THE CRAZIEST PONTIAC MUSCLE CARS OF ALL TIME, RANKED

When Pontiac turned the page away from sensible sedans to focus on high-performance cars, it became one of the most fun and interesting car brands in the world. As part of the GM family, several amazing Pontiac muscle cars hit the streets from the 1950s until the dissolving of the brand in 2010. The Pontiac team seemed to always be the black sheep of the GM family, with John DeLorean working to circumvent restrictions on building cars with large and powerful engines.

At the heart of most Pontiac muscle cars, we find a big-block V-8 engine, but future models would make use of smaller V-8 power plants. As Pontiac entered the muscle car world, it achieved success in many auto races until GM put an end to racing their cars in 1963. The Pontiac GTO is recognized as the first muscle car, spawning an era in American automotive history that many still think of fondly.

Related: The Top Muscle Cars Of The 60s And 70s

1969 Pontiac Trans Am

Top Speed: 113 MPH

The Trans Am was named for the popular sports car racing circuit, and this version of the Pontiac Firebird was one of the highest-performance packages of the car. The first Trans Am was the result of DeLorean’s desire to create a sports car that could compete with the new F-body Camaro of the time.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The benefits of the 1969 Pontiac Trans Am over the 1969 Camaro were found in the handling of this car. Most muscle cars weren’t known for carving up corners or good lap times, but this Pontiac muscle car was a joy to drive on any canyon run.

1967 Pontiac Firebird 400

Top Speed: 116 MPH

The 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 arrived at dealerships with five different trims, making it more attractive to consumers searching for options and upgrades to Pontiac muscle cars. The 400 model was the top dog in the Firebird lineup, with power coming from the same V-8 engine found in the GTO.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The Firebird 400 also came with a handling package that included an anti-roll bar and stiffer front and rear springs. This car had the looks and performance to be one of the most fun and interesting muscle cars of its day.

Related: 10 Things You Have Forgotten About The Buick Wildcat

1971 Pontiac GT-37

Top Speed: 117 MPH

If you ever want to see a sleeper muscle car, the 1971 Pontiac GT-37 is that car. This Pontiac was the high-performance version of the T-37, a budget-friendly car of the early 1970s. The GT-37 brought some qualities that reminded many of the GTO.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

Although the GT-37 lacked some of the design features of the GTO Judge, it produced plenty of power, leaving some other cars in the dust. This Pontiac muscle car included the GTO’s dual exhaust and the floor-mounted three-speed transmission.

1977 Pontiac Trans Am

Top Speed: 118 MPH

The car that eventually went on to movie glory is the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. This car was one of the stars of Smokey and the Bandit and eventually inspired the Bandit add-on package featuring gold trim, a gold steering wheel, and a gold-accented dashboard.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

This 1977 Trans Am also came with T-tops, which was a desired feature of the time, with removable roof parts that made this muscle car look cooler than it was. Although the engine output was only 200 horsepower, this was one of the most impressive Pontiac muscle cars of the day. The look and popularity of this car made it a top seller in the late 1970s.

Related: Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit

1977 Pontiac LeMans Can Am

Top Speed: 121 MPH

The 1977 Pontiac LeMans Can Am is an often-overlooked muscle car that came at the wrong time. The malaise of the era after the first oil embargo was felt in heavy cars with very little power. Thankfully, the LeMans Can Am had at least 200 horsepower to give drivers a few thrills on the road.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

Finding one of these Pontiac muscle cars today is a rarity. Only 1,377 models were made. The factory building this car stopped once the rear spoiler mold broke during the production process. This was a fitting end to a car that many have forgotten ever existed.

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

Top Speed: 121 MPH

The GTO Judge was the pinnacle of muscle car lore in the late 1960s. The race was on to continually build better, faster, and stronger muscle cars. Pontiac was competing with Ford and Chevrolet (despite Pontiac and Chevy being GM brands) for supremacy in the muscle car world.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The GTO Judge wore “The Judge” decals, making it the authority at the drag strip. In some road tests, this car exceeded 400 horsepower, which made it even more appealing. Although the GTO Judge couldn’t stop the decline of sales, it became one of the most enticing and sought-after Pontiac muscle cars in history, with some models selling for more than $75,000 today.

Related: 10 Interesting Facts About The Pontiac GTO Judge

1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2

Top Speed: 125 MPH

Three engine options were offered for the 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2, but the most impressive of these Pontiac muscle car engines was the HO Tri-Power 421, which produced 376 horsepower. Many have reported this engine producing as much as 500 horsepower when properly tuned for more speed and power.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The Catalina was a full-size car, but it had more than enough power to rocket down the strip at fast speeds for the time. This Pontiac is considered one of the champions of the heavyweight division of muscle cars during the time. The raw power gave this car incredible speed, making it fun to drive.

1964 Pontiac GTO

Top Speed: 132 MPH

After GM banned racing its cars in motorsports events in 1963, The 1964 Pontiac GTO became the greatest high-performance achievement of this brand. The GTO was initially an upgraded version of the Pontiac LeMans, but it would soon go on to be one of the most sought-after Pontiac muscle cars in history.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The 1964 GTO is considered the first American muscle car, packing a serious punch from the massive V-8 engine. The tri-power carburetor and big-block made for racetrack performance levels in a car that spent all of its time on American streets. This car began some of the fiercest battles in the muscle car era.

Related: The 10 Best Muscle Cars From The 1970s, Ranked

2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6

Top Speed: 168 MPH

The 2002 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 was a fitting farewell to one of the hottest and most sought-after Pontiac muscle cars in history. The WS6 package dates back to the 1978 model that arrived after the popular Smokey and the Bandit movie put this car on the map. This package added better performance to an already impressive car.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

This final version of the Trans Am came with standard leather seats and removable roof panels, making it one of the most popular and fun cars to drive. This 2002 Trans Am is easy to find in the used car market, which means you could enjoy the fun of this muscle car today.

2008 Pontiac G8 GXP

Top Speed: 177 mph

The unfortunate demise of the Pontiac brand meant the end of the G8 and its GXP variant. This short-lived model was based on the Holden Commodore from Australia, and it shared a platform with the Chevy 454 SS sedan that would live on for a few more years.

Performance Specifications

(Performance specs sourced from GM)

The 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP was more than just a great Pontiac muscle car but an incredible sleeper in the market. This powerful RWD sedan could carry five passengers comfortably to three-digit speeds without blinking an eye. The strong sales in 2009 couldn’t save the brand or this Pontiac muscle car from extinction.

Sources: MotorTrend, Road & Track, Car and Driver

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