Muscle Car Timeline
1958 – 1961
| MODEL | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 |
| CHEVROLET IMPALA | Introduced as top option on Bel Air line | Became own model with new “bat wing” tail end. | Design was toned down | New SS option introduced with optional 409 cid V8 |
| CHRYSLER 300 | D: 392 Hemi engine upgraded | E: New 413 Wedge V8 replaces Hemi | F: New “ram induction” 413 Wedge V8 | G: Major exterior redesign |
| DODGE DART | – | – | All new “downsized” fullsize model with up to 361 ram induction power | – |
| FORD FAIRLANE | New 332 & 352 engines replace 292 & 312 V8s | Completely new styling. Last year for Skyliner | Completely new styling on larger body | Add new 390 V8 |
| FORD GALAXIE | – | Introduced with Ford’s first muscle car engine, the 352 cid Interceptor V8 | Larger restyle with new 352 cid Thunderbird V8 | Added new 390 cid V8 |
| MERCURY COMET | – | – | All new model | – |
| PONTIAC CATALINA | – | – | – | All new downsized styling with SD 389 as top engine |
1962 – 1965
| MODEL | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 |
| BUICK GS | – | – | – | All new model based on Buick Skylark with standard 401 V8 |
| BUICK RIVIERA | – | All new model with 401 and 425 cid V8s and European styling | New 2×4 carb engine option | Added GS option |
| CHEVROLET CHEVELLE | – | – | All new model with 327 V8 as top engine option | A few are built with 396 cid V8s |
| CHEVROLET IMPALA | 409 strengthened. | 409 strengthened. | Impala SS becomes own model. | Extensive redesign. 409 replaced by 396. |
| CHEVROLET NOVA | All new for 1962 | Add SS option | Add first V8 (283 cid) engine. | Add 327 V8 option |
| CHRYSLER 300 | H: Less exclusive as now shared mechanicals with “non-letter” 300 models. | J: – | K: New base 413 engine | L: Last year of 300 “Letter Cars” |
| DODGE DART | New 413 Max Wedge engine option | All new design on compact platform. Top engine is an I6. | New 273 cid V8 option | Add high output 273 |
| FORD FAIRLANE | Reborn as midsize car on new platform | – | Special Thunderbolt versions built | – |
| FORD MUSTANG | – | – | – | All new pony car based on Ford Falcon with I6 and V8 power |
| FORD GALAXIE | Added new 406 cid V8 along with new styling | New Sports Roof styling and new 425 cid engine (called 427) | New restyle | New restyle with stacked headlights and two high performance 427 engines |
| MERCURY COMET | – | Receives first V8 (260 cid) | Redesigned and added 289 V8 | |
| OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2 | – | – | All new model based on Cutlass with 330 cid V8 | 400 cid V8 replaces 330 cid as sole engine choice |
| PLYMOUTH ‘CUDA | – | – | All new pony car based on Plymouth Valiant with optional 273 V8 | Add Formula S option |
| PONTIAC CATALINA | Add optional Super Duty 421 engine | New redesign | 2+2 added as a new trim. | 389 engine dropped |
| PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | All new model based on Catalina | New styling | – | New restyle, new automatic transmission |
| PONTIAC GTO | – | – | All new based on Pontiac Tempest with available 389 V8 | Restyled |
1964 – 1969
| MODEL | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
| AMC AMX | – | – | All new 2 seat design based on Javelin. | Add “Big Bad AMX” and “Go Pack” options |
| BUICK GS | New styling with optional high output 401 engine | All new 400 V8. GS 400 becomes separate model (not just a Skylark trim). New “junior” GS 340 debuts with 340 cid V8. | Major restyle as wheelbase drops 3″. 350 engine replaces 340 in “junior” GS 350. California GS model added. Stage 1 engine upgrade available as dealer installed option. | Add standard functional hood scoops on all models. Stage 1 becomes official factory option. |
| BUICK RIVIERA | Major restyle. 401 engine dropped. | New 430 V8 replaces 425. | Slight restyle | – |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | – | All new model with V6 or V8 engines and RS, SS (with 396 power), and Z/28 (with 302 engine) trims | – | Special COPO and Yenko versions available with 427 power. |
| CHEVROLET CHEVELLE | Becomes separate model as SS396 with new standard 396 cid V8 | – | Major restyle | SS396 becomes an option. Special 427 powered COPO versions available. |
| CHEVROLET IMPALA | Slight redesign with new 427 engine. | – | SS reduced to option on Impala | Impala SS427 is last true Impala SS. Last year for SS option. |
| CHEVROLET NOVA | Restyled with new high output 327. | – | Redesigned with new 396 V8s | Special COPO and Yenko versions available |
| DODGE CHARGER | All new midsize fastback model with up to 426 Hemi optional | Introduction of all new 440 engine | New redesign | New Charger 500 and Daytona versions |
| DODGE DART | Redesign | – | Add GTS option with 340 and 383 V8s | Add Swinger 340 model |
| FORD FAIRLANE | Add GT and GTA packages and 427 V8 | – | All new larger redesign | Add Cobra model |
| FORD GALAXIE | New 428 V8 replaced high power 427 | Performance model renamed the “7 litre” | New GT option, 427 engine dropped | New restyle along with 390 engines |
| FORD MUSTANG | 289 V8 replaced 260 V8 as the top engine | Major restyle along with new 390 cid V8 | New 428 engine | Major restyle and addition of Boss 429 trim |
| MERCURY COMET | Redesigned as true intermediate with available GT option and 390 cid V8 power | Cyclone trim introduced | Restyled | New budget CJ version with 428 engine added along with special Spoiler version |
| MERCURY COUGAR | – | All new model based on Ford Mustang with optional 390 cid V8 | Add optional 427 and 428 engines and XR-7G trim | Mild restyle along with new Eliminator trim |
| OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2 | Triple carb option for 400 is available only for this year. W-30 option introduced | – | New restyle and special Hurst versions | Add W-31 (high performance 350 engine) and W-32 (low performance 400 engine) options |
| PLYMOUTH ‘CUDA | Mild facelift | New optional 383 engine | Minor restyle | New optional 440 engine |
| PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER | – | – | All new budget muscle car with 426 Hemi optional | Convertible and 440 engines added |
| PONTIAC CATALINA | – | New 428 engine replaces 421. Last year of Catalina | – | – |
| PONTIAC FIREBIRD | – | All new based on Chevrolet Camaro with 400 cid V8 as top engine | – | Major restyle and introduction of Trans Am trim |
| PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | – | New restyle with new 400 and 428 V8s. Only year for convertible | New restyle | All new platform and new styling |
| PONTIAC GTO | GTO became own model | New 400 cid V8 replaced 389 | New restyle with hidden headlights | New Judge model added |
1970 – 1973
| MODEL | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 |
| AMC AMX | Add Ram Air hood scoop | New 4 seat redesign and new 401 V8 optional | – | – |
| BUICK GS | Major restyle with new 455 V8 replacing 400. Add GSX option. California GS dropped. | Engines detuned. | – | GS is now based on Century platform instead of Skylark. |
| BUICK RIVIERA | Disasterous redesign with new 455 V8 replacing 430. | New “boat tail” redesign. Engine detuned. | – | “Boat tail” design softened. |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | Major redesign with European styling and new 350 engine for Z28 | All engines detuned. 396 enlarged to 402 cid. | Shortened production year | SS trim dropped |
| CHEVROLET CHEVELLE | Major redesign and new 454 engine | High performance LS6 454 engine dropped. New front end styling. | SS now an option on any Chevelle | Last year of Chevelle SS. Chevelle redesigned. |
| CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO | All new model sharing Chevelle engines including 454 | Engines detuned | – | – |
| CHEVROLET NOVA | 396 enlarged to 402 cid | Engines detuned. 402 dropped leaving 350 as top engine | Engines detuned. | – |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | All new model based on Plymouth Barracuda. Special T/A version. Engines ranging from I6s to the 426 Hemi. | Slight restlye, engines detuned slightly. Last year for Hemi, 440, and convertible. | Gained controversial front end. 340 is top engine. | New 360 engine |
| DODGE CHARGER | New redesign and SE version | Engine slightly detuned. Last year for Hemi and 440 Six Pack engines. | A new 400 replaced the 383. | New redesign |
| DODGE DART | – | Add Dodge Demon 340 | – | Dodge Demon renamed Dart Sport |
| FORD FAIRLANE | New larger restyle | Engines downgraded | – | – |
| FORD MUSTANG | 429 engine replaced 428. Last year for Boss 302 and Boss 429 models | Restyled and add Boss 351 | Top engine was only the Cleveland 351 | Engines further detuned |
| MERCURY COMET | Redesigned with larger front end | Engines detuned | Last of the performance Comets | – |
| MERCURY COUGAR | Restyled larger | Restyled even larger, engines detuned | – | Last true performance Mercury Cougar |
| OLDSMOBILE 4-4-2 | New 455 engine replaces 400. Add Rallye 350 trim. | Engines detuned | – | Drastic restyle. Last year of W-30 option and performance 4-4-2. |
| PLYMOUTH ‘CUDA | Dramatic restyle along with full range of engines including 440 and 426 Hemi. Special AAR ‘Cuda version | Last year for Hemi and convertible | Top engine was the 340 cid V8 | 360 replaced 340 |
| PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER | New restyle | Last year for Hemi | – | – |
| PONTIAC FIREBIRD | New redesign | Engines detuned | – | New Super Duty 455 engine added. Add “screaming chicken” decal option. |
| PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | New 455 V8 replaces 428s | – | – | New restyle with Colonnade styling on new chassis |
| PONTIAC GTO | New restyle with new 455 engine. | Engines detuned. Last year for Judge and convertibles | GTO reverts back to option status | Ugly restyling. Last year based on the Tempest platform. |
1974 – 1977
| MODEL | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 |
| AMC AMX | Last year for AMX | – | – | – |
| BUICK GS | GS is moved to Apollo platform | GS is moved back to Century platform. Last year of GS. | – | – |
| BUICK RIVIERA | New uninspired design | – | – | – |
| CHEVROLET CAMARO | – | – | – | – |
| DODGE CHALLENGER | Last year for Challenger | – | – | – |
| DODGE CHARGER | Last performance Charger | – | – | – |
| DODGE DART | Top 340 engine replaced by 360 | 360 engine detuned | – | – |
| FORD MUSTANG | – | – | – | – |
| PLYMOUTH ‘CUDA | Last year for performance Barracuda | – | – | – |
| PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER | Last year for Roadrunner | – | – | – |
| PONTIAC FIREBIRD | – | – | – | – |
| PONTIAC GTO | Became option on the compact Ventura | – | – | – |
