Best American Muscle Cars From the 2000s

Back in the 1960s, Pontiac would start a revolution in the American automotive landscape, that would completely change the way performance cars were built; they took a big V-8 engine and slapped it in the LeMans GTO and birthed a model that popularized the muscle car. Every American manufacturer was desperate to jump on the trend and the boom of muscle cars began.

The 1960s all the way up to the early 70s are considered to be the golden age of muscle cars, with legends springing up from every major American automaker. However, we all know that all good things must come to an end. With the oil crisis in the 1970s and a wave of strict environmental regulations, the muscle car disappeared.

Then the 2000s came and with it a renaissance. Horsepower grew and a number of legendary nameplates were brought back. We look at some of the fastest, most powerful muscle cars that the 2000s brought and how a new generation of muscle cars challenged the classics in terms of speed and pure adrenaline.

Related: The Definitive History Of American Muscle

10 2005 Mustang GT

Top Speed: 149 MPH

The third and fourth generations of the Mustang showed how Ford had struggled to recapture the glory that the early Mustangs had. In 2005 Ford released the fifth generation (S197) and brought the Mustang back to its roots.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

The 2005 Mustang GT was the initial highest-performance trim for the fifth generation’s debut. The new Stang’s looks were modern, and sexy, and was a throwback to the glory days. It had a 4.6-liter V-8, was stiffer, and handled better than the base trim, and it went like hell. There was also a rental-only version that led to the creation of the Shelby GT500.

9 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Top Speed: 150 MPH

The Camaro had faced a steady decline since the fall of muscle cars in the 70s and was in a dismal spot, that is until the fourth generation came around in 1993. It wasn’t the coolest-looking Camaro but after a facelift in 1998, it wasn’t bad-looking either.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AutoData)

Regardless of aesthetics, by 2002 the Camaro had a ton of oomph under the hood; horsepower had been growing over its lifespan and had peaked. The final production year for this generation of the Camaro was 2002 which came with a special 35th anniversary package for the SS trim, which made it look pretty amazing.

8 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The fifth generation of the Ford Mustang was a huge hit and people were all but anticipating when Carroll Shelby would get his hands on it. In 2007, the Mustang Shelby GT500 broke cover and was meant to be the successor to the SVT Cobra.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

At the heart of the Shelby GT500 was a 500 horsepower supercharged V-8 engine which was capable of bringing a tear to the eye of any muscle car lover. Car and Driver tested the GT500 around the Virginia International Raceway and found it was faster than a Lotus Elise and Porsche Cayman S, falling just short of the 911 Turbo’s time.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Is The Ultimate Muscle Car

7 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8

Top Speed: 155 MPH

The Dodge Magnum was historically a two-door coupe that ended production in 1988. However, a revival of the nameplate came in 2005 in the form of a station wagon, a shock to many. A couple of years later in 2006, the high-performance SRT8 model hit the market.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AutoData)

Despite it being a station wagon, the Magnum SRT8 was loved by muscle car enthusiasts, partly due to its massive 6.1-liter V-8 engine. It also came fitted with improved Brembo brakes, stiffer suspension, and 20-inch wheels. This performance station wagon solidified itself as one of the best American muscle cars of the time. There are even rumors of it returning soon as an EV.

6 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8

Top Speed: 165 MPH

The Dodge Charger is one of the longest-running nameplates for the brand and made a comeback after a 20-year hiatus in 2006. The highest trim level, the SRT8, debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show to much applause.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

The 2006 Charger SRT8 came with a number of improvements over the R/T, including a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine. Alongside the new engine were Brembo brakes at the front and back, bucket seats, a performance body kit, and new 20-inch performance tires. The Dodge Charger, as we know it, is going into retirement once again, returning with an electric powertrain in the near future.

5 2006 Cadillac CTS-V

Top Speed: 165 MPH

In 2004 Cadillac decided to get in on the use of the LS V-8 and produced its high-performance Variant of the Cadillac CTS. In 2006 the CTS-V got a number of upgrades, including the new LS2 V-8.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

After a strong start for the CTS-V, Cadillac decided that it needed some improvements for the 2006 model year onwards. Now included were Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires, Brembo brakes, and a high-performance suspension package. The LS2 V-8 featured in the CTS-V was the same engine that powered the base model of the new 2005 C5 Corvette. It was one of the most powerful American muscle cars of its time and has continued to be since.

Related: The Most Analog V-8 Powered Sports Sedan That Money Can Buy Today

4 2006 Pontiac GTO

Top Speed: 170 MPH

The Pontiac GTO was the muscle car that started it all. In 1974 it disappeared with many of the other muscle cars of the era. A couple of decades later, in 2004, the Pontiac GTO was brought back as a rebadged Holden Monaro.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

Despite the controversy of the new GTO essentially being a rebadged Aussie Holden Monaro, the new GTO was a performance monster. In 2006 it received an upgraded engine making it even more powerful. It may not have looked as aggressive as other muscle cars of the time but its 6.0-liter V-8 made it a force to be reckoned with. It was one of the fastest and best muscle cars of the 2000s.

3 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Top Speed: 171 MPH

In 2005 when Dodge teased the return of the Challenger people were absolutely thrilled. It may have taken a couple of years for it to actually reach market but once it did it became an instant classic.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

All of the initial 2008 model year Dodge Challengers were SRT8s and they were all pre-sold before production had even begun, showing the huge demand for the return of the legendary muscle car. The rest of the lineup, including the incredibly loved R/T would only come for the 2009 model, but the limited edition launch SRT8s were beyond thrilling. The Challenger is set to enter retirement again, with 2023 being its last model, but not without a thrilling final throw.

Related: Dodge Challenger Vs. Charger: Choosing The Right Muscle Car For You

2 2004 Chrysler 300C SRT8

Top Speed: 175 MPH

The Chrysler 300 debuted in 2004 as a full-size luxury sedan and after nearly two decades, its finally on its way out. Many of the elements in the 300C were derived from Chrysler’s then-partner, Mercedes-Benz. The 300C was the top-of-the-line 300 and was equipped with a ton of extras; the SRT8 pushed it even further.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

The 300C gave SRT an excellent starting point to make a performance muscle sedan that combined the thrills of a 6.1-liter HEMI engine with the refinement and class of a luxury car. The 300C SRT8 was an incredible invention and was one of the first real rivals to BMW M and Mercedes-AMG in America.

1 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

Top Speed: 176 MPH

In 1999 the Ford Mustang Cobra was released to controversy as owners quickly found out it was slower and produced less horsepower than Ford claimed. To make it up to the Mustang community Ford gave us its fastest factory Mustang ever for the time, the Cobra R.

Performance

(Specifications sourced from AccelerationTimes)

The 2000 Cobra R was a limited-run Mustang that came with a 5.4-liter V-8 engine that actually produced more horsepower than Ford had rated it for; perhaps they were trying to compensate. Either way, it was a nice surprise and made up for the lack of the non-R Mustang Cobra.