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Steve Strope of Pure Vision built this Mustang fastback around a single what if — what would it look like if Ford and Martini Racing had joined forces on the rally stage. Powered by a 1966 Ford/Lotus Indy Car motor and finished in unmistakable Martini livery, it rewards close inspection as much as a quick glance. Petrolicious captures the obsessive detail work that turns a fastback Mustang into something closer to functional art.

The Ferrari 250 California Special was the supercar of its time, offering a cockpit-like driver’s seat and a V12 engine that could make you feel airborne. With its handmade body and streamlined design, this car didn’t just turn heads; it spun them like a record. Sure, the heater was the only luxury, but who needs creature comforts when you’re zooming at 140 mph? Even James Coburn couldn’t resist its charm, once driving off with one that later sold for a cool $11 million!

Tim Allen has wanted a Camaro like this since he was a teenager, and on Jay Leno’s Garage he finally shows it off — a 1968 Camaro built around the ultra-rare factory COPO 427 program, GM’s internal loophole for putting big-block muscle into a car it officially wasn’t supposed to have. Builder Bodie Stroud took it further, delivering 505 horsepower wrapped in bodywork that still looks unmistakably period-correct. Jay Leno gets behind the wheel to see if it lives up to the reputation. Watch the burnout that settles the argument.

A 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu wasn’t built to compete with anything from Europe — it was a mid-priced family car, plain and simple. Owner Enzo Morales had other plans, transforming it into a long-wheelbase, V8-powered road burner that pulls comparisons to grand tourers like the Bentley Continental GT and BMW M6. The build is as happy running triple digits on the highway as it is carving up a back road. Forty-seven years later, an ordinary Chevy has become something else entirely. See why people keep calling it the American Aston Martin.

The Porsche Carrera GT, produced from 2004 to 2007, is an iconic sports car that oozes charm and speed, much like a cheetah on wheels. Sporting a 5.7-liter V10 engine with 558 hp, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds, faster than you can say “Porsche.” Its unique left-side ignition pays homage to Le Mans racing days, allowing drivers to channel their inner race car driver. With only 1,270 units built, this beauty remains a rare gem in the automotive world.

Steve Lehto scored a ride most NASCAR fans only dream about — riding along in the actual #43 Plymouth Superbird, restored and driven hard by owner Todd Werner at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Built to lure Richard Petty back to Plymouth and to dominate NASCAR’s superspeedways, the Superbird was fast enough that the sport changed its own rulebook to stop it. Lehto filmed the entire ride from the floor of the car, exactly where a race-spec Superbird’s passenger seat would be. Watch what it looks and sounds like from the inside.

Tom Stutzman’s 1969 Pontiac Firebird wears a shade of Verdoro Green that turns heads on its own, but it’s what’s under the hood — a rare 400 cubic-inch Ram Air IV — that makes this car a genuine find. Stutzman has owned it since 2012 and trusted a small South Carolina restoration shop known for getting the details right to bring it back. The result earned its spot at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, one of the toughest judged shows in the hobby. See what makes this Firebird stand out from the crowd.

Juan Escalante’s 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T is one of just 137 built with the 426 Hemi and a four-speed, and it has survived far more than most surviving muscle cars ever face. Bought after a 1969 Detroit Auto Show visit, shipped to Venezuela and back, and nicknamed El Hemi before it even arrived, this is a family car whose story spans three generations. Watch to find out why they still refuse to garage it.

The 1971 Ford Torino line-up is like a car buffet—it’s got everything from the basic two-door hardtop to the luxurious Brougham, which is fancy enough to make you feel like royalty with its optional hidden headlights and plush interior. Power options get a slight diet thanks to emissions laws, but don’t worry, the Torino Cobra still packs a punch with its Windsor 351 cu in engine. Just don’t expect record sales; it seems muscle cars had hit the gym a bit too hard this year!

From ten feet away it is a coveted 1970 Plymouth Cuda in Pearl Orange Metallic; lean closer and almost nothing beneath the skin is factory. Built over two years by Jeff Schwartz and his team, it hides a 426 Hemi making 805 horsepower on a modern Schwartz chassis — a road-ready race car that keeps every ounce of 1970 attitude. It is the restomod argument made at full volume. See what two years of work produced.

From 1979 to 1987, the Chevy El Camino slimmed down like a carb-conscious dieter but kept its charm. The “Black Knight” morphed into the “Royal Knight,” and the engines were all about sipping fuel while still packing a punch. The V8s flexed their muscles, but the V6s were the real MVPs in fuel economy. As for transmission, everything went floor-mounted, making gear changes feel like a dance move. By ’82, Chevy added a diesel engine, perfect for those who love conserving fuel and collecting repair bills!

This countdown skips one host’s opinion and ranks the muscle cars by cold, hard play counts — the ones viewers actually clicked, again and again. The list climbs through winged Mopars like the Superbird and Daytona, a Mr. Norm’s Hemi Challenger, and a Ram Air IV Trans Am before handing the crown to the mighty 1970 Boss 429 Mustang. It is equal parts predictable and surprising. See which legends the numbers pushed to the top.

For 1969, Ford put the Mach 1 badge — borrowed from the speed of sound — on the fanciest Mustang package it offered, then backed the name with a brutal 428 Cobra Jet V8 and Ram Air induction. This example rolls out of the respected Brothers Collection, correct and preserved rather than merely old. It captures the moment Ford stopped being subtle and decided the Mustang should hit as hard as it looked. See why this Cobra Jet still earns its name.

Chrysler never sold a 1971 Charger Daytona, which makes this winged car something close to impossible, a recreation built from prototype documentation over nearly a decade of work. Owners Gary and Pam Beineke added two details the history books never accounted for: a factory-style sunroof and a Hemi. Filmed by Lou Costabile at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, it is one of the most unusual Mopars you will see. Watch to hear how they finished a legend the factory only imagined.

This 1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee looks like the budget bruiser Dodge built it to be, cartoon bee and all, until you open the hood. Underneath sits a massive 472 Hemi backed by a four-speed manual, a combination that delivers far more than the original spec sheet ever promised. Filmed at Fast Lane Classic Cars in Missouri, the walkaround rewards a close second look. Watch to see this Super Bee from every angle.


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