Built for speed and performance, muscle cars are not just about masculinity. They are sought after head-turners; amazing machines that push to the limits what humans are capable of building and accomplishing. Hundreds of muscle cars have come and gone, but only these 30 have the speed over the quarter mile to be considered the fastest ever; the absolute cream of the crop.
30. Camaro SS Z28 350 LT-1
Starting off the many Camaros on this list of the fastest muscle cars ever is the 1996 Camaro Z28 SS. It travels the quarter mile in 13.46s with 106.48 mph as its top speed. It has a 350 LT-1 engine, 310 horsepower, and a six-speed transmission.
29. Buick GS Stage 1
The only Buick on the top 30 muscle car list is the venerable 1970 Buick GS Stage 1. It does a quarter mile in 13.38s with a top speed of 105.5 mph. It has a 455 Stage 1 engine and 360 horsepower. It is one of the few muscle cars on the list to have an automatic transmission.
28. Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi
The 1970 Road Runner does a quarter mile in 13.34s with a top speed on the run of 107.5 mph. It has a 426 Hemi engine and 425 horsepower. This is also one of the rare muscle cars with an automatic transmission.
27. Chevrolet Corvette 427 6V
Next is the 1968 Corvette. This muscle car does a quarter mile in 13.3s with 108 mph as the top speed. It has a 427 6V engine, 435 horsepower, and has a four-speed transmission.
26. Pontiac Firehawk
A Pontiac finally emerges on the list. The six-speed 1990 Pontiac Firehawk does a quarter mile in 13.2s with a top speed of 107 mph. It has a 350 engine with 350 horsepower.
25. Chevrolet Camaro SS SLP
Camaros and Corvettes truly prevail as the most ubiquitous fast muscle cars around. The next is the 1997 SLP Camaro SS, which does a quarter mile in 13.2s with a top speed of 108.8 mph. This Camaro has a 350 LT4 engine, but with less horsepower than the Firehawk, coming in at 330 horsepower. It has a six-speed transmission.
24. Chevrolet Corvette 350 LS-1
Chevy comes in again with its 1997 Corvette doing a quarter mile in 13.20s with the top speed of 109.3 mph. It has a 350 LS-1 engine, 345 horsepower and it is a six speed.
23. Chevrolet Camaro 427 ZL1
The 1969 Camaro does a quarter mile in 13.16s with the top speed of 110.21 mph. It has a 427 ZL1 engine and throws out a healthy 430 horsepower. It is also a four-speed.
22. Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 comes in with a quarter mile time of 13.16s at the top speed of 107.01 mph. It has a 454 LS6 engine, 450 horsepower, and is a four-speed.
21. Viper RT/10
The first Viper makes the list – the 1992 Viper RT/10. This Viper has a quarter mile time of 13.1s, topping out at 108 mph. Its engine is a 488 V10 and it offers 400 horsepower. The RT/10 has a six-speed transmission.
20. Plymouth Hemi Cuda
The only Cuda on the Top 30 list is the 1970 Hemi Cuda. This Cuda does a quarter mile in 13.1s with a top speed of 107.01 mph. It has a 426 Hemi engine, and a useful 425 horsepower. It is a four-speed vehicle.
19. Hurst/Pontiac Firebird
The 1997 Hurst/Pontiac Firebird comes in next. It travels the quarter mile in 12.99s with a top speed of 103.11 mph. It has a 350 engine with 350 horsepower and an automatic transmission, making it relatively rare.
18. Plymouth Road Runner 440 Six BBL
Next is the famous 1969 Road Runner. It does the quarter mile in 12.91s with 111.8 mph as its top speed. It is a four-speed with a 440 Six BBL engine offering 390 horsepower. According to Motor Trend, it was the “Car of the Year” for 1969. 84,000 of them were made, with the option of adding a HEMI.
17. Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 liter
The first modern era muscle car to enter our top 30 fastest muscle cars is the 2016 Camaro SS. It does a quarter mile in just shy of 13s, clocking in at 12.9s to be exact. It goes zero to 60 in 4.5s and boasts a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 455 horsepower. It is not the most powerful Camaro model ever, but gives them a real run for their money at a lower cost.
16. Chevrolet Corvette 427
Also accomplishing the quarter-mile run in 12.8s is another Corvette, this one from 1966. The 1966 Corvette 427 has an L72 427 engine and tops its quarter-mile run at 112 mph. It is a four-speed with 425 horsepower. Born in the same year as the 427 Cobra, it shows how 1966 was a stellar year for American muscle.
15. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The 1990 ZR1 Corvette comes next, with a quarter-mile accomplished in 12.8s and a top speed of 113.8 mph. It is a six-speed with 375 horsepower and an LT5 350 engine. The nickname of this muscle car is “The King of the Hill.”
14. Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
The Charger SRT8 Super Bee is the first modern Charger in the Top 30 list. It goes 0-60 in 4.4s and tops out its quarter mile in 12.8s at 112 mph. The Super Bee has a V8 engine offering 470 horsepower.
13. Ford Mustang GT
Modern mustangs also deserve a spot in an ultimate muscle car list. The 2015 Mustang GT can do 0-60 in 4.3s and a quarter mile in 12.7s. It is a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 435 horsepower, and 400 lb-ft of torque.
12. Dodge Charger 392
The latest Charger 392 is the next modern machine to perform with aplomb. It does 0-60 in 4.2s and a quarter mile in 12.6s. It has 470 horsepower like the Super Bee, and a 6.4-liter V8 engine as well. Its overall top speed is a blistering 178 mph.
11. Dodge Challenger 392
The Challenger 392 is quite similar to the Charger 392 but pips it to the post on performance. It can also go 0-60 in exactly 4.2s and has the same size of engine, but boasts an extra 15 horsepower with its 485 horsepower rating.
10. Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core
The Challenger SRT8 Core is a modern fast muscle car. It is the SRT performance version. It still isn’t the fastest Challenger we’ll see, but it’s more car than most of us could ever handle. It also comes in the special colors Plum Crazy Pearl and Orange Pearl. It is a beauty that goes 0-60 in 4s flat and completes a quarter mile in 12.5s.
9. Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack
The Challenger R/T Scat Pack is the next Challenger to follow. It does its zero to 60 in 4.5s and finishes a quarter mile in 12.4s. This Challenger has 495 horsepower, a 6.4-liter V8 engine, and an overall top speed of 175 mph. It is not the fastest Challenger model but deserves a place on the list.
8. Ford Mustang Boss 302
The Mustang Boss 302 comes in with 444 horsepower – less than the Challenger R/T – but goes from 0-60 in 4s flat. The quarter mile is accomplished in 12.3s. The Boss 302 has a 5.0-liter V8 engine. It has been discontinued, with GT350 as its replacement.
7. Chevrolet Camaro Z28
The Camaro Z28 competes with the Mustang Boss 302 and the Challenger SRT8 Core with its 0-60 in 4s flat but she finishes her quarter mile slightly faster, in 12.2s.
6. Shelby Cobra 427
The 1966 427 Cobra has been called “the Cobra to end all Cobras.” She makes the quarter-mile run in 12.2s with a top speed of 118 mph. She has a 427 8V engine with 425 horsepower. The Shelby “Super Snake” sold for a record-breaking $5.5 million. It’s a four-speed beauty and one of the oldest and most impressive vehicles that make the list.
5. Dodge Viper GTS
The 1997 Dodge Viper GTS certainly makes the grade when it comes to fast muscle cars. Its quarter-mile time astounds at 12.05s, topping out at 116 mph. It has a V10 engine and a whopping 450 horsepower. Sleek and stylish, it demands the attention it deserves for its top-notch speed and performance.
4. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The Camaro ZL1 is the best and fastest Camaro to date. It has 580 horsepower and a 6.2-liter V8 engine. This model is supercharged and has an impressive top speed of 184 mph. She goes 0-60 in 3.9s and can do a quarter mile run in 12s flat.
3. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
The Shelby GT500 is the fastest Shelby to make the grade. It travels the quarter mile in 11.5s and does 0-60 in 3.5s. The overall top speed is 189 mph. This Shelby has an amazing 662 horsepower and a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine with 631 lb-ft of torque.
2. Equus Bass 770
The Equus Bass 770 is the second fastest muscle car ever made. Despite this, it is not very well known to most, but it echoes a lot of design queues from Challengers, Mustangs, and Chargers. The Equus Bass has a 6.2-liter V6 engine and 640 horsepower. This awesome muscle car does 0-60 in 3.4s. It is a pricey one! The stock price is $250,000.
1. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Finally, the Challenger SRT hellcat tops the list. It is known as the most incredible muscle car and fastest muscle car ever produced. It has an incredible 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It goes 0-60 in 3.5s and has a top speed of 199 mph, which puts it in the class with well-known supercars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. It does a quarter mile in 11.2s. It is definitely built for racing and not intended as a commuter car, as it burns gas at 1.5 gallons per minute.