The muscle car world is filled with powerful and stylish vehicles, but some of them often get overlooked.
While the Ford Mustang dominated the market in 2023, selling an impressive 48,605 units,1 many other muscle cars offer a mix of style, power, and features that set them apart from the rest of the pack.
So, what are these strange muscle cars that deserve our attention?
1. Pontiac Can Am (1977)
The Pontiac Can Am was a muscle car that had a powerful 6.6-liter V8 engine that produced around 200 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Can Am was designed as a special edition of the Pontiac Firebird but was limited in production, with only about 1,377 made.
It featured a unique front end, a bold “Can Am” stripe, and a distinctive rear spoiler. This car is often forgotten because it came at a time when muscle cars were declining in popularity due to fuel shortages.
2. AMC Gremlin X (1972)
The Gremlin X was equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, which produced about 150 to 200 horsepower, depending on the specific version.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Gremlin X is a small hatchback that was often considered bizarre for its unique styling and unexpected performance as a muscle car. It’s not your typical muscle car, but it packed a surprising punch.
The Gremlin X was marketed as an affordable option, making it accessible for younger drivers who wanted muscle car excitement without the high price.
3. Dodge Demon 340 (1971-1972)
The Dodge Demon 340 featured a 5.6-liter V8 engine that delivered around 240 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was known for its playful name and sporty look, but it was also one of the last true muscle cars before stricter emissions regulations took hold.
Its short production run and quirky styling with bold stripes make it a rare find today. Plus, its name, “Demon,” was unusual for a car and caught people’s attention.
4. Chevrolet SS 454 (1971)
The Chevrolet SS 454 included a massive 7.4-liter V8 engine with about 360 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This muscle car stood out due to its enormous engine size, which was among the largest offered at the time.
However, it was produced during an era of tightening emissions standards, making it a fleeting glimpse of muscle car glory. Its combination of size and power is memorable, but many people overlook it today.
5. Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser 455 (1970-1972)
The Vista Cruiser 455 came with a big 7.5-liter V8 engine and produced around 365 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Vista Cruiser is a unique muscle car because it’s not just about speed; it’s a station wagon! It combines the power of a muscle car with the practicality of a family vehicle.
The combination of vintage styling and muscle car performance makes it a quirky choice for car enthusiasts who want something different.
6. Buick GSX (1970)
The Buick GSX was equipped with a 7.5-liter V8 engine that produced an impressive 360 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The GSX was often overshadowed by other muscle cars, despite being incredibly powerful. Its bright yellow or white color schemes with black stripes made it visually striking.
It was also designed for performance but had a luxury feel, combining speed with comfort. With only around 678 units made, it’s a rare collector’s item that many have forgotten.
7. Chrysler 300 Hurst (1970)
The Chrysler 300 Hurst came with a powerful 7.2-liter V8 engine that produced about 375 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was a special edition of the luxurious Chrysler 300, mixing luxury with muscle car performance.
It had unconventional styling, including a distinctive Hurst badge and special interior features. It’s often overlooked because it was produced in limited numbers—only around 500 were made—making it rare today.
8. AMC Rebel Machine (1970)
The AMC Rebel Machine debuted with a 6.4-liter V8 engine that delivered around 340 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Rebel Machine was designed to be a fun and powerful car but was unusual because AMC was not as well-known for muscle cars as other brands.
It featured bright colors and bold graphics, making it eye-catching. Despite its impressive performance, it didn’t sell well, and only about 2,000 were made.
9. American Motors AMX/3 (1970)
The AMX/3 had a mid-engine design, featuring a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produced around 360 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was unusual because it was a sports car from American Motors, which was more known for sedans.
Its sleek, low design and advanced engineering set it apart from typical muscle cars. However, only about 50 were built, making it extremely rare and often overlooked in muscle car discussions.
10. Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II (1969)
The Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II featured a 7.0-liter V8 engine that produced around 335 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was created for racing and had a distinctive aerodynamic design with a unique rear spoiler.
It was also a rare model, with only about 500 made, and its special features aimed at improving performance on the track made it stand out. However, its limited production and lack of popularity in the muscle car scene led many to forget it.
11. Ford Torino Talladega (1969)
The Ford Torino Talladega came with a powerful 7.0-liter V8 engine, producing about 360 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was designed specifically for NASCAR racing and had a sleek design to reduce drag. Its name comes from the Talladega Superspeedway, where it was meant to compete.
Like the Cyclone Spoiler II, it was produced in limited numbers (around 750), making it a rare muscle car that isn’t well remembered today.
12. Dodge Charger Daytona (1969)
The Dodge Charger Daytona was released with a big 7.0-liter V8 engine that produced about 425 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: This car was designed for racing and had a very unusual look. Its long nose and huge rear wing were made to improve aerodynamics for speed on the track.
Only about 503 were made, making it a rare sight. Its extreme styling and purpose-built design for NASCAR racing make it one of the strangest muscle cars of its time.
13. Plymouth GTX (1967-1971)
The Plymouth GTX was produced with different engine options, including a powerful 7.2-liter V8 that could produce around 375 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The GTX was marketed as a “Gentleman’s Muscle Car,” which is odd because it combined luxury with raw power.
It had a classy interior and stylish looks, but it was just as capable of racing as other muscle cars. Its mix of elegance and performance made it stand out from the typical, more aggressive muscle cars of the era.
14. Pontiac Firebird Sprint (1967-1969)
The Pontiac Firebird Sprint had a 6.6-liter inline-six engine, producing around 200 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: Most muscle cars had big V8 engines, but the Firebird Sprint had a six-cylinder engine, which was unusual for a muscle car. This made it less powerful than its competitors but gave it better fuel economy.
15. Plymouth Barracuda Formula S (1967-1969)
The Plymouth Barracuda Formula S came with a 7.0-liter V8 engine that produced around 383 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Barracuda Formula S was known for its fastback design, which was different from most muscle cars.
Its unique shape, resembling a fish, made it visually distinct. It was also one of the first pony cars, coming out just before the Ford Mustang.
16. Chevrolet Biscayne 427 (1966-1969)
The Chevrolet Biscayne 427 had a 7.0-liter V8 engine that could produce around 425 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Biscayne was primarily a full-size sedan, which is unusual for a muscle car. While other muscle cars were focused on sporty looks and compact designs, the Biscayne was more about power in a large package.
Its combination of family-friendly style with serious muscle car performance makes it a surprising entry in the muscle car scene.
17. Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre (1966-1967)
The Ford Galaxie 500 7-Litre featured a 7.0-liter V8 engine that produced about 345 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: Like the Biscayne, the Galaxie was a full-size car, which is not typical for muscle cars that were usually smaller and sportier. The 7-Litre version was designed for high performance, but it had a more luxurious and spacious feel compared to other muscle cars.
Its blend of power and comfort in such a large vehicle makes it a unique and somewhat strange choice for muscle car enthusiasts.
18. Studebaker Avanti R2 (1963-1964)
The Studebaker Avanti R2 was produced with a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine, generating around 290 horsepower.
What Makes It Bizarre: The Avanti R2 was unlike most muscle cars due to its sleek, futuristic design and luxury features.
It was built by Studebaker, a company not typically associated with muscle cars. Only about 4,600 units were made, making it a rare find today.
These cars may not have the same spotlight as the others, but they offer exciting features and a fun driving experience.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
