The 7 Greatest Dodge Muscle Cars
The Dodge muscle car started in the 1960s with the Dodge Polara and continues to hold strong today with the powerful 2022 Dodge Challenger capable of 807 hp.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
In the 1960s, the Dodge muscle car was born with the introduction of the Dodge Polara. Fast forward to 2022, and the Dodge Challenger is now the lone reigning muscle car champ.
Automakers like
Ford
and Chevy
were already introducing sleek, high-performance muscle cars on the scene by the time Dodge began making a name for itself with their own classic muscle powerhouses. Though Dodge was initially late to the party, that doesn’t mean the American auto manufacturer hasn’t made up for it with decades of incredible classic cars that are still highly sought after today. If you're interested in Dodge muscle cars but you're unsure which vehicle is truly the best, don't worry! Were to give you a rundown on classic Dodge muscle cars. We’ll look at some of the automaker’s top classic cars, including vehicle specifications like engine capacity and performance power of these iconic vehicles that helped define the muscle car era in America.
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1964 Dodge Polara
The one that started it all—the Dodge Polara. In 1960, the first Dodge muscle car was introduced to the world as a full-size car available in six different body styles and featuring two-speed automatic and three-speed manual transmissions.
The second-generation redesign (1962-1964) of the Polara quickly followed just a couple of years later. Dodge’s second model was made lighter and smaller in comparison to the first model, but the American automaker stepped it up the second time around by including a powerful 5.9-liter V8 engine that cranks out 305 horsepower. Like the first generation, the 1964 Dodge Polara also came in six body styles with the two-speed automatic and three-speed manual transmissions.
The Dodge Polara dominated the muscle car scene during its reign, which lasted over a decade and four generations until ultimately being replaced by the Dodge Monaco in 1973.
1968 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T
After the success of the Polara muscle car, Dodge spent several years trying to concoct another high-performance muscle car to compete with rival car companies.
In 1966, the
Dodge Charger
arrived on the scene intimidating all other muscle cars that got in the way with its long hood, aggressive front grille, and a roaring 5.2-liter V8 engine with a three-speed manual transmission that let you know the muscle car was coming. By 1968, Dodge made some changes to the second-generation Charger, now offering a fortified R/T (road/track) muscle car modification. The signature grille with hideaway headlights remained, but the body size became bigger and curvier, with recessed backlight and taillights, muscular flanks, and a hardtop roofline.
The R/T option came standard with the Magnum V8 engine or you could choose the optional mighty 426 Hemi V8 engine built with a four-speed transmission capable of an impressive 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.
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1968 Dodge Dart L023 Hemi
The
Dodge Dart
came out in 1959, but by the fourth generation (1967-1976) it was considered one of the best classic muscle cars around. Based on Chrysler's A-body, the Dart was available in five different body types and came in either three and four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. The Dodge Hurst Hemi Dart (code L023) became the first Mopar factory drag car. The muscle car’s small stature, made with a fiberglass hood and fenders, was ideal for hitting the track compared to other Dodge Hemi cars based on a mid-size B-body type.
The L023 came in either a 727 Torqueflite automatic or an A-833 four-speed manual transmission with the same legendary 426 Hemi V8 engine capable of producing 425 horsepower. The Hemi Dart could reach 130 mph in less than 11 seconds with a 10-second quarter-mile time.
1969 Dodge Daytona
Dodge found that their Charger wasn’t aerodynamic enough to compete in NASCAR, but that all changed with the release of the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona as it won its first title in the 1969 Talladega 500 and went on to dominate 22 races in the 1969-70 NASCAR season. Additionally, the Daytona became the first car to reach 200 miles per hour at Talladega.
The Dodge Charger Daytona was designed as a two-door coupe, developed on a Chrysler B-platform, and available in four-speed manual and three-speed automatic transmission. But how did it reach such winning speeds? In addition to its aerodynamic shape, the Daytona also features the potent 7.0-liter Hemi V8 and 7.2L V8 Magnum engine that delivers 390 and 425 horsepower, respectively.
1970 Dodge Super Bee
Only in production for a few years, the Dodge Coronet Super Bee was meant to be a cheaper, no-frills muscle car alternative based on Chrysler's mid-size B-platform and the design of the 1968 Coronet convertible, except slightly heavier.
The Dodge Super Bee came standard with the 383 big-block V8 engine that produced 335 horsepower, but the beastly 426 Hemi 7.0-liter V8 engine soon became an option that lit up the street with its signature 425 horsepower. However, the Hemi engine came with a heftier price tag on what was supposed to be the more affordable muscle car option, therefore Dodge only ended up selling 125 units of the Super Bee.
MORE: 10 affordable American muscle cars
1971 Dodge Demon
After the success of the Dodge Dart, the automaker produced several high-performance variants including the 1971 Dodge Demon. After gaining access to the Plymouth Duster, Dodge assembled the front end of the Dart with the rear end of the Duster which resulted in a smaller, livelier performance muscle car that was easier to handle on the road.
Compared to other muscle cars on the list, the Dodge Demon is more of a restrained beast as it comes equipped with a small block 340ci V8 engine that produces a tamed 275 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. With an accompanying three-speed manual gearbox, the Demon was supplied with chrome-tipped dual exhausts and a 3.23-geared rear end. Holes were placed under the hood to allow cool air to reach the engine, thereby allowing the Demon to reach a quarter of a mile within 14.5 seconds.
In addition to speed, the Dodge Demon also came with rally suspension and E70-14 bias-belted tires for maximum handling while the heavy-duty brakes empowered the smaller muscle car to stop over shorter distances.
2022 Dodge Challenger R/T
When you think about Dodge's classic muscle cars, the
Dodge Challenger
usually comes to mind immediately. In 1970, the first generation Challenger came out as a response to the wildly popular Ford Mustang. The Challenger became available in three body styles, including a two-door coupe, convertible, and a hardtop, and featured various engines over the years. But the Challenger R/T was often upgraded with 375-hp 440ci Magnum and the holy grail of all engines—the relentless 425-hp 426 Hemi engine. Fast forward to this century, and the
2022 Dodge Challenger R/T
is still going strong! In fact, it’s the only Dodge muscle car still being produced today and just as fearsome as ever. The latest Dodge Challenger R/T comes with five engine options, including:
- 3.6L Pentastar V6
- 5.7L HEMI V8 engine
- 392 HEMI V8
- Supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8
- Supercharged 6.2-liter High-Output Hemi V8 engine
The High-Output Hemi engine produces an astounding 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque, making the latest Challenger the most powerful muscle car around.
The Challenger also has the fastest top speed of any production muscle car, reaching a speed up to 203 mpg and soaring from
zero to 60
in under 5 seconds! MORE:
Car Loan for Dodge 2022
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