12 Lesser-Known Muscle Cars You Gotta Check Out
They Deserve The Spotlight
The muscle car world is packed with stylish Mustangs and Camaros, and so some often get overlooked. Here are some beasts that have gone under the radar but deserve the spotlight.
Unpopular Muscle Cars With Unusual Looks
Muscle cars are American sports coupes with higher performance than the average vehicle. Besides the popular Ford Mustang, the '60s and '70s also produced some of the strangest muscle cars ever seen. Besides their high horsepower figures, the off-beat looks of these muscle cars deserve our attention.
Dodge Demon 340 (1971–1972)
Dodge launched the Demon 340 as a compact muscle car to attract younger buyers. It had an aggressive design with a dual-scooped hood and sporty stripes. The designers complemented this bold styling with a 275 HP V8 engine. Then, its unusual name caught people's attention—for the wrong reasons.
It's Name Was Its Undoing
Despite its commendable performance, the Demon had haters due to its controversial name. Several religious groups protested, and Dodge felt the heat. As pressure piled, combined with declining sales and stricter emissions regulations, the carmaker renamed it Dart Sport in 1973. They produced about 10,000 units.
Studebaker Avanti R2 (1963–1964)
In 1961, Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert sketched a luxury coupe on an airplane napkin. Years later, the carmaker unveiled the Avanti at the New York International Auto Show. Its 4.7L V8 engine and sleek fiberglass body were capable of competing with Ford's Thunderbird and Chevrolet's Corvette.
