Crusin' Pre-Muscle Car Muscle Top 10 by Greg Zyla

A recent letter from a reader in Virginia re-kindles our interest in "muscle cars," but with a "Car Collector" twist. So here's our list of the 10 best pre-1964 to 1972 muscle cars. All models are two-door, with base price listed.

(1) 1949 Oldsmobile 88: This model starts the horsepower wars, and officially receives our first true muscle car nod. Equipped with an overhead-valve V-8, it evolved into a 305 horse, 371-cube shotgun by 1958. This 4000 lb. Rocket accelerated to 60-MPH in 8.5 seconds and could run over 135 in street trim. Sticker: $2250

(2) 1951 Hudson Hornet: The fabulous Hudson Hornets came with an inline 303 inch "Super Six" engine that put out lots of horses and carried Tim Flock to the checkered flag in 27 of 34 NASCAR races in 1952. Sticker: $2570

(3) 1954 Corvette: The start of America's love affair that stands to this day. First year buyers found with an in-line 235-inch six cylinder that pumped out a mere 150 horses under the hood. By 1956, the small block V-8 made its debut, and the power really came on. Today, over 500 horses are available. Sticker: $3515

(4) 1955 Chrysler 300: The first of 10-years of Chrysler 300 pleasures. Along the way, the engine grew from 331 to 413 inches, and horsepower scooted all the way to 390. For you historians out there, we're discounting "later year" 300's. Sticker $4150

(5) 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk: A beautifully styled car with a 352-inch, 275-horse power plant, and the result was poetry in motion. The Golden Hawk is more popular than any released by Studebaker, including its Avanti. Sticker: $3185

(6) 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air: This car started Chevy's domination at both drags and circle tracks, and was one of the most aesthetically pleasing of the fifties. To this day, a '57 Chevy is a most desirable collector car. Sticker: $2465

(7) 1959 Ford Thunderbird: A '59 four-seater over a '57 two-seater? It could only happen in "Crusin.'" And how about 430-inches of Ford power kicking out 350-horses? It was available in '59. Sticker: $3695

(8) 1961 Chevy Impala SS: Chevy bored and stroked it's 348 to 409 and dropped it into the beautiful Impala. 1962 models featured 409-inchers with 409 horses via a dual-quad setup, propelling Bel-Air bubble tops to 60-MPH in 4.0 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.2 at 110 MPH. Sticker: $2750

(9) 1962 Ford Galaxie 500: Ford gets moving with its 406-inch, 405 horse tri-carb offering, growing to a 427/425 dual-four carb. Sticker: $2675

(10) 1962 Dodge Dart: The 413 cubic-inch, 410-horse Ramcharger blitzed drag strips and started a MOPAR craze nationwide, with an automatic transmission. The engine featured cross-ram induction and two-four-barrels. Sticker: $3075

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