1970 muscle cars signified the apex of performance within the muscle car era, with the fastest muscle cars of 1970 showcasing unparalleled speed and power compared to any other vehicles of that time.
This milestone year saw General Motors lift its self-imposed restrictions on engine size for mid-size and compact muscle cars, enabling Oldsmobile, Buick, and Pontiac to introduce a powerful 455 CID engine. In comparison, Chevrolet unveiled the 454 CID engine.
This breakthrough resulted in 1970 being recognized as the year that gave birth to the most formidable and lightning-fast muscle cars in the Muscle Car era’s history.
Among the top ten spots, Chrysler dominated with five, General Motors secured four, and Ford managed to claim one.
Now, let’s delve into the details and explore the fastest muscle cars of 1970.
Table of Contents
What was the Fastest Muscle Car in 1970?
As the golden era of muscle cars peaked in 1970, car enthusiasts and collectors alike continued to be captivated by the raw power and unbridled speed these vehicles embodied. With iconic automakers like General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford competing to produce the most powerful and high-performing vehicles, the question remains: What was the fastest muscle car in 1970?
1970 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi
The 1970 Plymouth Cuda E-body powered by a 426 Hemi snatched top honors as the fastest muscle car in 1970.
With its lighter curb weight and shorter length and wheelbase—along with a firebreathing 426 Hemi stuffed under its hood—the 70 Cuda proved to be the undisputed champion without equal for this model year.
652 hardtops were equipped with a Hemi, with 284 4-speed manuals and 368 automatics being produced. Convertibles accounted for an additional 14 units, with five coming with 4-speed manual transmissions and nine automatics.
In the November 1969 issue of Car Craft magazine, a 70 Hemi Cuda recorded a 13.10-second quarter-mile pass traveling 107.1 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 426 |
| Horsepower | 425 |
| Torque | 490-lb.ft |
| ET | 13.10 |
| MPH | 107 |
| Source | CC, 11/69 |
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 454 LS6 fought valiantly and earned the second-fastest muscle car of 1970. An impressive achievement considering it was nearly 500 pounds heavier than the first-place Cuda.
A total of 4,475 cars were equipped with the LS6 454 in 1970. Unfortunately, how they broke down between coupes, convertibles, or El Caminos is unknown.
In the November 1969 issue of Car Craft magazine, a 70 LS6 Chevelle SS recorded a 13.12-second quarter-mile pass traveling at 107.1 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 454 CID |
| Horsepower | 450 |
| Torque | 500-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.12 |
| MPH | 107 |
| Source | CC, 11/69 |
1970 Plymouth Roadrunner 426 Hemi
The 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, powered by the mighty 426 Hemi, rounded out the podium in third place.
While the ’70 Roadrunner had the same drivetrain as the Cuda, the B-body was slightly heavier with a longer wheelbase and overall length, which made enough of a difference at the end of the race track.
A total of 152 Roadrunners were equipped with the Hemi in 1970. There were 74 Coupes, 75 hardtops, and three convertibles produced.
In the December 1969 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine, a 70 Plymouth Roadrunner recorded a 13.34-second pass traveling 107.6 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 426 |
| Horsepower | 425 |
| Torque | 490-lb.ft |
| ET | 13.34 |
| MPH | 107.5 |
| Source | SSDI, 12/69 |
1970 Buick GS Stage 1 455
The 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 packed plenty of punch to earn it the respectable fourth-place position.
Known more as a gentleman’s car than a muscle car, it surprised its competitors, having barely lost out at third place to the Roadrunner by only four-hundredths of a second!
There were 2,465 Stage 1 GS hardtops produced in 1970, of which 16 were equipped with a floor-shifted 3-speed manual, 664 with a 4-speed manual, and 1,785 with a 3-speed automatic.
In the January 1970 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a 70 Buick GS Stage 1 recorded a 13.38 ET traveling at 105.5 miles per hour.
NOTE: The 1970 Buick GSX earned 8th place running a 13.66 ET at 100.2 MPH. Given that the GSX option was built on a Buick GS base, we only counted it once in these results.
Key Specs
| Engine | 455 |
| Horsepower | 360 |
| Torque | 510-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.38 |
| MPH | 105.5 |
| Source | MT, 1/70 |
1970 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV 400
The 1970 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV was Pontiac’s only entry in the top 10 fastest muscle cars of 1970 results. It came in the fifth-place position, shown in The Judge package above.
Only 804 Ram Air IV GTOs were produced in 1970, making them rare even when new. Hardtop models had 627 manual transmissions and 140 automatics. Convertibles accounted for 13 manuals and 24 automatics.
In the June 1970 Super Stock & Drag Illustrated issue, a 70 Ram Air IV GTO recorded a 13.60-second pass traveling at 104.5 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 400 |
| Horsepower | 370 |
| Torque | 445-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.60 |
| MPH | 104.5 |
| Source | SSDI, 6/70 |
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack
The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack came in sixth place.
There were a total of 1,640 Challenger R/T 440 Six Packs made this year. There were 847 4-speeds and 793 automatics in the hardtop variety. Convertibles added 61 with a 4-speed and 39 with an automatic.
In the November 1969 issue of Car Craft magazine, a 70 Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack ran a 13.62-second quarter-mile pass traveling at 104.3 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 440 |
| Horsepower | 390 |
| Torque | 490-lb.ft |
| ET | 13.62 |
| MPH | 104.3 |
| Source | CC, 11/69 |
1970 Ford Torino Cobra 429 SCJ
In seventh place is the 1970 Ford Torino Cobra 429 SCJ.
The 429 Cobra Jet engine replaced the 428 Cobra Jet in the Torino in 1970, while the Mustang and Cougar held onto it until the end of the model year.
The base 429 engine was the 429 Thunder Jet (360-hp). However, it was also available at 429 Cobra Jet (370-hp) and Super Cobra Jet (375-hp) levels.
Like the 428 Cobra Jet, the 429 Cobra Jet was also available as a Super Cobra Jet (SCJ) version.
In 1970, Ford produced 7,675 Torino Cobras. 3,488 of these were equipped with the J-code Ram Air system.
In the March 1970 Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine issue, a 70 Torino 429 SCJ recorded a 13.63-second quarter-mile pass traveling at 105.9 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 429 |
| Horsepower | 375 |
| Torque | 450-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.63 |
| MPH | 105.9 |
| Source | SSDI, 3/70 |
1970 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack
In eighth place is the 1970 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack.
The 1970 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack received a new “Bumblebee Wing” front grille assembly, an optional C-shaped rear quarter panel Super Bee decal, and a distinctive dual-snorkel hood.
A 70 Super Bee equipped with a 440 Six Pack was a rare sight back in 1970, with Dodge producing a total of 196 coupes and 1,072 hardtops with the 440 Six Pack engine.
In the January 1970 issue of Hi-Performance Cars magazine, a 70 Super Bee 440 Six Pack captured a 13.8-second quarter-mile ET traveling at 102 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 440 |
| Horsepower | 390 |
| Torque | 490-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.80 |
| MPH | 102 |
| Source | HPC, 1/70 |
1970 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi
In ninth place is the 1970 Plymouth GTX 426 Hemi.
71 GTX Hemi cars were produced in 1970, making it one of the rarest production cars on this list. 43 were equipped with a 4-speed, and the remaining 39 came with a 3-speed automatic.
In the September 1970 issue of RSS, a 70 GTX Hemi ran the quarter-mile in 13.85 seconds traveling at 104 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 426 |
| Horsepower | 425 |
| Torque | 490-lb.ft. |
| ET | 13.85 |
| MPH | 104 |
| Source | RSS, 9/70 |
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 455
In tenth place is the 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30.
3,100 W30-equipped 442 cars were produced in 1970, of which 264 were convertibles, 262 Sport Coupes, and 2,574 were Holiday Coupes.
In the April 1970 issue of Popular Hot Rodding magazine, a 70 W30 442 recorded a 13.89-second pass traveling at 101.1 miles per hour.
Key Specs
| Engine | 455 |
| Horsepower | 370 |
| Torque | 500-lb.ft |
| ET | 13.89 |
| MPH | 101.1 |
| Source | PHR, 4/70 |
Conclusion
The 1970s witnessed an impressive lineup of powerful muscle cars that continue to captivate the hearts of car enthusiasts worldwide. The three fastest muscle cars of 1970 included the Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi, Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6, and Plymouth Roadrunner 426 Hemi. With their raw power and unmatched speed, these exceptional vehicles solidified their legacy as the pinnacle of performance within the muscle car era.
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Well, there you have it. Those are the top ten fastest muscle cars of 1970. Up next is the fastest from 1971. Be sure to subscribe if you like articles 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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Comments are closed.
no corvettes got a nose in there mmm
Corvettes are generally classified as sports cars rather than muscle cars. That’s why they weren’t included on any of these lists.
One of the cars tested was a Torino Cobra, but the picture is of a Torino GT. The production numbers listed are for a Torino GT as well. Many more Cobras were built with the Drag Pack.
Do you notice the Camaro, Firebird, Corvette and Mach 1 were not tested? Other sites list the Corvette with a LS 6 454 as the fastest. The 427/435hp Corvette was the fastest production vehicle prior to 1970. The problem with this test was it didn’t include the Shelby Mustang or the Yenko Camaro, Chevelle or Nova. There were other production cars not tested that were faster.
The best muscle car top 10 article I have ever read! Unlike other articles and people who have commented about Corvettes and Camaros and Firebirds they are not muscle car. They are pony cars.Muscle car are big block cars with a B body. Fantastic article.
Not sure how I ended up on this site, reading this article, but I enjoyed it, and reminiscing, I had a 1970 RAIII Formula 400 Firebird, M-22, 3.73 rear, very few creature comforts, unless you want to count the 8 track tape player, (usually blasting Nazareth Hair of the Dog, Meatloaf Bat out of hell, or Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing, (limited budget for tapes after paying for gas out of my paycheck..lol), bought it in 1980 when i was a junior in high school, and helplessly watched it get destroyed by a very large falling tree on July 2nd, 1997, crushed my soul right along with my car…I honestly dont believe a day has passed that I havent thought about that car, or the times we had in it, at some point of each day. Over the years, Ive slowly come to the realization, (watching the auctions), that I’ll never be able to afford another one, so the memories will have to suffice… lol <– translation, Im gonna go sit in a dark corner and cry for awhile..lol
What is nice is that a few of these cars quarter mile results came from the same article(s). Same day same track same driver lends some apples to apples fairness to it . It would be really cool IF someone could do another same day shootout on modern tires and similarly optioned cars . I think there is a video on Youtube ….”Musclecar Shootout ” or something with cars from Legendary Motorcars many years back (20+ I think). Hemi Mopars and LS6 Chevelles are pretty close stock . Many of the old tests were done with TWO people and timing gear in the cars. You could add a tenth or two and mile per hour or two to their times if only one person in the car and say only a quarter tank of fuel……
Forgot to add that the pic of the black Olds 442 W-30 is a ’72 . May want to change that….yellow one in the initial banner for this section is a ’70.
I didn’t pick a car, because you don’t have the Hemi Challenger listed. It was the second fasted in the quarter mile, just a tick behind the Cuda. Cuda was lighter. Plus the Chevelle 454 LS6 had different gear/rear end options. With the M22 4 speed,4.10 gears, it was the 3rd fasted in 1970. Even with the 3.31 gears and the TH400 Automatic, It was still in the top 10 fastest in 1970.
Thanks for commenting! That’s interesting as I have never encountered that data in any published results in automotive magazines in the 1960s and 1970s. Please share which magazine, year, and month. As for the Challenger, Road & Track (8/70) published that the 1970 Dodge HEMI Challenger went the quarter-mile in 14 seconds, traveling 104 miles per hour.
’70 454 LS6 450+HP Chevelle ran mid. 12s stock. That’s with the 70 radials spinning all the way down the quarter mile! Most engines Dino at over 500HP. Not to mention Chevy had a LS7 454 motor that was only available in racing boats, not allowed on the streets!
That’s funny. I’ve never seen a road test where it did mid 12s. Please share which magazine, and year and month.
The LS7 was a motor you had to buy from Chevy performance and swap it out with your LS6. It was never installed in a production vehicle.
My only concern with a list like this is final ratio. One manufacturer decided 3.55 is good enough for the press to test but another manufacturer provides a test car with 4.10. The latter is getting a huge quarter mile advantage at the expense of everything else (mileage, noise, wear, etc).
I recall many 426 cars being sampled by the press in a crappy tune. Oems eventually got smart and stopped being so sloppy.
I also recall some magazines modified the cars. One rag gave the 383 road runner a new exhaust, cam, and carb.
Steve, I hear you and had the same thought before writing this series of articles. However, every manufacturer had the chance to send its very best version to these road tests. Even when they did, there was still a host of other factors that either improved performance or hindered it, including transmission shift points, timing, tires, track conditions, gas used, and the stickiness of the pavement, to name a few. Good or bad, these published quarter-mile times are the best we have to rank order things. Thanks for commenting!