10 American Classic Cars That Offer An Exhilarating Drive

If you're in the market for a used American classic, these cars should check the boxes when it comes to power, speed, and style.

American classic cars are known to offer a great package for car enthusiasts and not only boast massive and powerful engine options, but also a strong road presence, dominating and bold looks, loads of character, and classy interiors. What makes these classic used cars even more lucrative to buy is a strong history and identity that they have earned over the years.

While most classic cars have been an integral part of American car culture, many of these have also defined their segment with an extremely balanced package, making them an exhilarating drive. Let's take a look at 10 American classic cars, which have it all – a great performance package and an involving driving experience.

First launched in 1969, the Chevy Chevelle is well known as one of the few legendary muscle cars which were ever launched in the market. The first-gen Chevelle was so successful that the brand sold a little over a million units of the muscle car until 1972. A number of versions with different powertrain options, including the SS model. With a 7.0-liter V8 engine under the hood, they were considered the best muscle cars of the '70s.

The standard '69 Chevelle was capable of doing a 0-60 mph run in just 6 seconds and delivered an extremely fun-to-drive and involving experience for owners. The reliability too is great, and the car enjoys a strong demand in the used market today. The '69 model not only turns heads on the roads, but in addition to this, also boasts a massive road presence.

The Ford Mustang needs no introduction and is considered to be the most popular and iconic muscle car. The first-gen Mustangs enjoy a great demand and cult following even today and are known for their performance, a raw driving experience, and elegant interiors. Needless to say, a number of modifications and aftermarket parts are available for the 1965 Mustang models to make the package even better.

Unlike the modern Mustangs with small EcoBoost engines, the first-gen model was offered with massive big-block V8s that not only offered a strong performance but was also known for its reliability.

To take on the massive success of the Ford Mustang, Chevy launched the Camaro in America for those looking for a smart, affordable and fun-to-drive American car. The brand more or less achieved in offering a perfect package for the hardcore enthusiasts, and the '67 Camaro is still loved by many car collectors for its no-nonsense and powerful package.

While it may not boast great 0-60 mph times, the '67 Camaro is one of the most involving muscle cars to drive, and the average retail price of the 1967 Chevy Camaro today is a little over $22,000.

Related: Why This 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback With A 347 Stroker Restomod Is Awesome

AMC, despite being less popular when compared to other brands like Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet, is renowned for its powerful muscle cars which offer a great package. While the brand launched a number of products in America in the '60s and '70s, the AMC Rebel was one of the best and is extremely rare today.

Under the hood, the '70 AMC Rebel was offered with a 6.4-liter V8 engine, which delivered a peak power and torque output of 340 hp and 430 lb-ft respectively. It is interesting to know that this engine was co-developed by AMC and Hurst Performance Research and helped the car do a 0-60 mph time of just 6.8 seconds.

Despite lacking any bling factor or elements that help it grab a lot of eyeballs on the road, the 1991 GMC Syclone remains an automotive icon among car collectors today and offers a no-nonsense and capable package. What makes it even better are strong reliability ratings that make the GMC Syclone a great daily driver.

Powering the '91 Syclone is a 4.3-liter turbo V6, which is capable of churning output of 280 hp and 350 lb-ft. Available with a four-wheel drive setup as standard, the 1991 GMC Syclone boasts a 0-60 mph time of just 4.3 seconds. Being a pickup truck, the 1991 GMX Syclone also offers impressive practicality and can be a great choice for anyone looking for a fast and dependable workhorse.

The second-gen Dodge Charger is still one of the most talked about American classic cars and not only command a strong road presence, but in addition to this, also offer a great package for those looking for raw power, a retro cabin, and massive engines under the hood. What made it even better was its affordable maintenance that helped it become a popular choice among buyers back then.

The 1968 Dodge Charger Hemi was powered by a 426 cu-in V8 engine that delivered a peak power output of 425 hp and a maximum torque output of 490 lb-ft. This engine came mated to a three-speed auto gearbox that channeled the power to the rear wheels.

Related: Why This Modern Dodge Challenger Transformed Into A 1968 Charger Is The Best Of Both Worlds

Looking for something which looks great and delivers an impressive performance? Look no further than the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, which is still well-known for its highway dynamics. This is one of the very few classic cars which define muscle cars and offers a raw and robust setup for owners.

Offered with a 425 cu-in V8 engine as standard, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado offered a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds and was one of the fastest muscle cars of its size back then. The 425 V8 engine delivered a maximum power output of 385 hp and a maximum torque output of 475 lb-ft.

Sharing most of its mechanicals with the Ford Mustang, the 1967 Mercury Cougar had a lot of promise and thankfully, it did not fail to deliver. A proven platform and reliable powertrain meant the 1967 Cougar already had a great package for buyers, but what made things even better was its extremely luxurious cabin and extensive features list which the brand offered with this classic muscle car.

The Cougar was offered with a number of engine options, including the 390 cu-in V8 engine which could deliver 335 hp in its top spec, while the 0-60 mph time stood a little over 8 seconds. A fun-to-drive package and premium interiors make the 1967 Cougar a practical choice for classic car enthusiasts in the used market today.

The 1987 Buick GNX was a muscle car in a pure sense and offered powerful engine options while remaining the ultimate sleeper car and a massive road presence. With its powerful and capable package, the '87 Buick GNX could give stiff competition to the Corvettes and other performance cars back then, and was often regarded as a monster muscle car.

The brand offered the 1987 GNX with a V6 engine that could deliver a peak power and torque output of 276 hp and 360 lb-ft respectively. With an average retail price of $113,000, the 1987 Buick GNX may not be the most affordable classic car in the market right now, but there is a strong demand in the market today.

Related: Here's Why The 1987 Buick GNX Makes For Such A Sick Restomod Project

The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 is one of the most rare and powerful classic muscle cars, and was produced for just two years. Only 1,359 units of the '69 Mustang Boss 429 were ever made by the brand, and it was originally meant to race in NASCAR.

Under the hood, the 1969 Mustang Boss 429 was offered with a 429 V8 engine that delivered 375 hp and a maximum torque output of 450 lb-ft. What made things even better was an extremely stylish design language that gave it a strong character and personality. The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 is still one of the best Mustang models to be ever launched in the American market.

An engineer by education and a motorhead by heart, he loves spending time behind the wheels. In the age of SUVs and crossovers, he still adores old-school low-slung sedans and drools over the Mustang '69.