The Complete List of 1970 Muscle Cars (A-Z)

Cubic inches suddenly expanded in 1970 muscle cars over their 1969 muscle car counterparts.

While Plymouth’s Super Commando and Dodge’s Magnum were both already sporting the Mopar 440, it wasn’t until 1970 that other manufacturers seriously jumped into the cubic inches game.

Chevy’s Mk IV Turbo Jet grew to 454 cubic inches in 1970, while Buick, Olds, and Pontiac literally inched it out by expanding to just one cubic inch larger—thanks to General Motors lifting its 400 cubic inches maximum engine size limit on intermediates.

It was clear that cubic inches mattered to consumers and car manufacturers listened.

Let’s take a look at some of the top 1970 muscle cars from Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Plymouth, shall we?

1970 Muscle Cars Overview

The year 1970 was a pinnacle year for American muscle cars, producing some of the best muscle cars ever made. It was a time of automotive innovation and performance, with automakers competing to produce the fastest and most powerful vehicles.

American muscle cars of the era were defined by powerful V8 engines, high horsepower, and distinctive styling. Some of the most iconic muscle cars in history were produced in 1970, including the Buick GSX, the Dodge Challenger R/T, the Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, and the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6.

The best muscle cars of 1970 continue to be sought after by collectors and enthusiasts today, with their powerful engines and bold designs capturing the spirit of the era.

Chevrolet Unleashes the 454

With cubic inches being king amongst the most radical 1970 muscle cars, Chevy introduced its two versions of the 1970 Chevelle SS 454.

While the LS5 only offered 360-horsepower, the LS6 came in at 450 horsepower, inspiring Car Life to dub it that year as being “the best supercar engine ever released by General Motors.”

The LS6 454 Chevelle ran 13.12 seconds in the quarter-mile at 107.1 MPH, making it the second-fastest muscle car of 1970.

The 454 was also included in the new Monte Carlo, which was more or less a stretched Chevelle. Inspired by Pontiac’s Grand Prix, the luxury car was referred to as a “gentleman’s bomb” in Car Life when adding the RPO Z20 package that switched out the standard 350 V-8 for the LS5 454.

The GTO Takes a Step Backwards

Despite adding the new 455 to the Pontiac GTO, the new engine was handicapped by its lengthy stroke. While this helped to churn out more torque, it inhibited the 455 Goat’s ability to achieve those highly sought-after high revs.

Producing 360 horsepower, the car was said to have possibly “lost its luster” among “street-prowling youths whose social standing depends upon having the meanest tire burner on The Avenue” by Car and Driver.

Fortunately, the Ram Air III 400 with 366HP was still available for both the GTO and Firebird, helping the cars to maintain their street cred that year.

And, if 366HP wasn’t enough, buyers could also opt for the rowdy Ram Air IV 400 with 370HP—a proven quarter-mile performer. The Ram Air IV GTO ranked #5 in the top 10 fastest 1970 muscle cars.

Buick Pulls Out Greater-Than-Expected Performance

Among Buick aficionados, a common mantra is that their favorite engines always “ran better than they had the right to.”  For any doubters, 1970 was when this claim seemed to be proven to be true.

After dropping another 55 cubic inches into its Stage 1 mix, Buick engineers gave it an advertised rating of 360 horsepower.

According to Motor Trend magazine, this rating was “some kind of understatement record” as the 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 took on the quarter-mile at an impressive speed of 13.38 seconds.

A 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 ranked #4 in the top fastest 1970 muscle cars, while the 1970 Buick GSX (introduced in 1970) ranked 8th.

This car seemed to have it all, as Motor Trend further asserted it was “not temperamental” and could “drive through city traffic, then run at the strip and get those fantastic ETs, then head right back to the old, slow grind with no protest.”

The Hemi Continues Setting Records

Meanwhile, the Hemi continued to set speed records, particularly when it was placed in one of Dodge or Plymouth’s E-body pony cars. The result was the ultimate 425HP Mopar.

The 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda came complete with a new Shaker hood scoop painted red on Rallye Red cars and black on all others. By the end of the year, buyers could also choose a blue Shaker for Blue Fire Metallic cars.

The 1970 Hemi Cuda ran 13.10 seconds in the quarter-mile at 107.1 PMH—making it the #1 fastest muscle car of 1970—beating out the LS6 Chevelle, Hemi Roadrunner, Stage 1 GS, and Ram Air IV GTO.

There was no doubt that 1970 muscle cars needed to look fast and go fast, too.

The Complete List of 1970 Muscle Cars

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Conclusion

The muscle car era of the 1970s saw the production of some of the most powerful and iconic vehicles in automotive history.

The list of 1970 muscle cars features a diverse range of high-performance vehicles from American automakers, each with its unique styling, features, and performance capabilities.

From the legendary Ford Mustang Mach 1 428CJ to the Buick GSX 455 Stage 1, these muscle cars were built for speed, power, and style.

Whether you’re a die-hard muscle car enthusiast or a casual admirer, there is no denying the impact these vehicles have had on American car culture.

Well, there you have the complete list of 1970 muscle cars. Next up will be all the 1971 muscle cars. Be sure to subscribe to see more content like this!

Ryan Wheaton

Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.

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