Ready to see foreign muscle cars from countries other than the United States? Discover seven top foreign muscle cars, including models from Australia, Canada, Italy, and Mexico. From the 1973 Ford Falcon XB 351 GT to the 1971 Ford de Tomaso Pantera, we’ll delve into their unique features and histories that make them stand out. Whether you’re a muscle car enthusiast or appreciate classic cars, this list will impress you. Let’s take a look at the best foreign muscle cars.
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What are the Best Foreign Muscle Cars?
The best foreign muscle cars are an exciting mix of performance and design from countries around the world and have left their mark on automotive history. Their unique features and distinct designs make them stand out in the muscle car genre, and car enthusiasts continue to appreciate them today. Whether you’re a die-hard muscle car fan or simply appreciate classic cars, these foreign muscle cars will surely impress.
1973 Ford Falcon XB 351 GT
This foreign muscle car was made popular by Mad Max (1979) and Mad Max 2: Road Warrior (1981) starring Mel Gibson. This Australian-made 1973 Ford Falcon XB 351 GT is one mean-looking machine. Powered by a 351 cu in V8 “Cleveland” engine with 260bhp, they were available with either a 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. The styling was downright aggressive outside and down to business inside. It looks even faster standing still than its American counterpart—the Ford Torino. Ford of Australia produced the Ford Falcon XB GT from 1973 to 1976, which were all right-hand drive.
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The 1971 Holden HT Monaro “Grand Tourer Sport” 350 is also unique to Australia. While built by Holden, it was powered by a Chevy 351 cu in V8 engine with 300hp and 389 lb-ft of torque. They ran 15.7-second quarter mile passes and went from 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds. The HT GTS 350 was available in 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, and 2-speed “Powerglide” automatic transmission options. It wasn’t lightweight, having a curb weight of 3,050 lbs. The HT Monaro GTS 350 was Holden’s response to Ford’s growing stable of muscle car models that became a two-year-only option in 1969 and 1970. They were all right-hand drive and sold for $3,995AUD in 1969.
1971 Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T
The 1971 Chrysler Valiant VH Charger “Road/Track” was smaller than its American Charger counterpart that year but packed a decent punch for its size. The Charger R/T came standard with a 265 cu in V8 engine with three horsepower options, including 218 bhp, 280 bhp, and 302 bhp. It was only available with either a 3-speed or 4-speed manual transmission. The base price ranged from $3,395AUD to $3,975AUD depending on the engine and transmission combination selected. Chrysler of Australia produced the A-Body Chrysler Valiant Charger from 1971 to 1979, which were all right-hand drive.
1971 Dodge Valiant Super Bee
The 1971 Dodge Valiant Super Bee was only available with a 318 cu in V8 engine with 270hp and came with either a 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual transmission option. Its American counterpart was the Plymouth Duster and used a Dodge Demon grille to help visually differentiate it from the Duster. The A-Body Dodge Valiant was available from Chrysler of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.
1969 Pontiac Beaumont SD396
At first glance, the 1969 Beaumont SD396 looks like a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. That’s because these foreign muscle cars were built on the same platform but sold at Pontiac-Buick Dealers under the Beaumont model name throughout Canada. It had minor changes to distinguish it from a Chevelle, including the front grille, front bumper, striping, and badging. A Chevy 396 cu powered the SD396 in V8 with 350hp. GM of Canada produced the Pontiac Beaumont as a standalone model from 1966 to 1969.
1969 Pontiac Acadian SS 350
While the 1969 Acadian SS 350 was made in America, it was only sold in Canada. It was built on the Nova platform at the Willowrun assembly plant in Detroit. It was then imported into Canada and sold at Pontiac-Buick dealers alongside the Beaumont SS396. While it was sold through Pontiac, it was powered by a Chevy 250 cu in “Astro-Flash” V8 with 300hp. The engine was even painted “Chevy Orange’ but had a “Pontiac 350” decal on the air cleaner. The Pontiac Acadian was originally produced from 1962 to 1971.
1971 Ford de Tomaso Pantera
The 1971 de Tomaso Pantera was imported by Ford into the United States from de Tomaso of Italy. While not technically a muscle car, the mid-engine sports car was powered by a 351 cu in Cleveland V8 engine with 330hp—very similar to the one found in Torino Cobra. From a performance perspective, these foreign muscle cars ran 13-second quarter-mile passes and went from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds. The top speed was 150mph. Only 1,007 units were produced in 1971. The de Tomaso Pantera was produced from 1971 to 1994.
Conclusion
Foreign muscle cars have always been a fascinating subset of the automotive world, blending classic American muscle with the unique styles and performance characteristics of vehicles from other countries. As we’ve seen in this article, numerous impressive examples of foreign muscle cars have left their mark on automotive history.
But beyond their individual features and designs, these cars represent a cross-cultural exchange, where American muscle cars inspired foreign automakers to create their own unique takes on the genre. Today, foreign muscle cars remain a beloved part of car culture and continue to inspire car enthusiasts worldwide to seek out these powerful and iconic vehicles.
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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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