Modern Muscle Cars
ABOVE: Modern Muscle Cars are typified by this 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT. Gobs of horsepower, incredible brakes, good handling, every luxury amenity imaginable, and a factory warranty. Who would have thought?
ABOVE: This 2008 Shelby GT500 Super Snake is another fine example of Modern Muscle Car design: 605hp supercharged 5.4L DOHC V8…what more do we need to say? The Mustang was the last of the Modern Muscle Cars to shed its live rear axle in favor of a fully independent rear suspension. But this didn’t happen until this latest generation in launched as a 2015. On a car with this much power, that didn’t do much for the handling, but straight-line acceleration was astounding! Zero-to-60 in less than 4 seconds!
ABOVE: 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06. The wicked C7 Corvette launched in 2014. It brought not only world-class performance, but also world-class refinement, a quality interior, and a solid, real-car feel that Corvettes have always lacked. 450hp stock, and up to 685hp if you want it. And they get as high as 29mpg. All for under $60,000 (base price)! How is this possible?
ABOVE: The Modern Muscle Car-way to get big horsepower is forced induction. Most big American V8s rely on superchargers, instead of turbos. This Shelby GT500 Super Snake uses a twin-screw supercharger on a 5.4-liter DOHC V8. This combo makes 605hp, with a factory warranty!
Modern Muscle Cars, 2000 & later
YEAR-BY-YEAR
The 4-gen Camaro storms into the new millennia with a 320hp V8 & 6-speed tranny, all at Chevy prices. It was the best performance deal around!
2001 DODGE VIPER GTS
That wicked snake with the big V-10 thunders into the new century.
2002 CAMARO SS
Last of the 4th-gen Camaros, last Camaro period until the 5th-gens came out in 2010. These late 4th-gen SSs had 325hp, a lot for the times & a 6-speed manual option. Wicked handling.
Great-looking, well-optioned C5 convertible.
2002 FORD MUSTANG GT
The original Pony Car settles into the 21st Century with modern V8 power & grace.
2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM
2002 was the final year for the Firebird & Trans Am. This fully-loaded WS6 was rumored to be the last T/A off the assembly line.
2003 FORD MUSTANG MACH 1
The Mach 1 is back with a vengeance!
2004 DODGE VIPER
The Viper gets faster and faster every year. Track-focused models are even more wicked.
2005 CORVETTE
The first of the C6 Corvettes arrives to rave reviews.
2005 FORD MUSTANG GT
First year of the 5th-gen Retro-Styled Mustang. 300hp OHC 4.6L V8 in the GT.
2006 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE
400hp 6.0L LS2. But the big news for 2006 is the introduction of the Z06 with 505hp 7.0L LS7.
2006 FORD MUSTANG GT
The hot, new Retro-Stang gets stronger & better with each passing year.
2006 FORD SHELBY GT-H
This limited-edition special paid homage to the black-and-gold Mustang GT/H built exclusively for Hertz in the 60s.
2007 CORVETTE
The standard Corvette engine was the 6.0-liter LS2 making 400 hp & 400 lb-ft of torque.
2007 FORD SHELBY GT
Special Limited-Edition.
Drop-dead gorgeous drop-top Corvette.
2008 SHELBY GT500 SUPER SNAKE
This thing’s a monster!!!
2009 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
First year of this modern-day classic, with Hemi-power no less!
2009 PONTIAC G8
Poncho’s last hurrah. This Australian-built LS-powered sports sedan offered hope for Pontiac’s future. Alas, Pontiac died that same year.
2010 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT
Grand Sport handling with the top down!
2010 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
Check out the ’70 Challenger T/A in the background. Old and new, and the same guy owns both!
The name ‘Grand Sport’ has always been reserved for the best-handling Vettes. This black C6 is no exception.
2013 MUSTANG BOSS 302
Ford tweaks its rev-happy DOHC 32-valve modular V8 into a 302-cubic-inch bombshell.
2016 CORVETTE Z06
It’s a 650-horse supercharged track missile.
2016 DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT
A 707-horsepower monster is on is on the loose!
2016 DODGE CHARGER HELLCAT
The Dodge boys cram a 707hp Hemi V8 and create the world’s most powerful 4-door.
2017 TRANS AM
Wait…what? You heard right. Trans Am Worldwide is building brand new T/As out of Alpha-platformed 6th-gen Camaros. They’ve done a convincing job of it too.
2019 CORVETTE ZR1
On pre-launch display under the lights at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Jan 2018. Striking looks, wicked performance, huge wing!
Modern Muscle Car ENGINES
GM/CHEVY LS-Series Small Block V8
Just like the classic Chevy Small Block of old, GM’s new LS is becoming the standard go-to engine for hot rodders.
FORD Modular V8
Ford’s modern engine family powers every V8 car & truck Ford builds. OHC, DOHC, 2-valve, 3-valve, 4-valve, normally-aspirated or supercharged, it certainly is versatile.
Keyword: Modern Muscle Cars