Our first ‘muscle car’ is actually an Italian Grand Tourer, about as far removed from blue-collar Detroit as it’s possible to get, though if US car fans can call a Buick Riviera a muscle car, then surely.
There was something of a method to classic European muscle cars in the 1970s: the best tended to sport Italian-designed bodies with American power.
The famous Aston Martin badge isn’t perhaps one you’d instantly associate with motoring muscle, rather it is a marque associated with more refined grand touring.
One of the many spicier versions of more pedestrian models to come from South Africa was a V8 version of Ford’s humble pony car, the Capri.
Effectively showing the world how not to convert an MGB, the 1967 MGC attempted to up the B’s thrust. Yes, there was more power, but it hurt the purity of the model’s balance.
Sticking with the Rover V8 theme, there’s another British bruiser with old Buick power: the SD1.
The second Mercedes-Benz S-Class on our list, this time in coupé form, the 560SEC represents a high-water mark for the brand.
The new Vantage was a crucial model for the Newport Pagnell firm, which was welcoming a fresh cash injection from new (ish) owners Ford.
Ronin – need we say more? One of director John Frankenheimer’s last films, 1998’s post-Cold War thriller Ronin is best remembered today for its remarkably realistic car chases.
Jaguar took a great deal of time and effort making sure its E-type replacement was a worthy successor.