The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s

Best Muscle Cars in 1960s

Though muscle cars are still in the spotlight today, only a few know their history. Muscle cars have been in existence as far back as the 1960s but didn’t have their best time until the 1960s. The 1960s was when the first set of legendary muscle cars were introduced to the market. Since then, muscle cars have been a force to reckon with in the automotive industry, with Dodge, Plymouth, Ford, and Chevrolet being the big names in the industry.

This article looks into the best muscle cars in the 1960s that every muscle car enthusiast will love to know.

1. 1968 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi
2. 1964 Pontiac GTO
3. 1966 Oldsmobile Tornado
4. 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle
5. 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

51965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s: 1965 Ford

Released in 1965, the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 was one of the few products that solidified the Mustang’s persona, thanks to its speed. The car came with features to resemble a racing styled appearance and had high-performance quality. A mere glance at the Shelby GT350 is enough to convince enthusiasts to lay their hands on it.

The car came equipped with a powerful engine that would produce 306 horsepower with a top speed of 138 mph. Overall, the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 was a blend of looks and power.

41964 Chevrolet Chevelle

The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s: 1964 Chevrolet

The first Chevelle set its foot into the market in 1964 and saw its end in 1978, which was unfortunate to muscle car enthusiasts. This was one of Chevy’s most successful vehicles with impressive sales. However, there are speculations that the automaker might resume the production of the car any time soon.

Under the hood was a 327-cubic-inch V8 engine capable of producing 300 horsepower. What made people love the car was how it screamed tough, ruling the streets.

RELATED: The 7 Best Chevy Muscle Cars

31966 Oldsmobile Tornado

The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s: 1966 Oldsmobile

The Oldsmobile Tornado was one of the few muscle cars that had a long lifespan on the market. The car was manufactured between 1966 and 1992, with four generations. What made the muscle car gained much attention was the desirable looks. The car came with a short rear and long front end, which earned it the similarities of a stereotypical muscle car.

The Oldsmobile Tornado came equipped with one of the most powerful engines of its time. With a 425 cubic-inch V8 engine, the car would churn out 385 horsepower. Though the car didn’t earn impressive safety ratings, it was one to mention for immense capabilities.

21964 Pontiac GTO

The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s: 1964 Pontiac

The first GTO was spotted on the market in 1964 and was immediately named “The Goat”, credited to its excellent on-road character and performance.

The muscle car came equipped with a 6.4-liter V8 engine that could produce 325 horsepower. When the production of this car was announced to end in 2006, enthusiasts wished it were a joke.

11968 Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi

The 5 Best Muscle Cars in 1960s: 1968 Plymouth

The Roadrunner is one of the first cars to pop up when talking about muscle cars manufactured in the 1960s. While the mechanical work was cool, the inner and exterior works were excellent, the enthusiasts wanted to have the Runner in the garage.

The car was one of the most powerful muscle cars during its time, as it could churn out 335 horsepower and attain 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds. Many reviewers said they loved the muscle car for its performance and the unique body shape. Also, the long front and short rear end was a great feature that stood the car out among its mates.

What was the fastest muscle car of the 60s?

The 1964 Pontiac GTO was regarded as the quickest muscle car produced in the 1960s. The car was known for a high level of speed and horsepower. Also, the car would reach 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds.