Automotive history is full of iconic and famous muscle cars, such as the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, but many old rare muscle cars have been somewhat forgotten by the public. Here are ten breathtaking classic muscle cars that you need to know about.
1959 Chevrolet Impala 283 Fuelie Sport Coupe
Chevrolet equipped this remarkable Impala with a fuel-injected 283 cu in small block V8 with a floor-shifted Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission. It has an impressive horsepower rating of 290.
The car’s “fuelie” name derives from its incredibly rare 1959 Rochester fuel injection system, and Chevrolet only equipped 19 units with this V8. This stunning Chevrolet Impala also features iconic “cat’s eyes” tail lights as well as swept-wing rear sculpting.
Although impressive, this rare iteration of the 1959 Impala has been largely forgotten due to Chevrolet’s introduction of the 348 cu in W-motor V8, which had a top horsepower rating of 315.
1962 Pontiac Catalina 389 Tri-Power Four-Speed Convertible
This breathtaking and rare Pontiac Catalina boasts a 389 Tri-Power engine with three two-barrel carburetors and a 10.8:1 compression ratio. Plus, it features a Posi-Traction rear end and a factory Code-E 3.90:1 gear ratio.
The reason why these Catalinas are rare and often overlooked is because Pontiac created them just before they debuted the GTO series in 1963. In the early 1960s, Pontiac developed large and powerful engines, like the 389 Tri-Power, but the company hadn’t yet produced suitable vehicles to house these powerful engines. Instead, the company equipped various full-size cars with these engines, including the Pontiac Catalina.
1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 W30 L69 OAI
General Motors’ Oldsmobile division manufactured this stunning car to be eligible for stock drag racing competitions. To homologate the car, Oldsmobile equipped it with a 400 cu in engine-coded L69 engine with an outside air induction system with twin cold-air snorkels and three two-barrel carburetors. Due to its outside air induction system, the car’s battery resided in its trunk.
The car was rated at 360 hp, and according to a driving test conducted by the magazine Car Life, it could go from 0 to 60 in only 6.3 seconds.
1968 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air II
Next up on the list of old rare muscle cars that are underappreciated is another remarkable Pontiac. Pontiac offered the Ram Air II engine option for its 400 cu in Ram Air Firebirds, and they only produced 110 of these remarkable cars. The manufacturer made the engines more powerful by modifying their D-port cylinder heads with round exhaust ports. They also added compression and adjusted its cam timing. The car has a conservative rating of 340 hp.
Those who ordered this engine upgrade back in 1968 could also upgrade to a gear ratio of 4.33:1. Plus, Pontiac offered both manual and automatic transmission options.
1970 AMC Rebel Machine
Although the American Motors Corporation didn’t acquire the same acclaim and recognition as its competitors, the company produced some of the most underrated muscle cars, including the 1970 AMC Rebel Machine.
AMC equipped this powerhouse vehicle with a 390 cu in V8 with a rating of 325 hp. It also featured an iconic style with its patriotic white color and red and blue stripes.
Sadly, this car doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves because 1970 was also the year in which the Dodge Challenger debuted. This was also paired with competition from highly successful muscle car producers, like Ford with their 1970 Mustang and Chevrolet with their 1970 Camaro.
1970 Buick Wildcat
Buick initially released their appropriately-named Wildcat in 1963, and the GM division created the car to compete in the ongoing muscle car competition that was largely dominated by Ford.
In 1970, Buick equipped its Wildcat with something truly special: a 457.6 cu in V8 rated at 360 hp and 510 foot-pounds of torque, Buick’s largest engine to date. Consumers could up their speeds even more by upgrading to a Grand Sport trim. This iteration of the Buick Wildcat could go from 0 to 60 in only 6.5 seconds.
1971 AMC Matador Go-Machine
The 1971 AMC Matador Go-Machine replaced the AMC Rebel Machine. Rather than sporting the Rebel Machine’s flamboyant colors, the Matador came in classic muscle colors, like red and yellow.
AMC offered car enthusiasts two impressive engine options for their Matador: the 360 cu in V8 with 285 hp and a powerful 401 cu in V8 with 330 hp. These old rare muscle cars were so rare that AMC only sold 50 units in 1971.
1971 Dodge Dart Demon
The Dodge Dart Demon was essentially a sportier version of the Dodge Dart and was far lighter than other 1970s muscle cars.
The most desirable iteration of the 1971 Dart Demon was the Demon 340 trim, which boasted a 340 cu in V8 engine with 275 hp, three-speed manual transmission, Rallye suspension, and heavy-duty brakes.
What’s also notable about this breathtaking old rare muscle car is that it’s far less expensive than competitor vehicles in the used car markets because of its lighter weight.
1971 GMC Sprint SP
People primarily know GMC for their trucks, but the GM division is also responsible for releasing this impressive muscle car, which is basically an alternative version of the Chevrolet El Camino. The car came with a 451.5 cu in V8 that boasted 365 hp and 465 foot-pounds of torque.
Although GM only produced 249 Spring SPs in its first year, these classics are not hot-selling items on used car markets, making them surprisingly affordable.
1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
Chevrolet produced its Chevelle Laguna from 1972 to 1976. These vehicles sold reasonably well but their sales paled in comparison to that of Mustangs and Camaros.
Chevelle Lagunas came with a standard 350 cu in four-barrel V8 with 175 hp, but car lovers could upgrade to a 454 cu in four-barrel V8 with 245 hp. This may sound unimpressive compared to previous muscle cars on this list, but it’s important to remember that American auto manufacturers were now dealing with new regulations caused by the 1970s energy crisis.
The car also came with different transmission options including a standard three-speed manual, four-speed manual, or the Turbo Hydra-Matic three-speed automatic.
Get Great Insurance on Your Classic Muscle Car
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