4 Small Engine Muscle Cars Ranked by Horsepower per Cubic Inch

Cubic inches do not decide everything. Here are four small engine muscle cars from 1970, ranked by how much horsepower they squeezed out of every cubic inch, counted down from four to one, using the factory horsepower ratings. The winner made more power per cubic inch than the legendary Hemi.

#4: 1970 Plymouth Duster 340

Number four is the 1970 Plymouth Duster 340. Plymouth shoved its 340 cubic inch V8, rated at 275 horsepower, into a light compact body, and the Duster 340 became a favorite of young buyers who wanted speed without a big insurance bill. That works out to roughly 0.81 horsepower per cubic inch, the lowest on our list, but weight matters as much as power, and the Duster was small.

#3: 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 351

Number three is the 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with the 351 Cleveland four barrel. Ford rated that engine at 300 horsepower from 351 cubic inches, which works out to about 0.85 horsepower per cubic inch. The Mach 1 paired that engine with a flashy look, a hood with a scoop, and a performance suspension.

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#2: 1970 Buick Skylark GS 350

Number two is the 1970 Buick Skylark GS 350. Buick used a 350 cubic inch V8 rated at 315 horsepower, which is about 0.90 horsepower per cubic inch, and wrapped it in a car with a comfortable cabin and a quiet ride. The Buick engine made strong torque for its size, so the GS 350 launched hard without needing high revs.

#1: 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 LT-1

And number one is the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 with the LT-1 engine. The LT-1 was a 350 cubic inch small block, closely related to the engine used in the Corvette, with a solid lifter camshaft and high compression. Chevrolet rated it at 360 horsepower, which works out to more than one horsepower per cubic inch, the best on our list, and a figure that beat even the Hemi.

That is the ranking, from the Duster to the Z/28. Which small engine muscle car would you take? Tell me in the comments, and follow Muscle Car Fan for more muscle car stories.