From the mid to early 1970's a new breed of cars ruled the American streets. The majority of these were intermediate sized automobiles with large block engines stuffed inside. At first these cars were called "super cars" and over time they became know more accurately as muscle cars. The quarter mile was the performance standard and weekend drag racing became very popular.

Many of these cars pulled weekday duty as commuter vehicles, taking their proud owners to work and school. But, on the weekend the guys at the wheel were full fledged "amateur" dragsters. For the first time (and many would argue the only time) in American automotive history, high performance vehicles were available to the masses. The average Joe with a decent job could go to his local dealership and drive away with a ground pounding, tire smoking muscle car. Additionally, in a time before complicated emission controls and computer chips, an average Joe could actually working on his pride.

As the list of the twenty fastest muscle cars points out, the majority of the beasts had domesticated roots. The Road Runners, Chevelles and Chargers were all basic family cruisers. What made them special was those wonderfully powerful big block engines. Even the Camaros and 'Cudas were decent transportation for the young man with a couple of small children. Only the Corvettes and the Cobra were initially created as sports cars.

As everyone over this generation knows, the muscle car became extinct in the early 1970's. Rising fuel costs, rising insurance premiums and new safety concerns marked the end of this era. Today the original muscle cars are one of the hottest automotive collectables. Men of a certain age are aggressively bidding for the car of their youthful dreams.

So take a look at the list and see who really owned the streets when muscle cars reigned supreme. For more information about all the great Muscle Cars of the past visit Muscle Car Facts.

Rank - Model - - ¼ Mile Time and Speed - - Engine - - HP - - TRANS - - Source

1 - 1966 427 Cobra - - 12.20 sec @ 118 mph - - 427 8V - - 425 - - 4-Speed - - CAR CRAFT 11/65

2 - 1966 Corvette 427 - - 12.80 sec @ 112 mph - - L72 427 - - 425 - - 4-Speed - - CAR AND DRIVER 11/65

3 - 1969 Road Runner - - 12.91 sec @ 111 mph - - 440 Six BBL - 390 - - 4-Speed - - SUPER STOCK 6/69

4 - 1970 Hemi Cuda - - 13.10 sec @ 107 mph - - 426 Hemi - 425 - 4-Speed - CAR CRAFT 11/69

5 - 1970 Chevelle SS 454 - - 13.12 sec @ 107 mph - - 454 LS6 - 450 - - 4-Speed - - CAR CRAFT 11/69

6 - 1969 Camaro - - - 13.16 sec @ 110 mph - - 427 ZL1 - - 430 - - 4-Speed - - HI PERFORMANCE 6/69

7 - 1968 Corvette - - - 13.30 sec @ 108 mph - - 427 6V - - 435 - - 4-Speed - - HI PERFORMANCE 5/68

8 - 1970 Road Runner - - 13.34 sec @ 107 mph - - 426 Hemi - - 425 - - automatic - - SUPER STOCK 12/69

9 - 1970 Buick GS Stage I - - 13.38 sec @ 105 mph - - 455 Stage I - - 360 - automatic - - MOTOR TREND 1/70

10 - 1968 Corvette 427 - - 13.41 sec @ 109 mph - - L72 427 - - 425 - - 4-Speed - - CAR AND DRIVER 6/68

11 - 1969 Charger 500 - - 13.48 sec @ 109 mph - - 426 Hemi - - 425 - - 4-Speed - - HOT ROD 2/69

12 - 1968 Charger - - - 13.50 sec @ 105 mph - - 426 Hemi - 425 - - automatic - - CAR AND DRIVER 11/67

13 - 1970 Plymouth Superbird - 13.50 sec @ 105 mph - - 426 Hemi - - 425

14 - 1968 Road Runner - - 13.54 sec @ 105 mph - - 426 Hemi - - 425 - - automatic - - CAR AND DRIVER 1/69

15 - 1973 Trans Am - - 13.54 sec @ 104 mph - - 455 SD - - 310 - - automatic - - HOT ROD 6/73

16 - 1969 Corvette - - - 13.56 sec @ 111 mph - - 427 L88 - - 430 - - automatic - - HOT ROD 4/69

17 - 1969 Super Bee - - 13.56 sec @ 105 mph - - 440 Six Pack - - 390 - - automatic - - HOT ROD 8/69

18 - 1969 Boss 429 Mustang - 13.60 sec @ 106 mph - - Boss 429 - - 375 - - 4-Speed - - HI PERFORMANCE 9/69

19 - 1970 Challenger R/T - - 13.62 sec @ 104 mph - - 440 Six Pack - - 390 - - automatic - - CAR CRAFT 11/69

20 - 1970 Torino Cobra - - 13.63 sec @ 105 mph - - 429 SCJ - - 370 - - automatic - - SUPER STOCK 3/70