Misunderstood muscle: underestimated and forgotten muscle cars

Most motorists know Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers and Challengers. These are typical "muscle cars" of the 1960s and 1970s. This time is considered the golden age of muscle cars, as the sky seemed to be the limit of power, performance and panache.

Most collectors look for the usual suspects as they are well known, loved and iconic. And what about some lesser known muscle cars? In a sea of ​​Mustangs and Camaros, you can stand out from the crowd with a unique and misunderstood model from the muscle era. Here are thugs with big motors that will draw attention, burn rubber and stand out at a car show.

1965 Pontiac 2+2

The Pontiac 2+2 was a full-size two-door coupe or convertible based on the Catalina and marketed as the "big brother" of the GTO. In 1965, the 2+2 model, named after the seating arrangement, with two people in front and two more in the back, was equipped with an 421 cubic inch V8 engine.

A 376 horsepower high power version of the engine was optionally available, along with bucket seats, heavy duty suspension, a self-locking differential, and a Hurst shifter. Yes, 2+2 is a legitimate performance machine. The car could accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and cover the quarter mile in about 15.5 seconds.

Not all muscle cars have to be cars! One underrated legend is faster than a Ferrari and named after a weather phenomenon.

1969 Chevrolet Kingswood 427

Station wagons aren't usually considered muscle cars, but the Kingswood deserves that label as it's a real road-killer. In 1969, if you were picky about option packages, you could order a big family truck with an 427-cubic-inch V8 turbojet producing 390 horsepower through a four-speed manual transmission.

With all the kids strapped in, and despite weighing more than all of Jupiter's moons, Kingswood could 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds and run the quarter mile in 15.6 seconds. That's not bad for a Texas-sized family van.

1970 Oldsmobile Rally 350

The legendary Oldsmobile 4-4-2 gets everyone's attention, but the 1970 350 Rallye was a bargain machine that didn't lose when it came to what muscle cars do...drag racing and endurance racing. The Rallye 350 was designed to sit below the top end of the muscle car crowd and compete against the Dodge Dart, Plymouth Road Runner and Chevrolet Chevelle.

Beneath the banana yellow body is a 310-horsepower Rocket 350 V8 engine, which is powered by a dual intake hood. The car was luxurious, fast and lived up to the muscle car moniker as it was capable of covering the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds.

Ford Torino 1969 with lambs

The Torino Talladega was a one-year car built by Ford to be more competitive in NASCAR. At the time, NASCAR rules stated that cars must be stock and at least 500 must be built. This prevented manufacturers from creating "one-off" specials for racing.

The Torino Talladega was more aerodynamic than the stock Torino and won 29 races and two championships in NASCAR competition. Power came from a 428 Cobra Jet V8 with 355 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. This was enough to propel the Torino Talladega to a top speed of 130 mph.

1970 Buick Wildcat

The Buick Wildcat is a luxury muscle car for discerning upscale owners. While most muscle cars of the era were purely performance and power focused, the Wildcat showed that you can have comfort, convenience and style without sacrificing speed.

In 1970, the Wildcat appeared with a 370 hp 455 Buick big-block V8. The Buick Wildcat is a massively underrated coupe and convertible that may not have as much cash as some of the more well-received muscle cars of the era. But it's proof that power can be paired with comfort in a stylish body from the muscle car era.

1964 Mercury Comet Cyclone

In 1964, Mercury added the Cyclone option to their Comet coupe. The Cyclone was powered by the time-tested 289 horsepower Ford 8 V210 engine. The Cyclone variant also added the popular "change kit" which added chrome to the engine accessories, wheel covers and various other trim pieces. The Mercury Comet was originally planned as a model for the Edsel Motor Company, but the company folded in 1960 and the Comet was taken over by Mercury.

Interestingly, in 1964, Ford built 50 special heavy duty lightweight Comet Cyclones with an 427 cubic inch V8 racing engine under the hood. The car was designed specifically for drag racing and the NHRA A/FX class.

1970 Chrysler Hearst 300

The Chrysler Hurst 300 was a one-year version of the Chrysler 300 two-door coupe. Named after Hurst Performance, a parts supplier, 501 cars are believed to have been built in 1970, including two convertibles that were for promotional purposes only.

The large coupe with an incredibly long hood and trunk is powered by an 440-cubic-inch V8 engine with 375 horsepower. All 300 Hursts were painted a white/gold color scheme and featured fiberglass hoods, trunks, and a Torque-Flite automatic transmission with a Hurst shifter.

1993 GMC Typhoon

Most muscle car fans might scoff that the GMC Typhoon made this list, but it deserves to be here because of its insane performance and underrated nature. Power comes from an unconventional turbocharged V6 for the time, producing 280 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque at 14 psi boost.

That might not sound like much compared to the other cars on this list, but it was enough to get the Typhoon to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 14.1 seconds. This is faster than the Ferrari 348 of the same period.

1969 Mercury Cyclone CJ

In 1969, Mercury added a new CJ model to the Cyclone line. CJ means Cobra Jet and this name comes from the monster engine that hides under the hood. That monster was the 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 from Ford.

It was officially rated at 335 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, but this was likely an underestimation as the car was capable of a quarter mile in less than 14 seconds under the right circumstances. Mercury Cyclone sales were lackluster, but the unexpected Cyclone CJ's performance was stellar.

1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna 454

The 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna was a luxurious, more sophisticated version of the Chevelle. You can have a Laguna in a two-door, four-door or station wagon body style, but for city trips or to the beach the car is named after, a two-door coupe will do.

Available with a big-block 454-cubic-inch V8, the Chevelle Laguna produced 235 horsepower. Considering the dismal power and performance of most cars at the start of the oil crisis, that's not a big deal. The Chevelle Laguna was also available with one of the coolest options: reclining front bucket seats. No more getting into cars, you get in and turn around to face forward!

1970 AMC Rebel Machine

The AMC Rebel Machine is a lightly disguised factory drag racer. In fact, he made his debut at the NHRA World Drag Championship Finals in Texas in 1969. The American Motors marketing campaign consisted of ten cars that were driven from a factory in Wisconsin to a drag race in Texas, and then run in the condition they were brought in.

Powered by an 390 cubic inch V8 engine, it had 340 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The car came with special cylinder heads, valves, a camshaft and a redesigned intake and exhaust manifold. Nothing says more about a muscle car than a red, white and blue drag racer!

1971 GMC Sprint SP 454

The GMC Sprint is an almost unknown brother to the much more famous Chevrolet El Camino. Part car, part pickup truck, the Sprint was a unique vehicle for people who wanted to use a pickup truck with the performance of a car.

The SP package was GMC's equivalent of the Chevrolet "SS" trim and featured the same upgrades. The big-block 454-cubic-inch V8 was the engine of choice for owners spoiled for power, and in 1971 this engine produced 365 horsepower. This is a rarely mentioned muscle car that can burn rubber and carry a sofa at the same time.

1990 Chevrolet 454 SS

Can pickups be muscle cars? Maybe we should call it oil truck and create a new category. Regardless, the 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS follows the muscle car mold, with a V8 up front, rear-wheel drive, two doors, and an emphasis on straight-line speed.

With a big-block 454-cubic-inch V8 producing a good 230 horsepower for today, it couldn't match the Typhoon or Syclone for sheer speed, but it has V8 thunder and styling that's pretty old. You could even say that he has a cool, subtle aura. Something that was so lacking in this era of luxury pickup trucks with a “look at me” sign.

1970 Ford Falcon 429 Cobra Jet

The Ford Falcon started as a compact car in 1960 and went through three generations and ten years of production. However, in 1970 the Falcon name was revived for one year, technically half a year.

The 1970/1 2 Ford Falcon was essentially a Ford Fairlane, but only offered as a two-door coupe. The straight-six was available alongside the 302 and 351-cubic-inch V8 engines, but smart riders knew you could go for the powerful 429 Cobra Jet V8, and when equipped with a pressurized air intake and Drag Pack, it was rated at 375 horsepower. A truly fitting swan song for the Falcon.

1971 Plymouth Duster 340

The Plymouth Duster was a sales success as the cars were cheap and their performance far exceeded its weight class. The Duster was lighter, roomier and faster than the Plymouth 'Cuda 340 and was the only performance car in the Plymouth line to come with front disc brakes as standard.

Power was officially rated at 275 horsepower, but a car capable of going a quarter mile in less than 14 seconds suggested that it actually produced closer to 325 horsepower. The Duster was a hidden gem among the high-performance MOPARs of the time and had yet to be fully appreciated.

1971 AMC Hornet SC/360

The AMC Hornet was a compact car that was available in coupe, sedan, and station wagon body styles. This represents a change in the mindset of vehicle manufacturers and consumers at a time when the U.S. has increasingly focused on emission standards, fuel consumption and overall vehicle sizes.

In 1971, the Hornet SC/360 debuted, fitting in with the then-new philosophy of efficiency and small size but big fun. The SC/360 was powered by an 360 cubic inch AMC V8 engine with 245 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. If you opted for the "Go" package, you got a pressurized air intake and an extra 40 horsepower.

1966 Chevrolet Biscayne 427

The Chevrolet Biscayne was produced from 1958 to 1972 and was a full-size low cost car. Being the least expensive full-size car in Chevrolet's arsenal, this meant that the Biscayne lacked many of the amenities that other models had, along with all the fancy chrome trim pieces.

A savvy enthusiast can turn the Biscayne into a performance car by ticking off the options for the 427-cubic-inch V8 and M22 Rock Crusher drivetrain. The result was a fast 425 horsepower machine that didn't have all the bells and whistles that got in the way of speed.

1964 Mercury Super Marauder

In 1964, Mercury built one of the rarest and most underrated muscle cars: the Super Marauder. What makes Marauder great? R-code in VIN. This single letter meant that it was equipped with an 427 cubic inch V8 engine with 425 horsepower. Only 42 cars were built with the R-Code option.

Originally conceived as a homologation specifically designed for stock car racing, the sleek Marauder combined classic looks with lightning speed. Racing legend Parnelli Jones drove a 427-powered Mercury Marauder to seven USAC stock car race victories in 1964.

Buick Grand Sport 455

For many, this Buick will not be considered an underestimated car, but for us it is. Although popular with muscle car fanatics, he is not as well remembered as other classics from the same era.

Due to the fact that it was released at the same time as the GTO, 442 and Chevelle, the 445 was lost in the crowd. Now we're pulling him out of the crowd to try and earn him the respect we know in our hearts he deserves.

1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 442

If the Vista Cruiser sounds familiar to you, you probably remember it as Eric Foreman's trip to It's a 70s show TV serial. Eric's car was tired, brown and huge, but how much more fun would the characters be if the Vista Cruiser was the 442 version?

The 442 moniker stands for four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust. Although extremely rare for station wagons at the time, all of these options were selectable when ordering. Powered by an 455-cubic-inch V8 engine, the Vista Cruiser puts out 365 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque.

1987 Buick GNX

In 1987, Buick released the mighty GNX. The car, dubbed the "Grand National Experimental", was developed in collaboration with McLaren Performance Technologies/ASC and Buick, and together they built the 547 GNX. The GNX, equipped with a turbocharged V6 engine, actually produced about 300 horsepower. A 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds was insanely fast in 1987, and it was faster than a V12 Ferrari Testarossa at the same time.

The GNX has had a host of other performance modifications, but its darkened look really caught everyone's attention. Often referred to as "Darth Vader's car," the GNX could combine its sinister looks with incredible performance.

1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am

The 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am was a third generation body style car and was considered underpowered upon release. While we can't say that this statement is false, we can safely say that the exterior of the car is as great as ever.

Knowing that they had such a beautiful car in their hands, Pontiac quickly increased the power of the engine. If you manage to get your hands on one of these bad guys, consider yourself lucky!

Chevrolet Impala mid 90s

The mid-'90s Chevy Impala SS isn't the prettiest car, and when it came out it was rejected by consumers. If only they knew what beauty lies under the hood.

The car was packed with features that would make other muscle cars stall on the freeway. Perhaps if Chwei had left with another body, this Impala's fate would have been more wild than tame. We will never know.

Dodge magnum

While the Dodge Magnum may not look like a muscle car, it actually drives like hell. Dubbed the American muscle wagon, the Magnum brought power to the road.

Overall, it was capable of 425 horsepower and had amazing acceleration. The only downside was that consumers generally don't like muscle cars that look more like family cars. However, anyone who has been able to get behind the wheel of one of these can attest to how amazing they were.

Ford Taurus SHO

At first glance, the Ford Taurus was not a muscle car. It was a family sedan with character. However, under the hood, when upgraded to the SHO version, the Taurus has become the definition of its name, ready to challenge any other car willing to challenge it.

The only downside to the SHO was its size. It was heavy, which limited its power to just 365 horsepower. However, it was hard to beat the power for the price at the time it came out!

GMC Cyclone

At this point, you're probably scratching your head trying to figure out what we're doing, including a truck on this list. Wasn't a family sedan and station wagon enough? I hate to tell you this, but Siklon deserves a mention.

This truck was built for speed and could go from zero to sixty in less than six seconds. He could also cover the quarter mile in 14 seconds. How many other trucks do you know that can do this?

Jensen the Interceptor

The British automotive industry hasn't provided many items on this list, but Jensen Interceptor is here to change that. Designed in classic style, the Interceptor prides itself on speed and handling.

The Interceptor was more than just a muscle car. It was an experience. Everything about it has been designed with driver comfort in mind, including luxurious leather seats. Possibly the coolest car we've ever shown you!

Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac's Firebird 400 might seem too closely related to the Trans Am to be on this list, but with age comes additional beauty. Unfortunately, for such an old car, it is still considered too young.

Embarrassed? When Pontiac released this amazing muscle car, consumer interest was on the wane. However, the company pulled it off with one of the most underrated muscle cars ever made.

Pontiac GTO

After so many years on the road, the Pontiac Firebird is no longer news. In 2002, the company decided to replace it with the GTO, a muscle car with a more modern look.

To turn this little car into a big beast, Pontiac fitted it with a 6.0-liter V8 engine with a manual transmission. The power under the hood made the GTO stand out from the crowd, but like other cars on this list, the modern look didn't draw attention.

1992 Dodge Daytona

This car doesn't look good. Released in the early 90s, it used the K chassis that saved Chrysler but didn't age like fine wine. However, this car was filled with power and deserves more recognition than it gets.

By comparison, the Daytona was as powerful as more popular muscle cars like the Mustang. It was also more affordable. With so many rights, why do people care so much about the appearance of a car?

1994 Audi Avant

Audi, not known for its muscle cars, caught everyone's attention in 1994 with the release of the Avant. Like the Magnum, it was an all-rounder on the surface, but a beast under the hood, making it perfect for a family looking for an adrenaline rush.

Now we have to admit that this car barely made the list. While technically considered a powerful all-rounder, we would have preferred more features. On the other hand, with 311 horsepower at your disposal, it's hard to find a faster car from that era.

Jaguar S-Type

The Jaguar S-Type R comes from an era when Ford owned a luxury car brand. It was one of the best results of the partnership and one of the most powerful.

The S-Type looked like a Jaguar but had more power. It was a real muscle car, but you could drink tea in it during a business call. We mentioned that it was fast, with 420 horsepower and big brakes for added safety.

Infiniti m45

The first Japanese muscle car on our list is also one of the best. We're looking at a 2003 Inifiniti M45 that showed off a modern look that stood out from the crowd.

With 340 horsepower under the hood and a streamlined body, this car could race on the freeway. Just don't forget to stop to refuel. Muscle cars are fun, but they get boring quickly! One of the best things about the M45 is that it aged better than other cars of that era.

Mercedes 500E

While still a luxury car, the Mercedes 500E looks like a classic Benz, but hides a powerful secret under the hood. Upgraded with a 5.0-liter V8, the 500E soars on the freeway.

It is not only a fast car, but also a smooth ride. It's easy to handle and won't push you forward when you need to slow down at traffic lights. When you're driving, you can really just sit back and enjoy the ride. Just follow the road.

Pontiac Grand Prix

No matter how hard they tried after the Firebird left at night, Pontiac just couldn't replicate its lasting impact. This does not mean that the Grand Prix was bad. In fact, everything was the opposite.

When it came out, the Grad Prix was one of the best muscle cars on the road. We think the only thing it needed was a visual update. One look at it and you wouldn't think it was a muscle car, which is exactly what Pontiac was aiming for.

Chevrolet 454 SS

What's this? Another truck? Yes, and this one was fully muscled. While not as powerful as the Syclone, the 454 SS was much more than just a worker's truck.

It was the 1991 model that really turned it into a muscle truck. Chevy pumped up the power in the engine and added a ton of torque for towing. Honestly, it might be a truck, but it looks more like a muscle than some of the others we've included on this list.

1970 Mercury Marauder

The second Marauder on this list is no joke. It was a wonder car when it arrived making sure it looks good inside and out. He was also huge, which may have been his downfall.

Big cars are fun for a while, but become a chore for too long. Under the hood, Marauder also did not stand out. It had power, but it didn't outshine the competition, even if it looked better.

1968 Pontiac Grand Prix

No, this is not the Grand Prix we listed earlier. The 1968 Grand Prix was a muscular monster and it was a beauty. It had 390 horsepower, which could be increased to 428. Try to beat that horsepower in drag racing!

The look of the car was also classic, if not unique. The thing is, when it comes to this era of muscle cars, a lot of them end up looking the same, so it really came down to what the car was made of, and this one was made of greatness.

2014 Chevrolet SS

The 2014 Chevy SS is a muscle car hidden in the back of a Malibu. Trust us when we say it's also one of the best muscle cars on the road. We just want it to look a little more dangerous.

The SS was released due to sagging sales, and we think the bodywork is the reason. Who wants to drive a muscle car that looks like a sedan? We know not, but when he gets to work as SS, we will force ourselves.

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited

If you love the Jeep Grand Cherokee but want a little more power under the hood, then the 1998 limited edition is the way to go. This redesigned Cherokee has gone from off-road lord to traffic destroyer.

The 5.9-liter V8 helped give the limited-edition Cherokee 245 horsepower and 345 ft-lb of torque. Can your non-limited-edition Cherokee reach those heights? We didn't think so.