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The 1964 Pontiac GTO, the muscle car that made other cars hit the gym, was GM’s rebellious child, sneaking past the company’s racing ban by appearing as a “power option package” for the Tempest. With a roaring 389-cubic-inch engine and options like the tri-power carburetors, this beast was as subtle as a neon sign in a library. Add a Bobcat power kit for a cheeky horsepower boost, and you had a car that would do 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, making speed limits seem like mere suggestions.
A 1969 SC/Rambler and a 1968 AMX, both packing AMC’s 390 V8 at an identical 315 horsepower, meet on the same quarter mile in this Road Test TV throwback. The only real difference between them is a rear gear ratio — but gears alone rarely decide a drag race. Two of AMC’s most overlooked muscle cars finally get to settle an old argument. Watch to see who wins.
Rory Carroll, the editor of Autoweek, shares his lifelong obsession with cars, from racing a Lahta Signet in the 24 Hrs of Lemonds to driving the Porsche 918 and La Ferrari at the Circuit of the Americas. He credits his journey in automotive journalism to a chance opportunity with the New York Times and now enjoys a dream job at Autoweek. Rory believes that car enthusiasm is thriving among the younger generation, thanks to social media and accessible resources, and he’s excited about Autoweek’s future.
Oh, Canada! Between 1966 and 1969, Pontiac Beaumonts strutted their stuff as a Chevelle look-alike but with a dash of maple leaf flair. Sporting unique tail lights and a dashboard reminiscent of a Pontiac GTO, the Beaumont came in styles from sedans to convertibles. The rarest gem? The four-door hardtop. The top dog was the SD396, boasting a 350 hp engine. With only 72,000 produced, these cars are as rare as a polite hockey player, making them a collector’s dream, eh?
The Acadian 1962-1971: When the Pontiac Tempest went AWOL in Canada, GM Canada whipped up the Acadian to fill the void. A Chevy II in disguise, it had more personalities than a soap opera character, with trim levels like Invader, Canso, and the swanky Beaumont. It shipped out from Oshawa to places as far-flung as Chile and South Africa, proving it’s not just a car, but a global ambassador. Canada kept it all under wraps until 1971, when it was replaced by the Pontiac Ventura II, ending its quirky run.
A 1970 Plymouth Road Runner with the legendary 426 Hemi — one of only 287 built that way — lines up against a 1970 Dodge Challenger 440 Six Pack in a quarter-mile pass that settles very little on paper. The Hemi’s factory rating gives it a 35-horsepower edge, but both cars were built in numbers so small that finding either one, let alone both together, is remarkable on its own. What happens off the line is the argument Mopar fans have been having since 1970.
Dodge’s engine lineup in the ’50s was like a family reunion where nobody looked alike! From the “baby Hemi” to the polyspheric heads, it was a smorgasbord of engineering. The 1953 Dodge Red Ram Hemi got things rolling, but it was the 325-cubic-inch engine in ’57 that had enthusiasts revving with excitement. With variants like the KD-500-1, featuring dual four-barrel carburetors, even the engines had more carbs than your average pasta dinner. Talk about a power-packed decade!
This 1969 Plymouth Barracuda isn’t fast — a mild 318 four-barrel and an automatic see to that — but its factory Mod Top roof and interior option make it one of the more distinctive cars in the Brothers Collection. Chrysler’s short-lived Mod Top package chased the late-’60s youth market with bold patterns most owners deleted during restoration decades later. Surviving examples like this one are rarer today than the 440s and Hemis parked around it.
This 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback started life as a real, Marti Report-documented S-code GT with a factory 390 — then got rebuilt from the ground up into a full Shelby GT500 tribute, inside and out. A Tremec 5-speed, 9-inch rear with Traction Lok, subframe connectors, and a Flowmaster exhaust suggest this one was built to be driven hard, not just shown. Fast Lane Classic Cars put it through a full test drive to prove exactly that.
The second-generation Dodge Charger, starting in 2011, got a stylish makeover with cool “racetrack” tail lights and snazzy chromed aluminum wheels. Under the hood, it roars with a Pentastar V6 or a mightier 6.4L V8 in the SRT-8, perfect for those moments when you feel the need for speed. The 2014 Charger SRT-8 dares you to race, offering a thrilling drive with safety features that might not matter if you’re more into the “how fast” than the “how safe” part. A bargain compared to luxury imports!
The Pontiac GTO 2004-2006, a rebadged Aussie import, hit American shores with a roar reminiscent of its ’60s glory days. Powered by a 5.7L V8, it was less “muscle car” and more “muscle diplomat,” bridging automotive cultures. Despite its potent engine, it was met with a lukewarm reception—like serving Vegemite at a backyard BBQ. With only 40,808 units sold, it seems American buyers were more smitten with the Mustang’s mane than this GTO’s growl.
Introducing the 2014 Corvette Stingray and Z51—a car so loaded with options, it might just come with a personal assistant! With prices starting at $56,000, this seventh-gen beauty offers everything from a glove box-hidden screen to an eco mode that whispers sweet nothings to your gas tank. Need to impress? The Z51 zooms from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, making it quicker than a cat avoiding a bath. Plus, with a 49/51 weight balance, it’s more stable than your morning coffee.
Studebaker was closing its factory doors when it built this 1964 Avanti, yet somehow found the will to fit it with a supercharged R2 289 — one of the most advanced forced-induction engines any American manufacturer offered that year. This low-mileage example from the Brothers Collection is a rare survivor from a company that didn’t live to see the muscle car era it helped anticipate. It rarely gets called a muscle car, but the numbers say otherwise. Watch to see why.