Top 10 fastest muscle cars

This ranking is based on Muscle Car Review Magazine tests results and measured by musclecarclub.com:

#1 1966 427 Cobra 427 cubic V8 425 HP

Originally this car is British and has history that dates from 60s. Due to Ford’s wish to compete Corvette, the British AC Cobra was requested to be modified to fit bigger engine. After a few tries, Cobra was equipped with 427 cubic [7 liter] Ford engine that delivered amazing 425 HP and had a top speed of 163 mph. In fact, while saving costs, some Cobra Mark III were actually fitted with Ford’s lower cost 428 cubic engine.

#2 1966 Corvette 427 cubic L72 425 HP

1966 was a year of Corvette’s big block engine extension. The legendary 427 cubic L36 [390 HP] and L72 [425HP] V8’s were introduced. 427 was simply bored and stroked 396 cubic version. L72 had 4 bolt mains, aluminum pistons, bigger camshaft, Holly-780-CFM carburetor with aluminum intake and optionable K66 ignition. People say, this engine has more power than officially quoted – about 450 HP.

#3 1969 Road Runner 440 cubic Six BBL 390 HP

440 6 BBL engine was a equipped with 3 units of 2-barrel carburetors. It was added to line up in order to qualify for the Super Stock Drag races. Road Runners had no wheel covers or hubcaps, but had functional hood scoop and… 390 HP under the hood. This engine was cheaper that 426 Hemi, but had very similar performance. The 1969 Road Runner was named a car of the year by Motor Trend magazine.

#4 1970 Hemi Cuda 426 cubic Hemi 425 HP

The cars taht were equipped with 440 cubic or 426 Hemi engines received upgraded suspension and some reinforcements in order to help transfer the power to the road. Today, these rare Hemi engines have collectors’ interest and high price.

#5 1970 Chevelle SS454 454 cubic LS6 450 HP

Chevrolet’s 454 cubic V8 was a response to GM’s 455 engine. The 454 LS6 had 4 barrel Holley carburetor mated with aluminum manifold, good compression, 4-bolt mains, forged steel cranks and pitons and…. barbaric 450 HP. The LS6 engine made Chevelle a real superstar.

#6 1969 Camaro 427 cubic ZL1 430 HP

Technically the ZL1 was a Camaro option package. This street legal engine was very similar to aluminum-head L88, but ir also was the very first Chevy’s aluminum light-weight block [it weighted just 500 pounds - as much as the 327 V8]. The factory quote was 430 HP, but it actually had over 500 HP.  It was probably the most powerful Chevrolet engine offered to the market.

#7 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427 cubic V6 435 HP

There were only 624 units of this engine built – the L89 427 cubic V8 with 435 HP. It was identical to the L72 [such as in position #2] but had 3 units of 2-barrel carburetors [aka, Tri-Power].

#8 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 426 cubic Hemi 425 HP

The 426 Hemi was combined with low weight body and could run the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds @105 mph. This was one of the best muscle car era engines and the Road Runner one of the best engines to use it with.

#9 1970 Buick GS Stage I 455 cubic 360 HP

The optional Gran Sport Stage 1 engine produced 360 HP in gross ratings, but the road tests show that engine had around 420 HP and a massive torque. It consisted of more aggresive camshaft, better compression, unique cylinder heads, 4-barrel carburetor, faster ignition, etc. IN the 1980’s GS STAGE 1 engine was listed as faster than any of the Chrysler’s Hemi. Very expensive, very rear, very worth all the buzz.

#10 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427 cubic 425 HP