The Rarest American Muscle Cars
American muscle cars roared onto the scene in the 1960s and have remained some of the most beloved cars ever since—but the cars on this list are now the stuff of legend among collectors.
These are the rarest American muscle cars ever made.
1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake
The Cobra Super Snake is among the greatest American muscle cars of all time and is also undoubtedly one of the rarest.
Carroll Shelby made two of these cars, and only one has survived till today. It sold at auction for a whopping $5.5 million.
Father.Jack, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake
Base models of the Shelby Cobra were equipped with a V8 engine that could hit a top speed of 164 mph. The Super Snake took things up a notch, and could hit 201 mph.
Today, if you happen to find a Shelby Cobra on the market, it’s likely to be a replica—even so, it’ll still cost about $1 million to own it.
Pedro Ribeiro Simões, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88
Chevrolet only made 20 of these Corvettes, but to most collectors, it’s the best version of the car.
The L88 was built for the track and its V8 engine could crank out 560 horsepower and hit a top speed of 170 mph.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88
Nowadays, these cars are the toys of elite collectors. Makes sense, considering the $3 million price tag.
1969 Chevy Camaro ZL-1
The design for the Camaro ZL-1 was inspired by the Corvette L88, but this car is a knockout in its own right.
Chevy made 69 of these beauties and claimed base models could produce 430 horsepower. In reality, it could hit 500 hp.
Mustang Joe, Wikimedia Commons
1969 Chevy Camaro ZL-1
Aside from its power and looks, the ZL-1 featured new innovation from Chevy: It was the first Chevy engine to have an aluminum block, which reduced the weight to 500 pounds.
These cars are a rarity at classic car auctions, and they sell for at least $500,000.
Jeremy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2015 Dodge Viper TA 2.0
When most people think of muscle cars, they often think back to the beasts of the 60s and 70s, but the modern iteration of the Dodge Viper has earned its racing stripes.
David Merrett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2015 Dodge Viper TA 2.0
With an 8.4-liter V10 engine that delivers 645 horsepower, the viper goes from 0-60 mph in only three seconds.
Dodge only made 96 of these hotrods, and collectors don’t let them go easily. If you manage to find one on the market, it’ll cost about $100,000.
Patrick Corcoran, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
The Hemi Cuda Convertible is one of the most recognizable muscle cars. It’s also one of the rarest and most expensive ever made.
Plymouth only made 14 of these stylish beauties, each with a 426 Hemi V8 that could crank out 425 horsepower and hit a top speed of 117 mph.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible
These convertibles are still popular among car collectors, but with so few made, they’re hard to find.
When they do make it to auction, they go for anywhere from $2 to $3.5 million.
1967 Plymouth GTX
Plymouth experimented with new design features when they made the GTX—that turned out to be the right choice.
By taking out some unnecessary carpet and insulation, adding a bigger hood for airflow, and using a lighter Hemi engine than base trims, they improved the speed of this beast.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Plymouth GTX
After trimming down the weight of the car, the GTX could go from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. And despite the lighter engine, it could still deliver 375 horsepower and hit a top speed of 121 mph.
Plymouth only made 55 of these cars, and these days they go for about $100,000.
GPS 56, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1969-1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
The Mustang Boss 429 is one of the most iconic and beloved American muscle cars.
This car was made to showcase Ford’s innovation and help 500 of their racing engines qualify for NASCAR.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1969-1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
1,356 of these cars were made, each with a powerful V8 engine that could crank out 375 horsepower. It could also hit a top speed of 118 mph, making for a thrilling ride.
If you happen to find one at auction, it’ll be going for at least $200,000.
CJ DUB, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
When the Chevelle SS 454 rolled off the production line, it was the most powerful car on the market.
Depending on the trim, its 454-ci V8 engine could produce 360-450 horsepower and hit a top speed of 142 mph.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commons
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
Chevy made 4,475 of these beasts, so while they’re rare, they do show up often enough at auctions.
The only drawback is the $125,000 price tag.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
When the Stingray came out in 1965, Chevy improved the car’s performance by putting disk brakes on all of the wheels, which was new at the time.
The Stingray was just as cool under the hood, with a 327 V8 engine that cranked out 365 horsepower.
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
With wickedly good looks and a top speed of 125 mph, the Stingray makes for a super fun ride.
Chevy made more than 23,000 of these cars so it’s not too hard to find them at auction. You’ll want to make sure it’s in good condition, though, and a well-kept one will cost at least $50,000.
1966 Shelby GT 350
When it comes to collector cars, the Shelby GT 350 is one of the most loved and sought after.
2,378 of these cars made it off the production line, each featuring a 4.7-liter V8 engine that could produce 306 horsepower and a top speed of 138 mph.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Shelby GT 350
These days it’s hard to find a GT 350 that’s in good condition. If you do, the price tag will probably be somewhere around $140,000.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1970 Oldsmobile 442
Oldsmobile isn’t exactly known for their power or speed but the 442 certainly held its own against the competition.
With the W30 trim, the car could deliver 360 horsepower and hit a top speed of 115 mph.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Oldsmobile 442
Oldsmobile made thousands of these cars, so you can still find one at auction, usually cheaper than many of the other cars on this list, with a $20,000 price tag.
With stylish looks and great handling, you can’t go wrong splurging on this one.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The Trans Am became famous after it was featured in the movie Smokey and the Bandit. Since then, it’s been a favorite among car collectors.
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Compared to other cars on this list, the Trans Am isn’t very powerful—its 6.6-liter V8 engine can only produce 180 horsepower, or 220 horsepower for the pricier trims.
These cars can still be found at auctions today, but since they go for about $20,000, they get scooped up quick.
1972 Buick GSX
From the moment it roared onto the scene, the GSX was a rarity. Buick only made 44 of these bad boys, with three different trims to choose from.
1972 Buick GSX
The rarest trim features a 455-ci V8 engine that cranks out 250 horsepower.
These cars are hard to find, but if you do see one that’s in good condition, it’ll cost upwards of $60,000.
Robotriot, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
What began as a full-size showboat turned into one of the country’s rarest muscle cars: the Fairlane Thunderbolt.
Only 57 of these cars made it off the production line, and they each sported a 7.0-liter Cobra V8 beneath the hood. At the time, it was Ford’s most powerful engine.
Writegeist, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt lived up to its name and its engine could produce up to 425 horsepower with a top speed of 124 mph.
The car also came with a racing package that included a lift-off hood, Holley dual pumper carburetors, and front disc brakes.
If you can find one of these on the market today, expect it to come with a $135,000 price tag.
Riley , CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code
In 1966, Ford unveiled a new Fairlane model inspired by the high-performance Thunderbolt: the 500 R-Code. The Fairlane 500 R-Code was even rarer than its predecessor, with just 57 units.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code
It was less extreme but still race-ready with dual Holley carburetors, front disc brakes, a lift-off hood, and a radio delete, paired with Ford's most powerful engine of the era: a 7.0-liter Cobra V8 delivering 425 horsepower and a top speed of 120 mph.
sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11
The Chevrolet Impala, first launched in 1958, reached its third generation by 1963, the year Chevy introduced the high-performance Z11 variant. Designed for drag racing, the Impala Z11 prioritized speed over comfort. Chevrolet stripped unnecessary components, such as the radio, heater, and soundproofing, to reduce weight.
Reinhold Möller, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11
Based on the two-door Sport Coupe model, the Z11 featured significant engine upgrades, including a cowl-induction air intake, dual Carter AFB carburetors, and a revised compression ratio. Though it closely resembled a standard Impala, the Z11 used lightweight aluminum body parts to enhance performance.
With a 7.0-liter V8 engine reportedly producing 430 horsepower, it was a drag strip favorite, though only 57 units were built, making it a rare find today.
Katherine Tompkins, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Dodge Coronet WO23 / Plymouth Belvedere RO23
In the 1960s, General Motors and Ford weren't the only Detroit automakers producing factory-prepped race cars—Mopar joined the fray with its 1967 Dodge Coronet WO23 and Plymouth Belvedere RO23. These road-legal dragsters were nearly identical, differing mainly in badges and minor details.
162630594TM, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Dodge Coronet WO23 / Plymouth Belvedere RO23
Both models featured a trunk-mounted battery, stripped-down interiors without radios or heaters, and often omitted rear seats to save weight. Powered by Mopar's new 7.0-liter Hemi V8 engine that cranked out 425 horsepower, these cars were built for NHRA Super Stock competitions. Dodge and Plymouth each produced 55 units to meet drag strip homologation requirements.
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible
The Pontiac GTO Judge convertible of the early 1970s is a rare and highly coveted muscle car. While the GTO Judge coupe was popular, the drop-top version received far less attention, making it exceptionally rare. 340 Judge coupes were produced, all powered by Pontiac's 7.5-liter V8 engine, which delivered 335 horsepower as part of the standard Ram Air Performance package.
Crwpitman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1971 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible
The 1971 model marked the end of the second-generation GTO and the discontinuation of the Judge performance trim. Despite modest horsepower compared to rivals like the 454s and 426 Hemis, the GTO Judge offered impressive speed and performance for its day.
Crwpitman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 / 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T 426 Hemi Convertible
The Dodge Coronet makes a second appearance on this list, not just for the drag-ready WO23 but also for the ultra-rare R/T (Road and Track) package. Introduced in 1967, the R/T could be equipped with Dodge's new 7.0-liter Hemi V8 engine, but only a handful were produced, including just two convertibles.
A similar rarity occurred in 1970 when the Coronet R/T received an updated Hemi, with only two convertible versions made that year as well.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 / 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T 426 Hemi Convertible
These drop-top Coronet R/T Hemi models are some of the rarest muscle cars ever built, making them highly coveted by collectors. When they do appear for sale, which is rare, they command steep prices—exceeding $300,000 for 1967 models and over $1 million for the 1970 versions. If you’re a fan of rare classic cars, these iconic convertibles are a dream find.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake
In 1965, just a year after Ford debuted the Mustang, Carroll Shelby began creating high-performance versions of the pony car. By 1967, Shelby offered the GT350, a lightweight track car, and the GT500, a more powerful, road-oriented machine.
That same year, Shelby collaborated with Goodyear to build a special GT500 Super Snake, equipped with a 7.0-liter V8 from the Ford GT40 MkII race car. With upgraded components, the Super Snake could reach an impressive 170 mph, a standout achievement for its time.
sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Super Snake
Originally intended for a 50-car production run, the Super Snake project was canceled when Ford deemed it too expensive, leaving just one prototype. Restored and sold at auction for $2.2 million in 2019, it remains the most valuable and rarest Mustang ever built.
sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1962 Pontiac Catalina Convertible
You won’t see these rare muscle cars every day. In 1962, before the GTO was introduced, Pontiac’s high-performance engines powered its full-size models, including the Catalina. This particular Catalina featured the Tri-Power setup, GM’s term for three two-barrel carburetors atop a 389-cubic-inch V8.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1962 Pontiac Catalina Convertible
With incredible handling and a Posi-Traction rear end, this muscle car offered impressive performance. Paired with a 389 Trophy V8 engine and a Tri-Power four-speed manual transmission, it's a rare example of Pontiac’s early muscle car engineering.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Chevrolet Nova LT-1 COPO
If you're a fan of classic cars, you may be familiar with the Central Office Production Order (COPO) Novas that sent to Don Yenko for the Yenko Deuce treatment and signature decals. However, some COPO Novas bypassed Yenko and went directly to performance-focused dealerships. At least one non-Yenko COPO LT1 Nova is known to exist, and there may be a few more hidden out there somewhere.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Chevrolet Nova LT-1 COPO
Chevrolet used COPO code 9010 to equip the Nova with a solid-lifter 350-ci V8 engine producing 360 horsepower, quietly delivering these performance cars to select dealerships. This particular Nova features a four-speed manual transmission and a Posi-Traction rear end.
Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air II
In 1968, Pontiac was getting owned by long hairs in SS 396 Chevelles and shades-wearing Mopar guys packing 440 heat. In response, Pontiac introduced the Ram Air II option on all 400-ci Ram Air Firebirds. The result was an expensive, low-volume sleeper designed to dominate the NHRA stock classes.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air II
Since the cam timing is around 310 advertised, you'd be shocked to know that this car could be ordered with an automatic transmission—though, it's probably hard to find today. Out of the total produced, less than 100 of these bad boys had the four-speed automatic transmission.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 L69 OAI
In 1966, the Oldsmobile division of General Motors created 54 W30 cars to be eligible for stock drag racing classes. Each car was equipped with a 400-ci engine with three two-barrel carbs and an outside air induction (OAI) system that included twin cold-air snorkels. The OAI option required the battery to be relocated to the trunk.
dave_7, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 L69 OAI
The remainder of the OAI systems not installed on the original 54 cars were then sold over the counter as Trac Pac kits. Non-W30 Olds 442s equipped with the tri-power 400 could be fitted with W30 OAI kits using dealer parts.
There were 93 OAI kits sold to the public, making a dealer-equipped W30 OAI 442 that is not one of the original 54 an extremely rare muscle car.
nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 “Bullitt”
While a regular well-kept 1968 Mustang GT may get you anywhere from $70,000 to $100,000, this one was sold for $3.4 million at the Mecum Kissimmee's auction in 2020, becoming the most expensive Ford Mustang to date. The reason? Well, it was driven by Steve McQueen in his 1968 movie Bullitt.
David Merrett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 “Bullitt”
Believed to have been lost for decades, Ford unveiled this ultra-rare car in 2018 while announcing its 2019 Mustang Bullitt. Interestingly, McQueen tried to buy this car from the man who got it for $6,000 in the early 1970s but was turned down. The owner's son eventually got in contact with Ford to take the car out of their family garage after decades.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept
The 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama concept car featured an enclosed bubble cockpit with flip-up side windows and a low-slung fiberglass body. Under the hood was Pontiac's most powerful engine to date: a 230-hp V8 that, unfortunately, never made it to the market.
artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept
Director of GM styling Harley Earl got the idea of this super-sporty Pontiac while watching world speed records being set at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Just two of these rare American muscle cars were ever built, one of which was auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson for $3.08 million in 2006.
artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1964 Ford GT40 Prototype
The GT40 Prototype is known for being Ford's 1964 Le Mans debut. With an all-aluminum V8 coupled with Colotti T37 four-speed gearbox, this muscle car was said to produce 350 horses but actually delivered way more than that!
zombieite, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1964 Ford GT40 Prototype
The GT40 has a rich history and has been driven by some of the most iconic racing drivers such as Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, and Bob Bondurant. After gracing Ford's stage at the Detroit Auto Show for a number of years, it was auctioned off by Mecum at a whopping $7 million in 2014.
Thomas Vogt, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird
The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird was meant for NASCAR racing. And with a behemoth 426 Hemi V8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors and A833 Hemi four-speed manual transmission, it did just that!
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird
Its pointy nose and overall aerodynamic design were quite effective in reducing drag force, allowing it to do 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. With just 58 units built, it's one of the rarest muscle cars today. In 2017, one was sold by Mecum for $415,000 at its Harrisburg auction.
Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2018 Dodge Challenger Demon
This recent edition to the ranks of muscle cars is a killer in drag races.
The Challenger Demon features a 6.2-liter V8 Hemi that produces an insane 840 horsepower and a 211-mph top speed.
Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2018 Dodge Challenger Demon
Dodge made 3,300 of these hotrods and while you can still find them on the market, the asking price is rising.
These days, the starting price is about $500,000.
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