The 325 horsepower of this engine contributed to the birth of the muscle car era. John DeLorean, chief engineer of Pontiac, realized that he could offer an engine as an option package to get around GM’s limit of 330 cubic inches (5.4 liters). In 1964, Pontiac introduced the “GTO” option, which featured a 389 cubic inch engine. Approximately. Under the hood, there is an engine. It ended GM’s internal engine limits and ushered in a new era of muscle cars.

To build the ultimate race classic car engine, GM redesigned nearly every part of a 427 block over two years. To discourage casual buyers, the L88 was listed as having the same horsepower and torque as an L71, but it actually had around 560 horsepower and 470 pound-feet pound-feet pounds-feet of torque. FIA GT championships were won by the Corvette in 1969 and 1970 due to this power advantage.

The Gran Sport’s retuned 455 produced 390 horsepower and 510 pound-feet torque, but Buick’s reputation as a sub-luxury car largely prevented it from getting much attention. In 1984, Muscle Car Review published a controversial article claiming the Gran Sport was faster than any Hemi. Several battles between Buick and Mopar enthusiasts ensued over which car was faster, resulting in a debate that still rages today.

Originally, the 426 was intended for racing only and was modeled after the 1950s hemis. After Mopar took first through fourth place in the 1964 Daytona 500, NASCAR imposed strict homologation rules. Keeping the race-winning engine on the track, they developed a street car version. Despite being detuned to make it more reliable, it still produced 425 horsepower and 490 pounds-feet of torque.

To beat the Hemi on race circuits, Ford installed heads from their “Indy” race classic car engine in the 427 “high riser.” The result was a big block that produced 657 horsepower and 575 pounds-feet of torque, making it the most powerful engine to come out of Detroit for almost four decades. In spite of that, NASCAR did not allow it, and without a racing series to compete in, only a few street cars got these motors.

In muscle cars across the country, the Chevy 350 small-block engine is the most common classic car engine. Easily repairable, upgradeable, and even easier to find aftermarket parts, they are a great choice. You can find parts of any kind to help produce more horsepower from companies such as Summit and Jegs. There will be even more horsepower. When it comes to reliability, the Chevrolet 350 is one of the best on the market. Basic engines produce around 145 horsepower, although they can be easily modified to produce over 370 horsepower. The vehicle lasts 300,000 or more, depending on how well it is maintained. Although muscle cars aren’t built to be driven every day, this motor can handle the dull tasks, as well as handle any comers on the drag strip.

Ford’s Boss engine was only around for a couple of years, but anyone who drove one felt the beast. Stock, the 302 Boss was rated at only 290 horsepower, but it was race-ready right out of the box. The car can accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than seven seconds. A combination of Cleveland heads and a Windsor block was used to raise the performance of this motor. In order to handle the excess power put out by the Ford 302 Boss, the suspension was upgraded, and the drivetrain was beefed up.