The early 1970s were the height of muscle car power. This was just before the gas crisis of the decade started to eat into the performance and control of the cars, and worries about gasoline didn’t exist.

Narrowing down the best muscle cars of that decade is tough. However, we think we have done it. This list will contain the very best of the 1970s muscle cars, ranging from the fastest to the best looking and everything in between.

1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Before the malaise of the 1970s took hold, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was one of the finest muscle cars on the road. It was built on the GM F-body platform, which was shared with the Chevrolet Camaro, making them nearly identical.

The peak came in 1973, with the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455 producing 290 horsepower. Following that, it was all downhill for the Trans Am and muscle car in general.

Plymouth Superbird

Along with the Dodge Charger Daytona, the Plymouth Superbird was one of the infamous NASCAR ‘aero-cars’ that redefined the series and saw speeds push well over 200 mph. The cars got so fast that NASCAR banned them from 1971 onwards after restricting engine displacement.

The Superbird came with two engine options: the 7.0-liter Hemi V8 with 426 ci displacement and the 440 ci 7.2-liter SUper Command V8. The 425 horsepower Hemi version is now scarce and can sell for over $1 million.

1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport

One of Ford’s finest muscle cars that doesn’t recieve the love it truly deserves is the 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport. The Gran Torino Sport had a shorter production run than many other muscle cars, such as the Mustang, but from 1972 to 1976, it truly captured the spirit of the muscle car.

Despite the 4.9-liter 302 ci V8 producing just 140 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque, this was still good in the context of the gas crisis. Plus, the Gran Torino’s striking design helped endear it to many.

1970 Oldsmobile 442

Oldsmobile is arguably the manufacturer that kickstarted the muscle car scene in the 1940s. They would continue to cement their legacy in the field, too, with the striking 1970 Oldsmobile 442 being one of their best.

Power came from a massive 7.5-liter 344 ci V8 engine, producing 365 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The top speed was 135 mph, and the 0-60 mph time was an impressive seven seconds. Plus, the 442 was a dramatic-looking sports car.

1970 Buick Skylark GSX Stage 1

Buick’s muscle cars don’t always boast the same reputation as others or aren’t as well remembered. But the 1970 Skylark GSX Stage 1 very much deserves a mention as one of the finest muscle cars of the decade, ensuring Buick could compete with the very best.

Under the hood was a 7.5-liter 455 ci V8 producing 350 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, clearly from before the gas crisis took hold. The Skylark GSX was one of the most powerful muscle cars of the entire decade.

1974 Plymouth Barracuda

The Barracuda name is one of the most feared in the muscle car world. The Plymouth Barracuda of the 1970s was built on the E-Body platform, Chrysler’s answer to the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Pontiac Firebird.

Plymouth might have been the last of the “Detroit Big Four” to enter the muscle car market, but it did so with a bang. The 1974 Barracuda is a real standout version, with its 360 ci V8 engine producing 245 horsepower.

1973 AMC Hornet

One of the lesser-known muscle cars of the decade is the small but mighty AMC Hornet. This car absolutely deserves far more recognition than it ever received during production. The muscle car was first introduced in 1969, but it reached its peak in 1973.

The 1973 Hornet had various engines under the hood, ranging from the standard 232 ci inline-six engine to two V8s. The V8s in the Hornet were the 175 horsepower base 5.0-liter engine and the more powerful 175 horsepower 360 ci 5.9-liter powertrain.

1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1977) — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

While the gas crisis of the 1970s did take its toll on the muscle car, there were a few surprises during that time. In the late 1970s, Pontiac did all it could to keep the Trans Am as powerful as possible, and the 1977 model did just that, thanks to its 6.6-liter 400 ci V8.

Power was 200 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque at a time when some muscle cars struggled to reach 150 horses. The car still retained its exceptional design and style, and it ensured it rebounded sooner than some did after the malaise had taken hold.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

Few muscle cars of the 1970s conjure up as many feelings of power and performance as the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454. Chevrolet’s Super Sport models took performance to the next level, and the Chevelle SS was no different.

The 454 moniker came from the 454 ci 7.0-liter V8 under the hood. A massive engine that could produce up to 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, propelling the muscle car to a top speed of 142 mph. At the time of its release, this was the biggest engine ever placed into a production car.

1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Arguably, the early 1970s was the absolute zenith of the Chevrolet muscle car. This is partially down to GM lifting the displacement ban it had previously held on its mid-sized vehicles. The 1970 Camaro Z/28 was one of the finest products of the lifted ban.

Power came from a 5.7-liter 350 ci LT1 Hemi V8 engine, producing 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. The 1970 Camaro also had a significant redesign from the previous generation, with its new fastback style body, which was much more aerodynamic despite being wider than before.

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429

At the end of the 1960s, as the new decade dawned, Ford wanted to bring its mighty 7.0-liter 429 ci big-block V8 to the world of NASCAR. Sadly, the engine’s weight and the work required to put it into a Ford Mustang meant it never raced. However, that didn’t stop the Blue Oval.

Instead, Ford produced a handful of special Mustang Boss 429s, utilizing the 375 horsepower engine that also made 450 lb-ft of torque. These remarkable Mustangs are now some of the rarest ever to exist.

1971 AMC Javelin AMX

Along with the Hornet, AMC produced the Javelin AMX, one of the quirkiest muscle cars ever to grace the market. The Javelin AMX had distinctive styling and plenty of power, thanks to the 401 ci V8 engine that made 330 horsepower. This ensured the Javelin AMX had more than enough power to run with the Ford Mustang or Chevy Chevelle SS.

The Javelin AMX wasn’t just a one-trick pony, either. It had a brilliant racing career, winning the Trans Am championship in 1971 and ’72. It showed enthusiasts that you didn’t need to go to the “Detroit Big Four” to get a punchy muscle car.

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T was the muscle car that embodied the spirit of the 1970s. It was fast, excellent, good-looking, and had a rebellious spirit that James Dean would be proud of. Plus, its widebody stance gave it a menacing presence, one that few muscle cars have ever managed to replicate.

One key to its success was the 425 horsepower Hemi 426 V8 engine that had shot to fame in the Plymouth Superbird. Yet despite its brutal performance, it was comfortable and spacious, with mod-cons that you wouldn’t expect on a muscle car. This was a muscle car that could quickly become a daily driver.