR that sold Mecum auctions in January 2023.

1968 Dodge Charger R/T

You don’t have to be a Steve McQueen fan (Bullitt) to appreciate the beauty of the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with its 440 Magnum engine. (I cry every time I watch it crash and burn in the movie). While the movie showed a car chase between the Mustang GT and the Charger R/T, it gave some instant cred to the Dodge product and sparked a national debate about which was faster. (Our vote is the Charger).

Powering the Charger R/T was a standard Magnum 440 V8 with 375 hp @ 4600 rpms, and 480 lb-ft of torque @ 3200 rpms. The Magnum offered a massive bore (4.32) with a very short 3.75 stroke, helping the engine to produce a 10.1:1 compression ratio. Coupled with a four-speed manual transmission (a 3-speed automatic was optional) and a 4 bbl carburetor, the Charger barreled down the straight clocking a 5.6 second 0-60 mph time and a quarter mile time of 13.5.

In the late sixties, Dodge offered several performance models and labeled them the “Scat Pack” (Charger, Coronet, and Dart GT Sport). The cars featured specialized “bumblebee” striping on the back (if owners wanted), wider F70 X 14 tires, and upgraded rear suspension. The interiors were clean, with vinyl bucket seats and deep-pile carpeting standard. If owners checked the right boxes, they could have amenities like an 8-track player or a wood-grained steering wheel as options.

Dodge built over 100,000 Chargers that year alone, and 17,584 were R/Ts. Today, a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with the 440 Magnum engine would be worth over $100,000, which makes it a good investment, if you’d bought one for $3,520 in 1968.

1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi

If you want to talk serious muscle, you must include Plymouth’s Road Runner. While the car’s advertising might have included the Looney Tunes cartoon character, the Road Runner was the perfect name for this classic muscle car because it was fast. (Plymouth paid Looney Tuners for the naming rights and extra to make the horn sound like the cartoon character). The gimmick worked because over 45k units were sold in its first year of production, only to rise to more than 84k the following year.

The Road Runner came with a standard 6.3L (383 ci) V8 but also included an option for the 7.0L Hemi (426 ci), which escalated the power to 425 hp and 490 lb-ft. Track numbers for the Hemi engine Road Runners were a 5.3 second 0 - 60 mph time and a top speed of 142 mph.

The stock Plymouth Road Runner was priced at a little less than $3,000, which made it affordable to many young buyers. The interiors were excellent, with split-back vinyl seats and a long rectangular instrument panel feating a horizontal speedometer. The Road Runner had four on the floor, improved rear suspension, and wide red-line tires to hug the road. The Road Runner came ready for business with side-opening hood scoops leading to a 4-bbl carb, a narrow front grille, and dual headlights on either side.

The large Hemi engine makes the Road Runner one of the most sought-after muscle cars on the market. When the Plymouth ads initially described the Road Runner with the phrase, “It’s what out of sight is all about,” they weren’t kidding because that is precisely how it looked to its competition.

1970 Ford Torino Cobra

Ford struggled with its Mustang in 1970, suffering four straight years of declining sales. Luckily, there was another beast to help carry the load, the Ford Torino. The Torino sold over 230k units (compared to the 190k from the Mustang). While most Torinos had a standard 250 ci inline six, about 7,765 were the top Cobra model, where you could order a special “drag package.” This Super Cobra Jet engine produced 375 hp, had a compression ratio of 11.3:1, and ran a 0 - 60 time in 5.8 seconds (as tested by MotorTrend).

Reviewers were so impressed with the Torino that the car won MotorTrends Car of the Year for 1970. The Cobra was only available as a Sportsroof (Fastback), with upgraded suspension, a 4-speed transmission, Hurst shifter, and 7-inch wide tires strictly built for the drag strip. The Ford Torino Cobra was priced at $2,870 (it was about the same price as the Mustang)

To appeal to younger buyers, the exterior had been softened with smooth lines, away from the boxy sedans of the sixties, and using a Coke bottle shape. The car had a gentle flow from front to rear. The Torino seemed destined for long leisurely drives in the country on lazy Sunday afternoons instead of being a drag-strip monster. That is until it pulled to a red light and blew the doors off the vehicle standing next to it.

1967 Corvette Stingray

Technically, you could order a ‘67 Corvette with the L88 engine, but only 20 were reported made at the factory. While three Turbo Jet engines were offered, the top-rated one was reported to produce 435 hp (although most owners knew that the actual power output was closer to 560 hp). With a 4.251 bore, a 3.76 stroke, and a compression of 11.0:1, the L88 Corvette could move down the track at a glorious 4.7 seconds with a 13.6-second quarter mile.

The L88 Corvette had a 4-speed heavy-duty closed-ratio manual transmission backing up the motor, with a 2.20:1 low gear (a $187 add-on). The engine wasn’t cheap, adding almost $1,000 to the $4,240 base price. Amenities like air conditioning, a radio, and even typical equipment like a heater/defroster were not offered (which turned off a lot of buyers).

Unfortunately, the higher performance of the 427 Turbo Jets didn’t translate into sales. For 1967, over 22k Corvettes were sold, but most of them were the 327 ci V8 that produced 350 hp.

This year would be the last year for this Corvette body style, as the C3 would emerge for the 1968 model year with its Mako Shark image.

If you liked drag racing and wanted a V8 engine that made enormous power, the ‘67 (L88) Corvette would certainly fit the bill. In today’s market, these rare Corvettes are worth a ton of money (a 1967 Corvette sold a couple of years ago for just over $3 million).

1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 426 Hemi

The ‘71 Barracuda gets our vote for the best of the classic muscle cars. (We know you race for our pink slip, but it is our article). The Barracuda has NASCAR roots, exudes an athletic appearance similar to its Road Runner cousin, and was blessed with the same engine. With wide tires, a functioning hood scoop, racing mirrors, and high-backed bucket seats, the car screamed fast, from when a person slid into the driver’s seat to when it crossed the finish line.

The 71 ‘Cuda had several V8 options, including the 7.0L 426 ci Hemi which produced 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. The ‘Cuda was a brute everywhere it went, but mainly on the track posting a 5.2 second 0 - 60 mph time, with top speed surpassing 140 mph.

Of the over 6K ‘Cudas made in 1971, only 119 were made with the Hemi engine (only 11 were convertibles). Part of the reason they did not sell well is that with an additional option of $883 Hemi, the total price for the ‘Cuda pushed north of $4,000, which simply was more than many young buyers wanted to pay.

Today, the ‘71 Plymouth Barracuda is a rare collectible. A recent bid for an ultra rare 71 ‘Cuda convertible was listed at $4.8 million at Mecum Auctions.