6 of the best sounding muscle cars
Looks can captivate, but for car lovers, how a car sounds is arguably its strongest sensory trait. Done right, a screaming engine emits a visceral thrill you never forget. Some cars hit the perfect notes to magically elevate the pulse of exhaust gases from mere byproduct to a piston-powered symphony playing a piece in the time signature of 10.5-to-1.
Few eras are so closely tied to these distinctive sounds as the late 1960s and early 1970s. At its peak, the muscle car era’s V-8 noisemakers from just about every manufacturer were unleashed, piped through simple mufflers with little restriction. Here’s a handful of the best from the era.
Oldsmobile 442 W-30
Nothing can sneak up on you at a stoplight like an Olds 442. A grown up’s muscle car, plenty of people have been surprised by what the 442 was packing. The W-30 package put 455 cubic inches of rumble under dual fiberglass scoops. A factory 13-second car in its day, and the exhaust note backed it up.
Plymouth Road Runner
While some of the heavy hitters in this category rely on big displacement, Plymouth did a lot with comparatively little when it came to the base engine in the Road Runner. A 383 is pretty big by modern standards, but was the undercard to the big 440- and 426-cubic inch engines for most of its production run. Those who know are quick to defend it, however, and rightfully so. Putting out 335 horsepower and over 400 pound feet is nothing to sneeze at, and the design of the engine makes it sound awesome, too.
Chevrolet Chevelle LS6
With a shape as timeless as the Chevelle, the engine has to back it up. Luckily, the LS6 454 does not live to disappoint. The rumble seems to permeate the bones of those in the bucket seats—this is a muscle car’s muscle car. It’s brash, unapologetic, and willing to light the tires up anytime and anywhere.
Ford Galaxie
While the Galaxie might not be the first choice of a lot of enthusiasts, it’s worth your attention, if only for the sound. The Galaxie featured multiple flavors of the FE engine, spanning from 332 cubic inches all the way to the mighty 428. You can find an FE in everything from a four-door wagon to the Batmobile—seriously. And the best part? They all sound great.
Pontiac GTO
The GTO is unquestionably muscle car royalty, and though it came with more powerful engines, the 389 with three carburetors stacked on top is one of our favorites. A responsive and powerful package that also dresses up darn nice, the middleweight 389’s popularity makes it a great choice for a fun to drive muscle bruiser.
Dodge Challenger R/T
Few engines command the awe and respect like the legendary 426 Hemi. Combine that with the timeless shape of the 1970 Dodge Challenger and it’s a match made in heaven. The Hemi gets its name from the shape of the combustion chamber, but that also affects the sound due to how the exhaust flows out into the manifolds. Newer designs are more efficient, but there is nothing like the grumble that comes from the back of a 426-powered car.
https://youtu.be/ZjgxZsD7Rc4?si=yt5KMswO5Ae0WsEX
Have a favorite that isn’t listed here? Leave it in a comment below.
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I owned a nice 1967 ImpalaSS convertible with a 396 with a four speed that had a nice sound
January /57. As a sixteen year old, I purchased a 1952 Ford 2-door hard top. It needed a muffler. As I was working at a garage at the time, I decided to install dual exhaust.
The garage owner had a salesman after him to use his line of mufflers; they gave me two. I think they were called “red rocket”. It was a sweet sound to a sixteen year old. The salesman didn’t get the order.The townfolk thought they were too loud but I got a sweet sounding ride.
The late 60s and early 70s Fords had the greatest throaty exhaust note I have ever heard! Especially because it was a stock unmodified from the factory exhaust note. Just watch the Bullitt chase scene and LISTEN! All of the cars in the video/audio were great. So were many of the cars listed as comments above. But the throaty fords were clearly better, no question!!
I love the in-cabin sound my R1 Studebaker Avanti, as the intake resonance howl is overtaken by the low frequency exhaust roar. All stock.
VIPER!!! My Hennessey Venom 800R is the king of muscle sound tracks. Have to wear ear plugs when I drive it for any distance. Awsome!
…while the modern muscle V8’s from Ford, GM and Chrysler / Stellantis may make incredible levels of power – they sound horrible compared to the roaring big-blocks from the late 1960’s!! I’ll take the flat-pedal roar of a 426 Hemi, 440 Six Pack, Boss 429, Chevy 396 or 427 any day over a modern V8…oh yeah, and it’d be attached to a four speed manual tranny – no automatic transmissions!!
I have to agree with everyone regarding every V-8, be it GM, Chrysler, or Ford. I happen to have a 70 Chevelle SS396 (high school car) and my brother has the LS6. I can let them idle and use a whole tank of gas just listening to them. The one that I would like to add is the silent rumble of the Buick Grand National. Buick got it right in 86/87 with the V6. Pull up to a stoplight next to any type of current “muscle car” and light them up when the light goes green. Instant respect.
Sorry but I wouldn’t know. I was always so far ahead of them in my ’68 Charger R/T with 440 Mag, that I couldn’t hear them.
The Chevelle is my favorite car of this list.
Road runner with a THERMOQUAD at full throttle…
Love all of these but gotta include any Shelby – including the 69/70. Love the gurgle and rumble sound in idle.
I guess the foxbody 5.0 wouldn’t be called a muscle car, but it sure has a great sound.
A list of “Best sounding ‘muscle’ cars” and not one mention of a Flat Head Ford through glass packs?! HERSAY!!
Top of my list is the 351 Cleveland in the Pantera. Very distinctive sound through the short pipes !
The composition of the pistons change the sound as much as cam and header brand.
Hypereutectic pistons give a engine a special deep low octive sound . Fords 5.4 3 v has Hypereutectic pistons sound like music that you can’t get out of your head. My 350 Z28 has a special sound with Hypereutectic pistons.