I told myself before I read the article. “It’s got to be a hemi...”
1966 chevelle SS 396 ...
I guess the Corvette and AC Cobra are in a different category.
‘65 Mustang fastback. Not even a contest.
The 427 Shelby Cobras had it all: looks, power, sound.
As far as mass-produced cars the 1970 Chevelle SS with the LS-6 454 was the most powerful.
There are other genre’s of “muscle” cars that get overlooked because they are luxury barges, but they had some serious engines in Lincolns and Cadillacs during this time frame. 460s, 472s, and of course the 500 CID Cadillac. They weren’t drag strip screamers, but they produced mountains of torque.
The 1970 Dodge HEMI Challenger is the King of the 1964-1972 American Muscle Cars!
1971 Dodge Colt. I drove all the way to Flagstaff and back in one of those.
1968 Dodge Charger
Cutting it off at 1972 seems a few years early to me.
Regular production cars that I was around personally:
Fastest from a redlight: 1973 Trans Am - Super Duty 455
Fastest from a rolling start - 1969 Z-28 Camaro
And yes, I loved my ‘69 Roadrunner, I loved all the muscle cars and loved that era.

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe — of “Mad Max” fame.
‘69 Mustang w/428
The Chevelle SS was a sweet machine, but the fastest ride I ever had was 140 MPH in a ‘69 Roadrunner with the 383CID and 3 2-barrel carbs. One scary automobile!
No mention of the 1966-67 GTO or the Shelby Mustang KR 500 or the Yenko Camaro. Not worth the paper it wasn’t written on.
Wa-wa, little GTO!
GT 350, 69 Camaro, C2 Vette, BOSS 302, GTO, Cuda.
Can’t decide.
Seriously, the Boss 302 Mustang gets my vote. Looked fast even sitting still.
427 AC Shelby Cobra
1969 Boss 429 Mustang
I liked 1963 Corvette, 1965 Mustang, 1967 Camaro. In college, I drove a 1968 Buick Wildcat. 450 engine. Two doors, power everything. I got it buy working 7 days a week all summer roofing, caddying, painting houses after roofing.