10 Classic Muscle Cars That Made It To The MoviesA couple of enduring cultural icons born and raised in the United States are the Hollywood movie and the Muscle Car. While these things exist in other countries and on other continents, few have the enduring appeal of those originating from California and Michigan. Fortunately, as the so-called land of opportunity, we have a seemingly endless array of muscle cars and movies to enjoy, with a wide range of both spanning the decades. However, while the most iconic muscle cars that tend to be the most sought-after models hail from the late '60s, movies starring these cars span the ages.While movies and muscle cars each stand as potential subjects of study and critique, the combination of the two can lead to heated debate over whose is the favorite and which is best. With such names as McQueen, McConaughey, and Reynolds coming up alongside Mustang, Chevelle, and Camaro, the one certain thing is everyone will have their favorite. Furthermore, a good muscle car is always a good way to keep more eyes on screens, and they often serve as an uncredited character. You may have a preference for Ford or Chevy just as you may prefer Spielberg over Scorcese.Regardless, here are 10 classic muscle cars that made it to the movies.1972 Gran Torino - Gran TorinoA car model rarely ends up in the title of a movie, much less becomes the title. Yet, the 2008 Clint Eastwood film "Gran Torino" did just that.Clint Eastwood begins this film as a grizzled and hard-headed Korean war vet and retired Ford auto worker in Michigan who has just lost his long-time spouse and finds himself surrounded by family who doesn't call and ethnic neighbors who don't care. What he does not find among either group is connection, a place of belonging, and, least of all, understanding. Early on we discover he has a mint condition 1972 Gran Torino under cover in his garage. The car plays a small role in this film through most of the movie, only becoming central to the plot near the end. And while Eastwood's character begins the film without any connection to what he has long called home, he discovers one and finds a new purpose.Though late in his career, this Eastwood-directed picture also starring him shows that he was still on top of his game. Though the vehicle played a smaller role than the film's title may indicate, the Gran Torino was in top condition and would make any retired Ford autoworker proud, just as it did for Walt (Eastwood) in the movie.1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS - Better Off DeadOne of the most endearing coming-of-age 1980s screwball comedies, "Better Off Dead," holds a special place for a generation of adults who grew up in the age of recurring cable movie re-runs before streaming ever became a thing. In one of John Cusack's early leading roles, he plays Lane Meyer, a high schooler approaching adulthood with dread. Disappointments from his family, girlfriend, friends, and local society leave him with a bleak outlook and an even bleaker social life. However, his fortunes turn around after meeting the attractive French exchange student staying with his oddball neighbors and with the resurrection of his eternally broken car, a black 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS."Better Off Dead" is a lighthearted film full of memorable and meme-worthy lines and a story of redemption and reward with which many of us can relate. Taunting and challenges to race both on the streets and on the ski slopes give out protagonist a reason to challenge himself to prevail. However, after repeated failures in getting his car going, Lane discovers the French neighbor has figured out its problem and repaired it, giving him a chance on the street against his rivals and an unexpected chance with her at romance.The movie car is a Super Sport model, although its stock 350 V8 was swapped for a 400. Producers also opted for 125-inch wheels and added a rear spoiler. The car plays a relatively small but important part in the movie, and a fan later found the exact car and has since restored it to its on-screen condition.1970 Chevy Chevelle SS - Dazed and ConfusedWhile the 1970s and 1980s brought us "American Grafitti" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," the 1990s gave us "Dazed and Confused." All of these coming-of-age films have since become beloved classics and all of them feature automobiles as central to the plots. "Dazed" centers on the last day of school and culminates in a huge impromptu party at the town's water tower.Set in 1976, this film features many of the cars you might have seen in a small town and at a high school of that time. As most of the characters are students, they are not in brand-new cars, meaning most models are from the late '60s and early '70s. Some of the highlights of the film, in automotive terms, are a Pontiac GTO, Plymouth Duster, Pontiac Trans Am, and a 1970 Chevelle SS driven by Wooderson, played by Matthew McConaughey, who keeps coming around to hang out with the high school kids. In this iconic role, Wooderson is known for being the kind of "bad influence" most decent kids avoid and McConaughey has since become known for the improvised iconic line, "Alright, alright, alright." It also happens to be the first words he ever uttered on film.As Wooderson describes his Chevelle in the movie, "We got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30, 11 to 1 pop-up pistons, turbo-jet 390 horsepower." Indeed, it is a cool car with impressive specs, whether the year is 1976 or 2023.1970 Pontiac GTO Judge - Two-Lane BlacktopIn the cult classic, "Two-Lane Blacktop," Beach Boy Dennis Wilson and fellow musician James Taylor find themselves playing the characters of "The Mechanic" and "The Driver," respectively, crossing the country in a highly modified 1955 Chevy gasser, racing for money to fund their listless journey. For both musicians, this film would be their only dramatic role while their characters would challenge GTO, played by veteran actor Warren Oates, to a race for pink slips. He drove an Orbit Orange Pontiac GTO, a formidable opponent on the streets."Two-Lane Blacktop" was a very low-budget movie using unproven actors, except for Oates, and a script that seems light on substance. The plot itself is a bit meandering and pointless but is full of action on the streets and highways. The star vehicle is the 1955 Chevy, though it is less of a muscle car than it is a hot rod. The Chevy used either a 455 or 4278 crate engine delivered by General Motors for use in the film, while the GTO was most likely equipped with the optional 455 V8 available in 1970 from the factory.Though the GTO features some of the trim options used on The Judge models for 1970, it is missing the emblems of that iconic special edition car. People involved in production claim to have used the car just as delivered by Pontiac, so the exact nature of the car has been left up for discussion in the decades since. "Two-Lane Blacktop" was a very cheap film that flopped at the cinema, meaning the GTO is long gone and only its legacy on film survives.