Muscle Cars

The Muscle Car Channel contains articles and pictures on the big-engine hot rods of each decade. Explore the HowStuffWorks Muscle Car Channel.

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Plymouth muscle cars spanned the spectrum from fanciful to fearsome -- and sometimes displayed both qualities. In the 1960s and '70s, Plymouth was transformed into a destination for big engines and big thrills. Learn more.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Pontiac is credited for ushering in the classic era of muscle cars in the 1960s. Find out what made Pontiac muscle cars so great, and see some of the best hot rods produced by the carmaker.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

While other muscle cars were putting out special editions in 1969, Buick focused on beefing up the engine in its GS 400. Learn more about the optional enhancements in the 1969 Buick GS 400.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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With its fat tires and suspension tweaks, the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT 500-KR out handled all but pure sports cars. Learn more about the GT 500 in this muscle car profile.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The gaudy 454-cubic-inch engine that Chevy unleashed in the 1970 Chevelle signaled the high point and the coming end of the muscle car era. Check out photos and specifications of the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

As the street version of a race-ready car, the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A was decked out to be a distinct (and conspicuous) machine. Check out photos and specifications of the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A muscle car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Dodge brought back the venerable Charger for one last year in 1970. The uplevel R/T Hemi made it a worthwhile decision. Check out photos and specifications of the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 was designed to beat the Chevrolet Camaro. The twist was that the Boss was built by the same guys who had developed the Camaro. Check out photos and specifications of the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

By 1970, the Ford Torino was getting up in years and had grown in length and weight. But that actually helped it perform like a muscle car. Learn more about the 1970 Ford Torino Cobra.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Coke-bottle shape declared that the Cyclone Spoiler was Mercury's first truly unique muscle car. Find out how the 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler set itself apart from its cousins in the Ford family.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 stands as perhaps the best 4-4-2 muscle car that Olds ever produced. Find out how Oldsmobile made the 1970 4-4-2 W-30 into a muscle car classic.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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The only thing this muscle car didn't have was a big price tag. Find out how Plymouth used an inexpensive platform, big engine, and wide array of enhancements to make the 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 a hit.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Pontiac poured on so much performance for '63 that only an order from the highest power could slow it down. Unfortunately, that's what happened with the 1963 Super Duty 421. Learn about this muscle car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Laugh away, but the Hurst SC/Rambler could blow the doors off some pedigreed muscle cars. Too bad AMC had to compensate for its advertising budget by making a billboard of the car. Learn more.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

With a new design, the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 became an instant classic. Its Corvette engine made it a standout among muscle cars. Check out photos and specifications of the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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With proper exhaust systems, Chrysler's 1965 Factory Altered Wheelbase cars, which included the Dodge Factory Altered Wheelbase, would have been almost street-legal. Clearly, though, they were intended for competition. Learn more about this muscle car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Chrysler's corporate drag racing efforts reached extreme levels in 1965, with the creation of purpose-built drag machines that personified the muscle-car era's "win at all costs" mentality. Learn about the Plymouth Factory Altered Wheelbase.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Horsepower dropped for the Buick GS 455 in 1971 as the muscle car era began winding down. Find out how the personality of the 1971 Buick GS 455 changed as a result.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

Oldsmobile made its premeir muscle car easy to identify on the order sheet in 1971, despite changing attitudes about the genre. Check out photos and specifications of the 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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Plymouth was still holding out against the changing tide of muscle cars in 1971, and the GTX benefited as a result. Check out photos and specifications of the 1971 Plymouth GTX 440+6.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The 1968 Pontiac GTO redesign helped the automaker keep its place as king of the highly competitive muscle car jungle. Learn about the styling changes and engine improvements in the 1968 Pontiac GTO.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

With the hot new Road Runner anchoring the lower rungs, a familiar name returned to top off Plymouth's midsize muscle ladder -- the ’68 GTX. Learn about this muscle car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

By 1971, the Ford Mustang was starting to grow out of its muscle car roots. The quick, if imperfect, Boss 351 gave the model a fine finish. Check out photos and specs of the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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Pontiac may have broken late from the gate in the pony-car derby, but it quickly makde up ground. Carefully considered alterations made the Firebird 400 perhaps the best sporty compact of 1968. Learn about this muscle car.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

The Pontiac GTO was the original muscle car, and the Judge was GTO at its most extroverted. In 1970, few muscle cars made a bolder visual statement. Learn more about the 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge.

By the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide