The great thing about classic muscle cars was how honest they were. What you saw was what you got. They were built for speed – instead of trying to be fancy. Automakers took a blue-collar car, dropped in a V8, added great body lines and muscle car parts, and it was off to the races.
Source | Paulius Malinovskis/Flickr
Muscle cars have come a long way since those early classics—for better or for worse. Technology additions both inside and outside give today's drivers more control and comfort, but how do modern muscle cars stack up against their ancestors, or one another? That depends on your viewpoint, manufacturer loyalties, and what you think puts the most muscle in a muscle car.
We took a look at the facts behind the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS, Dodge Challenger R/T, and Ford Mustang GT models, but it's up to you to decide which is the clear winner.
Source | Chevrolet
2019 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
Four Camaro models are out there, but we're focusing on the SS – available in either a coupe or convertible body. The style and performance are all Camaro, with an aggressive grille, air-extractor-equipped hood, and 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (3.5 with the Camaro ZL1). Delivering the power is a 6.2-liter, 455-horsepower V8 and six-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching, or an available 10-speed paddle-shift automatic and Chevy's “Custom Launch Control with Line Lock." Brembo brakes, differential and transmission coolers, auxiliary radiators, and 20-inch aluminum wheels add to its looks and performance.
Source | Dodge
2019 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T
With 15 models to choose from, the Challenger R/T marks its territory positioned firmly between its SXT and SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody brethren lurking at both ends of the family lineage. While the R/T is the middle of the Challenger line, there's nothing middle of the road about its performance or styling. A 375 HP, 5.7-liter V8, coupled with an electronically controlled active exhaust make this beast purr. Available transmissions include a six-speed manual, eight-speed automatic, or an electronic shifter. Helping drivers harness all that horsepower are cockpit displays providing real-time stats on engine performance, g-forces, and 0-60 times.
Source | Ford
2019 FORD MUSTANG GT
Ford's Mustang GT Fastback gives drivers the option to really feel the wind in their hair with a Premium Convertible model being one of the available GT options. 460 ponies under the hood coming from a 5.0LTi-VCT V8, 420 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission with rev matching join forces to deliver a 4.2 second 0-60 mph time. Drivers – and engaged passengers – can track all the action through driver displays showing performance metrics, including an accelerometer.
So, which one gets your vote – Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger – and more importantly, why?
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About the Author(s)
Rich Ellis is a DIYer who’s worked in and written for the automotive industry for nearly two decades. He uses his experiences, lessons learned, and interest in maintaining and fixing vehicles on his family’s small farm in his writing.
