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.
Have a favorite that isn’t listed here? Leave it in a comment below.
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Not a fair comparison, only the Chevelle was a full throttle drive,hence my favorite.give the others that chance.of course my cammed 340 cuda with headers at 5000 rpm sounds better lol.
70 Buick Stage 1 455
A little off the mark with the muscle car mania, however, in 1967 I purchased a new Alfa Romeo Gulia Super, the first of three Alfas that I owned. When driven as designed, the sweetest exhaust note ever. Now I drive a 1935 Ford model 48 two door slant back with an altered small block, 700 R4, and a beautiful American V8 rumble. Sweet!
Nothing ever sounded like a 409 !!!!!!
Nothing sounds better than a 69 Z 28 with the chambered exhaust. Also a Boss 302 Mustang
Exactly. The Boss 302 w the optimal BME intake was a sound like no other
Any chambered exhaust Chevrolet from ’69. Bonus was the solid lifter cam that came with them.
Corvette side pipes. N14
Corvette off road exhaust. N11
Chambered pipe has been available in stainless in various diameters and lengths for 20+ years in the aftermarket.
Any of those are guaranteed “excessive noise” citations.
Nothing sounds better than a 289HP wound up to 6500 RPM. Best sound on the planet!!
I’ll vote for a solid lifter late 60s/70 big block chevy all day long, even through the mufflers.
Small block Chevy’s like the Z28 302 with resonators sounded awesome with that compression. You missed that one
Y’all missed Gen 1 Z/28 or a Corvette with factory chambered pipes—they were ruthless
Wait, what?!?! Nobody here remembers the ‘67-‘69 Camaro Z/28? Between its nasty chambered (optional)exhaust, and the clatter of its solid valve lifters, it was the best cure for E.D., ever!
Definitely needs to be on the list Dennis. All these sound like muscle is supposed to unlike the newer mustangs that have the obnoxious sound of beating pots and pans together.
Idle with 2nd design cam, and with the headers you could get in the trunk, sweet. But at 6500 rowing through the gears, absolute harmony.
With many of the cars of that era, engine sound was just part of the experience. Today you are pampered. Computers and power everything for the most part. Ever take a youngster out and they ask you to turn the air on? The look on their face when you tell them to roll down the window, and they look for the nonexistent button is priceless.
Love it
Both the Orange Road Runners made it sound so effortless to sound so good, It would have been nice to hear an LT-1 ’70/’71 Corvette with that lumpy idle.
You’re all wrong, 67 427 side pipe corvette is clear winner.
once had an L71-equipped ’69 Corvette with sidepipes…..oooooohhhhhh…..the melody at any rev !!
All great cars, no doubt. Being a Buick guy, I tend to prefer the ’70 Stage 1 cars for both comfort and speed. The sound was a bit more muted than the 442, but that was on purpose, I think. However, WOT was pretty wicked sounding, and, with the high torque, I beat most of these cars regularly in “stoplight fun.” Those were great days that will never occur again, sadly. Sold my last Stage 1 years ago, but drive a ’66 ‘vette now, so still enjoying the rumble…
Cheers!
My 1987 Buick Grand National has that unique Turbo 6 rumble. I’m sure that you’ve heard it while being passed!