The 1960s and 1970s are said to be the golden age for muscle cars, before strict regulations limited engine size and power in 1971. During this time, some manufacturers downplayed their official figures to meet the new restrictions, while others made ridiculous big-block engines in a final act of rebellion.

All of them wanted to make the fastest production vehicle, but despite having huge V8s, some muscle cars really weren't that quick. So, we've compiled a list of these iconic vehicles, with roaring engines and aggressive styling, that flaunt the all-time fastest performance on the quarter-mile track.

How we made our model selection : HotCars focused only on road-going muscle cars produced in the 1960s and 1970s for this list, with vehicles of all prices considered. The cars were ranked from the slowest quarter-mile times to the fastest, with tie-breaks being decided by which car had the most power.

12 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28: 14.2 Seconds

1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Chevrolet, Zero to 60 Times)

Chevrolet really struggled with the emissions standards and oil crisis in the 70s. Rather than building faster and more powerful cars, they kept dropping performance. Chevy even scrapped the Camaro Z28 package in 1974 for a couple of years. While the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 isn’t the fastest Camaro on our list, it still raced a quarter mile in 14.2 seconds with its 5.7-liter V8.

11 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi: 13.9 Seconds

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Dodge, Zero to 60 Times)

When Dodge Charger 500 sales flopped, and it consistently lost NASCAR races, the brand knew it had to make a quick recovery to survive. Thankfully, a former missile engineer from a special division of Chrysler pointed out the car’s obvious problem with aerodynamics, and the Daytona Hemi was born.

He suggested that a nose cone would add downforce, while a high rear wing would balance everything out. Dodge listened to this expert and created a car that took NASCAR by storm, prompting Plymouth to design a similar Superbird.

10 1976 Ford Gran Torino: 13.9 Seconds

1976 Ford Gran Torino Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Ford, Zero to 60 Times)

Ford’s Gran Torino only had a short run between 1968 and 1976. Already in its third generation, the 1976 model was a solid body-on-frame construction with improved suspension and power steering. The 5.8-liter V8 only produced 255 horsepower, but the Torino still managed to complete a quarter mile in 13.9 seconds.

The Torino appeared on the big screen a few times, but the most memorable was the hit TV show Starsky & Hutch. It was so popular that Ford produced a limited run of Gran Torino’s with the distinctive paintwork.

9 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454: 13.8 Seconds

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Chevrolet, Zero to 60 Times)

Surprisingly, Chevrolet only made its first muscle car in 1964 in the form of a Chevelle. It was a decent start but was far behind the more experienced makers. However, when the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 arrived on the scene with the biggest displacement V8 ever in a Chevrolet production car, it left other muscle cars shaking.

8 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351: 13.8 Seconds

1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 Specs

(Source: Ford, Motor Trend)

Interestingly, Ford fans originally dismissed the 1971 Mustang Boss, since it was slightly longer and wider than previous models. Fewer than 2,000 of these cars rolled off the production line, making it a rare muscle car.

Nowadays, a pristine example fetches upwards of $125,000 according to Classic.com. The Mustang Boss 351 was only available for 1971, with the Mach 1 continuing the line until new rules forced a new generation Mustang.

7 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28: 13.8 Seconds

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Chevrolet, Zero to 60 Times)

Built to rival the hugely successful Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro would go on to sell more than 16 million units in its lifetime, but the 1968 Camaro Z28 almost didn’t make it. Originally, it was a track-only car, and convincing soft-top-loving general manager Pete Estes otherwise was no easy feat. Thus, a single Z28 convertible was born. Estes fell in love and approved the mass production of the Z28 we know and love.

6 1971 Ford Mustang 302: 13.8 Seconds

1971 Ford Mustang 302 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Ford, Zero to 60 Times)

Like a good game of ping pong, Ford retaliated to build an even faster pony. The 1971 Ford Mustang 302 introduced front disc brakes and special sport-tuned suspension for better handling. This meant the 302 could lay down a fast quarter mile, but also take corners, making it perfect for a gearhead’s one-car garage.

5 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350: 13.7 Seconds

1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Chevrolet, Zero to 60 Times)

While there are more than a few reasons we think the Chevrolet Camaro SS 350 is a classic muscle car worth owning, the great tuning potential of the big-block engine brings more excitement to the drag strip. For the 1969 model year, the SS 350 received a power boost to 300 horsepower, but it offered up to 375 from the factory.

4 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi: 13.5 Seconds

1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Dodge, Zero to 60 Times)

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi is a legend on wheels. Equipped with the iconic 426 Hemi V8 engine, this Charger could produce an astounding 425 horsepower, enabling it to tear through the quarter-mile in the mid-13 second range. Its unmistakable design and incredible power make the Charger R/T Hemi a collector's dream.

3 1966 Buick GSX Stage 1: 13.3 Seconds

1966 Buick GSX Stage 1 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Buick, Zero to 60 Times)

With other manufacturers frantically designing new models to keep up with trends, Buick stuck with their luxury offerings. Instead of designing a new car from scratch, the engineers just took the existing engine up a notch, creating a forgotten muscle car gem. Adding a new camshaft, tuned carburetor, and bigger valves, the Buick GSX Stage 1 made a claimed 360 hp, but it was actually closer to 420.

2 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: 13.2 Seconds

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Chevrolet, Zero to 60 Times)

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is an ultra-rare muscle car, with only 69 units ever leaving the assembly line. So few were produced because they couldn't sell due to the eye-watering price. The incredible aluminum engine alone cost almost twice that of a whole Camaro! However, the performance was exquisite, and it's now a highly desirable muscle car, fetching millions in some auctions.

1 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429: 12.3 Seconds

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Specs

(Specs courtesy of: Ford, Zero to 60 Times)

The 1970 Ford Mustang Boss was one of the last true pony cars built before new regulations kicked in, meaning only 500 were produced that year. Designed for NASCAR, the 429 cubic-inch V8 was fitted to the Mustang as a marketing tool. It was a tight squeeze, with some components needing to be moved, but it proved worth it. The Ford Mustang Boss 429 is now one of the most valuable muscle cars in the world.