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That wide, menacing Charger in the final scene of Furious 7 has a name, a builder, and a number that beggars belief. 1320video ran into Tom Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines at SEMA and got the story behind “Maximus,” a 1968 Dodge Charger making 2,000 horsepower on an 18-inch-wide tire, with over 2,000 hours poured into the bodywork alone. Hear how the movie’s wildest car came together.
Ask ten enthusiasts to name the greatest muscle cars of all time and you will start nine arguments before you finish the sentence. This countdown leans straight into that fight, lining up the GTOs, Hemi Mopars, big-block Chevelles, and Boss Mustangs that defined an era and daring you to accept the order. With over a million views, it is less a verdict than a conversation starter. See if number one matches yours.
That smoky launch comes courtesy of Chevrolet’s 396 cubic-inch big block, available in the 1969 Camaro SS in three states of tune up to the L78’s 415 lb-ft of torque. The 1969 model marked the final year of the original Camaro chassis before Chevrolet redesigned the car from the ground up for 1970. Every wheelspin-heavy takeoff from a ’69 SS 396 is a glimpse of a combination GM only built for a single model year.
In a hobby full of engine swaps and modern upgrades, this 1958 Ford F100 shortbed stands out by staying true to itself. Filmed at Country Classic Cars in Illinois, it still runs its original 272 Y-block V8 and a three-on-the-tree manual, a genuine survivor rather than a rebuild. Its stubby shortbed proportions are exactly what collectors chase. See why an unmolested F100 still commands attention.
The 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger updated its front-end styling and introduced electronic ignition across the lineup, continuing a nameplate that dated back to 1969. Dodge built the Swinger as a muscle car in disguise — genuine V8 performance wrapped in compact, unassuming sheet metal. Engine choices ranged from a thrifty 198-cubic-inch slant-six up to a 318-cubic-inch V8, giving buyers a quiet way into real performance.
Owner Jesse Matlock named his 1971 Plymouth Cuda “Striker” because it was the first car to strike this set of custom details, and the number behind that claim is staggering: roughly 7,000 hours, or three and a half years of work. Captured on My Car Story with Lou Costabile at the World of Wheels show, it is one man’s answer to how far a Cuda can be pushed. Listen to it run.
The Mopar 440 V8 powering this rebuild traces back to 1966, when Chrysler bored out its 413 engine to create the largest V8 in its lineup at the time. Between 1969 and 1971, the 440’s most famous variant arrived: a triple-carburetor ‘Six Pack’ setup that pushed output to 390 horsepower. Understanding that decade of escalation adds real context to the resurrection captured in this restoration project.
1969 marked the final year of the first-generation Camaro, giving the SS 396 its distinctive one-year-only styling that collectors prize today. Chevrolet offered the 396 cubic-inch big block in three states of tune, topping out at the L78’s 375 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. With roughly 13,970 examples built and a 0-60 time around six seconds, the ’69 SS 396 remains one of the most sought-after first-generation Camaros.
A father ordered this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner convertible in factory pink, then was forced to sell it and lost track of it for decades. Thanks to persistent friends and a lot of searching, his son found the car and bought it back into the family. Pulled straight from the garage for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Barn Finds display, it remains beautifully unrestored. Hear the full story.
Two Hemi-badged muscle cars, side by side, and no caption to settle the argument. Whichever specific models these are, that small emblem alone guarantees a debate, the 426 Hemi was rated at 425 horsepower when it reached showrooms in 1966, a figure most enthusiasts still consider conservative. It is proof that in the Mopar world, the badge can matter as much as the car wearing it.
It looks like a clean, correct 1966 Ford Mustang convertible, but Classic Restorations of Southern Indiana built this one to fool you. Hidden beneath the classic lines are a subtle mini-tub for wider tires, a fully custom interior styled to look stock, and a fuel-injected 347 in place of the expected small-block. ScottieDTV invited it into his showcase sight unseen. Take a closer look at what’s really under the surface.
This 1940 Ford four-door was built in the very last year of a body design that had defined the brand since 1937, right before an all-new look arrived for 1941. Under its formal sedan skin sits the same 221-cubic-inch flathead V8 architecture that would later power a generation of hot rods. Here is why 1940 was such a pivotal, overlooked year for Ford.
The 1984 Corvette had no 1983 model year to follow — Chevrolet skipped it entirely to finish an all-new chassis built by chief engineer Dave McLellan. Rather than chase bigger horsepower numbers, the C4 staked its reputation on handling, backed by the new optional Z51 package. The sales results that followed proved the bet was the right one.
When Dodge revealed 808 horsepower for a car buyers could simply order from a dealership, it wasn’t a typo — and the optional Demon Crate could push that number even higher. Behind the headline figure sat a supercharged V8 that was roughly 62 percent new hardware, engineered to survive real quarter-mile abuse. See what it took to make that number stick.
Caught mid-build at Cruisin’ The Coast 2016, this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle already has the ingredients of a knockout: mile-deep black paint, a dialed-in stance, and a modern LS3 under the hood. The Metal Brothers team was still finishing the interior and tuning the engine when ScottieDTV filmed it. It’s a rare look at a serious muscle build before the final reveal. See where this Chevelle is headed.