The 10 Best Muscle Cars From The 1970s, Ranked

Ever since the first American muscle car was released with the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, muscle cars evolved at such a fast rate over the next few decades, taking the nation by storm. The philosophy of the muscle car quickly caught on in the States, with the size, and power combined with comfort becoming more than appealing to buyers. It wasn’t until the late ’60s that the heavy hitters started to roll out from manufacturers such as Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth, setting the stage for the ’70s.

The muscle cars released in the 1970s were only built on the groundbreaking late ’60s cars, with manufacturers across the country raising the bar to develop cars for what is still widely regarded as the best decade for the muscle scene to date. With their insanely powerful engine and boxy, mean-looking designs, here are the best muscle cars of the 1970s.

Related: The Definitive History Of American Muscle

10 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport

Top Speed: 140 MPH

One of Ford’s muscle cars that doesn’t receive as much love as it deserves is the ’70 Gran Torino Sport. The car had a much shorter run than other muscle cars from the Automotive giant such as the Mustang, but in the four years the Gran Torino was produced from ’72 to ’76, it embodied just about everything special about American muscle at that time.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Hagerty and Fastestlaps)

Like most muscle cars, the first aspect of the ’72 Gran Torino that so many fell in love with is the timeless exterior design. The Gran Torino Sport’s egg-crate grill is one of the most recognizable features of any muscle car among enthusiasts, with same-shaped double headlights on either side. The Gran Torino Sport’s power is also nothing to push aside, with a staple 302 V-8 under the hood producing 140 HP.

9 1970 Buick Skylark GSX Stage 1

Top Speed: 135 MPH

A much lesser-known muscle car than others featured in this list, the 1970 Buick Skylark GSX was designed to push the base GSX model even further, ensuring Buick could compete with the very best of the muscle scene. Buick was known for their class and comfort, and while their cars still packed a pretty heavy punch, the Skylark GSX put more of a focus on raw performance while maintaining the comfort synonymous with the manufacturer.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from GM)

The standout feature of the ’70 Skylark GSX was its mighty engine. Using the upgraded 455 (the Stage 1) as an option in the GSX, the muscle car industry was stunned by the record 510 LB-FT of torque it was able to produce, with a rated horsepower of 360. The exterior of the car matched the power, with the Skylark GSX being one of the meanest, aggressive-looking muscle cars of the decade.

8 1970 Oldsmobile 442

Top Speed: 135 MPH

As well as kick-starting the muscle car scene back in the late ’40s, Oldsmobile would continue to cement their legacy. Among muscle car fans, the ’70 Oldsmobile 442 is considered one of the best from the manufacturer, being the ultimate performance muscle car at the time for the company. With the name 4-4-2 coming from its 4-speed manual transmission, a 4-barrel carburet, and dual exhausts, Oldsmobile went all in for the ’70 model.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Conceptcarz and Fastestlaps)

With General Motors finally lifting the horsepower restrictions, placing the massive 455 ci big block under the hood to power the car, the 442’s V-8 produced 365 horsepower and an equally staggering 500 LB-FT of torque. The power didn’t stop there, however, with Oldsmobile offering the W30 performance package, which further fine-tuned several parts of the car to maximize performance. With the W30 kit, very few muscle cars could hold up to the 442. Without the kit, the sheer power still was very much present, earning the title of the ultimate Oldsmobile at that time.

Related: 10 Muscle Cars That Were Never Sold In America

7 1970 Dodge Charger R/T

Top Speed: 135 MPH

A car made even more iconic through Pop Culture is the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Featuring as a flagship car in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise driven by Dominic Toretto, the Charger has one of the most distinctive design styles, defining the large, boxy, aggressive muscle car philosophy. The ’69 and ’70 models are widely regarded as the best of the old Chargers, with the cars still being some of the most influential muscle cars of all time.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from ultimateSPECS)

The R/T in the name stands for road and track, with Dodge finding a great middle ground between the two for the ’70 Charger. With a base engine option of the 440 Magnum, this engine still packed a mighty punch, but more powerful options like the 440 six-pack or the 426 Hemi took things to a whole new level. Despite the car’s power and aggressive appearance, the ’70 Charger R/T was and still is praised for its comfort, especially with the additional luxury elements added to the Charger for the 1970 model.

6 1977 Pontiac Trans Am

Top Speed: 134 MPH

Easily one of the most iconic muscle cars of not just the ’70s, but of all time, is the 1970 Pontiac Trans Am. Despite Pontiac no longer existing as a manufacturer, the company produced some exceptional cars under General Motors. The 1977 Trans Am model is known globally for its standout role in the classic TV show ‘Smokey and the Bandit’, catching the eye of countless viewers. As well as being one of the most iconic muscle cars in Pop Culture, the ’77 Trans Am embodied just about everything special about Pontiac’s flagship muscle car.

Performance Specifications (T/A Engine)

(Specs sourced from Automobile Catalog)

The Trans Am’s trendsetting design was unique among its rivals, with a smaller, sporty design perfectly mixed with the bold muscle car philosophy. The ’77 model was available with three different engines, a V-8 with 180 HP and 325 of Torque, a T/A V-8 with 200 HP and 325 LB-FT of torque, and finally a 403 Oldsmobile V-8 with 185 HP and 320 LB-FT of torque. The multiple engine choices made this car even more desirable, appealing to those who wanted that extra amount of power.

5 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

Top Speed: 142 MPH

When thinking of American muscle, Chevrolet is a brand that will not be mentioned among the greats of the industry. With so many models competing at the top of the muscle scene, very few were as impactful as the 1970 Chevelle SS 454. The Super Sport models from Chevrolet were and still are known for taking performance to the next level, with the ’70 Chevelle being no different.

Performance Specifications (LS6 Engine)

(Specs sourced from Fastestlaps and Newport Car Museum)

This car benefited from the same lifting of restrictions as the Oldsmobile 442, with Chevrolet taking full advantage of this by placing the 454 big block under the hood. This was the biggest engine ever placed in any production car up to the time of release, setting a new standard across the entire US. The ’70 Chevelle SS 454 is also one of the meanest, bulkiest muscle cars to release throughout the decade, perfectly matching the unrivaled power from its V-8. The car also had the option between an LS5 or an LS6 engine, with the latter managing to produce a factory rating of 450 horsepower.

Related: 10 Forgotten American Muscle Cars Every Enthusiast Should Know About

4 1971 Plymouth HEMI Barracuda

Top Speed: 115 MPH

The ’71 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda is somewhat of a legend in the world of muscle cars. Besides its iconic look and raw power, the car is also incredibly rare due to its super limited production. Plymouth halted production of the model in 1971 as they didn’t want to alter the mighty HEMI V-8 to meet new emissions regulations, making the ‘Cuda one of, it’s not, the most sought-after muscle car of the ’70s. The even rarer convertible version sold for a record-breaking $3.5 million back in 2014, the highest amount for a muscle car.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Audrain Car Museum)

Once again embodying the muscle car philosophy, the ‘Cuda is just as strong and menacing as a muscle car should be, but features smoother lines and panels to give it a cleaner feel compared to the likes of the Charger. The 426 HEMI engine produced a staggering 425 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful muscle cars of the decade. The 1971 model put much more focus on performance than comfort, making the HEMI ‘Cuda easily one of the most thrilling cars to drive on this list, if you ever manage to get your hands on one.

3 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

Top Speed: 150 MPH

Another staple vehicle in the golden age of muscle cars was the Dodge Challenger. Like the Charger, the road and track model simply built everything great about the base car, honing in on performance on and off the racetrack. The ’70 Challenger R/T isn’t as bold and brash as the Charger, being slightly more understated but still no doubt a gutsy muscle car through and through. The Challenger also focuses more on luxury, with the R/T model still maintaining this despite adding performance.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Fastestlaps)

Like the Hemi ‘Cuda, the ’70 Challenger has an option of a 426 Hemi V-8 producing 425 horsepower under the hood, as well as a 440 V-8 with 375 horsepower and another 440 V-8 producing 390 horsepower as additional options. The combination of comfort and power makes the Challenger noticeably smoother to drive than other muscle cars of its time, becoming an excellent grand tourer.

2 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Top Speed: 133 MPH

Yet another car that benefited from GM lifting the displacement ban that was placed on mid-sized cars, leading to one of the best Camaros ever built. The Z/28 was an optional package that was designed to take the ordinary Camaro to new heights through both performance and design. This package allowed the ’70 Camaro to compete at the very front of the muscle car scene, with the nameplate just as iconic as it was back in the ’70s.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from American Muscle Car Museum and Automobile Calatog)

The ’70 Camaro was re-designed from the models released in the ’60s, featuring a fastback-esque, more aerodynamic design that was lower and wider. A much sportier look than the bolder models released before the ’70 Camaro, the looky matched the increase in performance. The 350 LT1 V-8 under the hood is one of the greatest Chevy engines, delivering 360 HP. With the golden age of muscle cars soon coming to an end, many consider the ’70 Camaro Z/28 to be the last of the greats from Chevrolet.

Related: The Top Muscle Cars Of The 60s And 70s

1 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429

Top Speed: 118 MPH

Among all the muscle car nameplates produced throughout automotive history, arguably none have a legacy that can hold up to the iconic Mustang. Being designed with style and performance at its heart, the ’70 Mustang Boss 429 was the culmination of all the equally memorable models produced throughout the 1960s. Featuring the fastback body style for every version of the car, the exterior design is only one element that earns this car the top spot on our list.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Mustang Specs and Fastestlaps)

The ’70 Mustang Boss was created to homologate the mighty 7.0-liter big block V-8 that Ford used for NASCAR racing, making it the largest engine ever fitted to a Mustang. The 375 horsepower produced by the NASCAR-designed engine propelled the Mustang to the front of the muscle car industry. Despite not receiving Carroll Shelby’s masterful input, the ’70 Mustang Boss 429 without a doubt deserves equal recognition to the likes of the GT500s and GT350s of the late ’60s.