Most Powerful Luxury Classic Muscle Cars

You should never be shocked that classic muscle cars have a following. Old school muscle cars have a reputation for being rugged, powerful cars with wide bodies and plenty of opportunities for gearheads to tweak them to their specific tastes.

When you add a little twist of luxury into the mix, you end up with a car that would make anyone driving it feel like they're king of the world. In fact, you sometimes even end up with a supercar.

I'm a firm believer that there's a muscle car for everyone out there. Even if you're not a fan of muscle cars, you have to admit that you'd probably be alright with driving any of these super-powerful luxury classic muscle cars. Right?

1971 Plymouth GTX Hemi

Plymouth has long had a reputation for making powerful luxury muscle cars with a stately appeal to them. Among the most powerful luxury classic muscle cars to hold the Plymouth name is the 1971 Plymouth GTX Hemi.

When it was first released, this was known as the "gentleman's muscle car," and it's easy to see why. It was graceful, elegant, and also managed to pack a ton of horsepower in its V8 Hemi engine. With a 425 horsepower rating, it's considered to be one of the most powerful muscle cars of its time.

We just wish we could sink into those seats and hear that motor purr.

1965 Buick Riviera GS

Though Buick is now known as one of the most reliable car companies around, there was a time when they were famous for creating top-of-the-line muscle cars. The Buick Riviera GS is a perfect example of what powerful luxury classic muscle cars can be like.

The awe-inspiring Riviera GS had a striking body, packed a walloping 360 horsepower in its motor, and had life-changing amenities for the lucky drivers who were able to afford one. It was a smash hit back then and a top collector's item now.

1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT

The Mercury Cougar line was highly respected as a luxury muscle car during the 60s, and at the peak of the golden age of muscle cars, they were legenday. What makes the 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT such a great car wasn't just its roaring motor or its stylish bodykit.

This particular model of Cougar went beyond the typical pony car and went all-out with a 320 horsepower engine, wood-grain interiors, and leather-vinyl upholstery. It also had a forgotten feature of classic cars many want to see come back: hidden headlamps.

These days, you can sometimes see Mercury Cougar XR-7 GTs and their lookalikes in rap videos. Why? Because they're absolutely decadent and awesome, that's why.

1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ

Much like other car lines that are featured on lists of the most powerful luxury classic muscle cars, the Grand Prix line from Pontiac is generally considered to be one of the best muscle cars ever made. It was popular in rallies, popular on the streets, and almost always meant a strong engine.

In 1969, the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ was the first downsized car to hit the market—and with that change came many others. A super-long hood, a protruding grille, and a juiced up engine with a maximum 370 horsepower rating made this a force to be reckoned with.

1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III

Lincoln was another brand that had become a mainstay among the best muscle cars of the 60s and 70s—and the Continental Mark III is a gem among gems. As one of the most powerful luxury classic muscle cars from the era, the Mark III took a full ten years to develop.

The results were phenomenal.

Platform sharing with the Ford Thunderbird meant this car was very affordable to reproduce, and also had a great 365 horsepower engine, too. A vinyl roof, tinted glass, and some of the earliest anti-lock brakes made this a favorite in the luxury crowd.

Today, it's a huge collector's item and regularly is cited as one of the greatest cars in its class.

1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk 400

Studebaker is a name we are proud to say made the list of the most powerful luxury classic muscle cars to ever exist in its time. Once a major competitor to Ford, Studebaker was serious about luxury and muscle when it made a car.

The Golden Hawk 400 was one of the final cars produced under the Studebaker name to actually see mainstream success. This gorgeous two-door coupe was a special edition that was outfitted with all the finest amenities of the decade.

Two hundred seventy-four horsepower in its engine meant that it had more than triple the horsepower of weaker muscle cars from the 1980s. Power breaks, seats, and windows as a standard meant it was way, way before its time.

Combine that with a leather interior and upholstered trunk, and you'll see why it was Studebaker's crowning achievement. Only 43 of these cars were ever made, making them one of the rarest of all luxury cars in the decade.

1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was the stuff of legends. It was one of the best muscle cars of its decade—much thanks to its beefy body, its 454ci Turbo-Jet V8, and a maximum output of 360 horsepower.

Inside, it was equally cushy and plush. A wood dashboard, plush carpeting, and delightfully soft upholstery meant that the person who was lucky enough to afford a top grade car would find the Monte Carlo to be one of the best rides they'd ever experience.

1963 Studebaker Avanti R2

1963 was the very last year that Studebaker made cars, and they were not a company that would go out with a whimper. The Avanti R2 remains one of the most powerful luxury classic muscle cars of all time—and actually has become a status symbol among luxury car collectors.

It was the first four-passenger performance car to hit dealership lots, and broke 29 different records during its run at the Bonnebelle Salt Flats. That's not the only record it broke. The Avanti R2 was the first luxury car to have standard front disc brakes in America.

Only around a thousand of these cars were made. Makes you wonder what would have happened if Studebaker stuck around, doesn't it?

1966 Lamborghini Miura P400

Though it was technically marketed as a sports car, the 1966 Lamborghini Miura's V12 engine doesn't lie: it packs some serious power. With a body design that was decades ahead of its time and a unique build that gave it a "tight" look, this car was a limited-release that quickly gained the love of luxury car drivers.

The most impressive part of this car wasn't its luxury features; those are to be expected with a beginning price tag equivalent to $150,000 of today's money. It was its engine, which was able to kick out 345 horsepower. With an engine like that, it was destined to be one of the most powerful luxury muscle cars ever made.