6. 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
You can’t have a list of muscle cars without including the celebrated Camaro. Thanks to a rivalry with Ford and their line of pony cars, the 60’s and early 70’s muscle car scene was a battle ground between the two heavy hitters.
The ’69 Camaro had three different production models: the RS, SS, and Z28. Though the least produced of the three, the Z28 is considered by many to be the superior muscle car. With a 302 CID V-8 engine had a four-barrel carb that was exclusive to the Z28. Rated at 290 HP, this Camaro usually pumped out 400 HP easy with 5800 RPM. Torque at 290 HP was 4200. Muscle car legend has it that the only reason the Z28 was released is thanks to the Special Production Division at Chevrolet wanted to put Camaro on the streets – it was only a race car at the time. They created a special model ’68 Camaro Z28 Convertible to convince him – the only one ever made.
Performance wasn’t the Z28’s only upside, it is one of the finest looking muscle cars ever made. It’s body shape and design invokes day dreams of cruising the strip or speeding down the track.
Winning Trans Am titles in ’68 and again in ’69 offered proof that the Z28 was made to race. Taking to the streets was second nature to this car, it belonged on the track. That is the attraction that gave this car triple its sales in its second year of production.
Engine: 302 V-8 – Top speed: 129 mph –
Quarter mile time: 15.9 seconds – 0-60 mph time: 7.6 seconds