The 17 Most Badass American Muscle Cars

The 1960s and 1970s birthed the American muscle car scene, a beloved American pastime for those who enjoy learning about the different car specs and a hobby for collectors who can afford it. This era of power created some of the rarest and most iconic muscle cars packing giant torque-rich V-8s the world has ever seen.

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Today, some muscle cars can be found for relatively affordable prices—although they’ll likely need a lot of TLC (like this ’66 Barracuda for $7,495). Mint condition models are another story; among the most expensive muscle cars ever sold are a 1967 L88 Corvette Convertible, 1971 Hemi Cuda Convertible 4-Speed, a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 2 Door Coupe, and a 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000 which sold for $3.2 million, $3.5 million, $3.85 million, and a whopping $13.75 million, respectively.

Emissions and other regulations would tame muscle cars in the 1980s, but these aging beasts of the road still come with some surprising stories as well as some surprising horsepower, and as always, total badassery.