13 Muscle Cars You Have to Drive Before You Die

You don’t have to go far to hear a millennial shout (or type) “YOLO – you only live once!” But even a lifetime has an expiration date. For car fanatics, that ticking clock means choosing which machines to geek out on – which models to pursue building and driving in our spare time.

To answer that spiritual call, we’re highlighting 13 muscle cars you have to drive before you die. And since the YOLO timer is counting down, this list isn’t limited to cars you can afford to own.

We’re showcasing 13 year-model muscle cars you should call in sick to work over if the opportunity to drive one ever presents itself. In fact, if you even get the chance to ride shotgun in a car from this list, it might be worth breaking dinner plans over.

1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda

The Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda is the quintessential muscle car, and not just because of its muscular body, shaker hood, and fly decals. The ‘Cuda was a performance-upgraded version of Plymouth’s 60s muscle legend–the Barracuda (who would’ve guessed).

The ‘Cuda stocks a 426-ci Hemi big block capable of 425 horsepower. By 1972, stricter fuel-consumption regulations made manufacturing an engine like the 426 Hemi a no-go, and Plymouth chose to discontinue the ‘Cuda rather than compromise its power.

1965 Mustang Shelby GT350

The Mustang Shelby GT350 is a legacy machine, and this is where it all began. Caroll Shelby turned the Mustang into a muscle car for the first time by stocking it with Koni shocks, a Holley four-barrel carb, a souped-up radiator, and free-flowing exhaust headers.

With 306 horsepower, this muscular Mustang pushes 138mph and a 0–60 rate of 6.6 seconds.

1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt

The ’64 Fairlane Thunderbolt was born of a bold ambition – to produce a stock drag racer straight from the factory.

Ford took their middle-of-the-road luxury Fairlane model and stuffed it with a 7.0-liter V8 engine from the NASCAR-Edition Ford Galaxie. Then, they tweaked its gearing until this Thunderbolt could hit 0–60 in less than five seconds. While Ford listed its horsepower at 425, other sources claim this street-legal dragster produces closer to 600hp.

1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2

The ’65 model Catalina stocked a 421-cubic-inch V8 into a big, beautiful body to create the ideal muscle machine. With bucket seats, a Hurst shifter, a beefy suspension package, and eight-lug hubs, you’ll hear its style scream before you hear its motor–which cranked 338 horsepower.

And that’s not to mention the 421-H.O.-engine-upgraded version, capable of 376hp!

1971 Dodge Dart Demon 340

Don’t let the Dodge Dart Demon’s specs fool you – yes, this 340-cubic-inch V8 only makes 275 horses and 349 ft-lbs of torque. That said, since it only weighs 3,160 pounds, it’s a mini muscle car unlike anything else.

A high-performance suspension package and dual exhaust combine with its black hood scoop, rear spoiler, and cartoon demon decals to make this a muscle car you have to experience if you get the chance.

1970 Oldsmobile 442

The 442 takes its name from a four-speed manual transmission, a four-barrel carburetor, and twin exhausts. By 1970, this impressive platform stocked a 445-ci big-block V8 capable of 360hp.

Its monstrous 500 ft-lbs of torque pushed this muscular machine from 0 to 60 in less than six seconds, impressive for a 1960s Oldsmobile.

1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88

Chevy built the L88 to race, but FIA GT regulations required all entries to be available at factory options, so here we are. The L88 turns the classic Corvette style into a muscle monster, doubling its price against all other Corvettes.

The L88 stocks a Can-Am spec Cylinder heads, an 850 CFM dual-feed Holley carb, and upgraded crankshafts and suspension.

1992 Dodge Viper RT/10

The ’92 Viper RT/10 is as important to its decade as Goodfellas, Nirvana, and Wu-Tang Clan. It may look like an unsuspecting sports car from the surface, but this Viper packs an 8.0-liter V10 capable of 400 horses and 450 ft-lbs of torque.

And with no traction control, ABS, or airbags, the driving feel is as classic, beefy, and high-risk as anything else on this list.

1969 Chevrolet COPO Camaro

Choosing which Camaro is most worth calling in sick to work over is no easy feat, but you only live once, so here goes. COPO stands for Central Office Production Order–the Camaros upgraded for cop cars and taxi cabs. A few Chevy dealerships figured out how to order these power-house Camaros for retail.

The COPO Camaros stock a 427 big-block V8 with 425 horsepower. Chevy listed the aluminum-engined ZL-1 edition at just five more horsepower than the standard big-block version; rumors say it actually pushes close to 550hp.

1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

While the Firebird name bellowed with supremacy for 40 years, the model worth skipping a date over has got to be the iconic 1969 Firebird Trans Am. A 400-cubic-inch Ram Air III V8 with 335 horsepower, but 55 models have the rare Ram IV variant.

The 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am has an interior as fly as any other muscle machine.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

The Charger Daytona stands out among muscle cars, thanks to its long, sloped front end and 2-foot-tall rear wing, but Dodge designed this muscle machine for NASCAR racing, and it crushed the competition.

The NASCAR version was the first NASCAR racer to cross 200mph, but the factory ’69 Charger Daytona either packed a 440 big-block or a legendary 426 Hemi engine.

1970 Chevy Chevelle LS6

No muscle car list is complete without a Chevelle, and the 1970 LS6 is definitely worth driving before you die if you ever get the chance.

Although Chevy claimed the LS6 was capable of 450hp and 500 ft-lbs of torque, the output tests of the ’69 Chevelle read closer to 500hp. A massive Holley CFM carb and an 11.25:1 compression ratio are likely to blame for this muscle machine’s bloated specs.

The 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

The 1960s muscle car scene owes its glory to the scene-shattering ’64 GTO. But Pontiac wasn’t satisfied with simply setting the bar, and by 1969, they raised it with the GTO Judge.

The Judge was available with the 360-hp Ram Air III or the 370-hp Ram Air IV, and its style reflects the quintessential elements of 60s muscle car culture. Are there more powerful specs in the class? Of course — but you’re hard-pressed to find a muscle car with as much cool factor as the GTO Judge.