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BEST BEST YEAR YEAR FOR FOR MUSCLE MUSCLE CARS 1969 Muscle Cars are still in style today. These cars from a time when it seemed like it was man against the machine and in these machines man won. Absurd Power, Astounding Performance,no knick-knacks, no frills, just torque-laden speed and an CARS accompanying crusty attitude. Dodge Charger 110,000 buyers can’t be wrong. The 1969 Dodge Charger embodied the muscle car aesthetic. Backed by the legendary 426 Hemi, the Charger blazed to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and dashed to the top of the bestsellers list. Chevrolet Chevelle SS Big news for the 1969 Chevelle: the 375-hp SS 396 package became an option package for all Chevelles. Bigger news: Chevy’s COPO Chevelles – sleeper cars – attained 103 mph. Biggest news: they’re still out there. How many of these Chevelle COPO 427’s were built? Only 323 in 1969. Ford Mustang For 1969, Ford unleashed a potent batch of mustangs: a 428 Super Cobra Jet, Boss 302 and a NASCAR-ready Boss 429, capable of 429-hp. Ponies no more, there were full-grown ‘Stangs. AMC AMX Available in three models – base, “Big Bad,” and SS – the 1969 AMX was ascetic and burly: 420 horses, no A/C and a fearsome attitude. Popular Mechanics wrote that the 1969 “AMX preserves the status quo this year, being virtually unchanged, remains an absolute delight to drive. Chevrolet Camaro The Camaro was all about choices: fourteen different engines, two body styles and twelve regular different trim plus the COPO ZL1. The Camaro was also about speed. The Camaro SS dashed to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and topped out at 126 mph. Plymouth Barracuda Plymouth focused on reviving their drowning mascot, boosting horsepower and adding power steering. Unfortunately, as the weight was lopsided, the Barracuda could only swim well in straight lines. The Hemi Cuda with it’s 425 bhp 426 hemi engine is still a popular choice even though only 115 Hemi ‘Cudas were sold. Chevrolet Corvette The biggest engine news for the 1969 Corvette Stingray was the introduction of the ZL1 engine. The ZL1 used an aluminum engine block and cylinder heads offering a advertised 430 horsepower. In reality, the ZL1 Corvette Stingray made closer to 530 horsepower. Plymouth Superbird Even though the Superbird was a major sales dud with the buying public when new (just like the Charger Daytona), true-to-form, it is now one of the most valuable and sought-after Mopars ever made. Even a “base” 440-4 matching-number Superbird can now command well into the $100K range. Pontiac GTO & GTO “The Judge” Available as a convertible and coupe, the GTO disdained interior luxury and focused on burly power and performance. “The Judge” trim – a premium exhibition of Pontiac’s performance talent – was added to the lineup. Pontiac Firebird The Firebird jolted its followers with a radically restyled front fascia and interior – changes that disturbed devotees. However, the signature white- and-blue Firebird Trans Am counterbalanced the odd styling of the regular Firebird. 697 Firebird Trans Ams were built in 1969. Art By Jack Kruyne Recourses: carjunky.com.

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