12 Rarest Engines Ever Fitted In An American Muscle Car (2024)

Finding a rare muscle car is relatively easy, due to manufacturers making many limited-run specials that didn't demand a huge outlay to build. Examples are models like the Ford Mustang Boss 429, which used the same engine Ford utilized in models such as the Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. Finding rare engines can be more difficult for this reason though, so HotCars scoured the archives to find the 12 most exclusive powerplants ever found under the hood of a muscle car.

12 1966 Chevrolet L72 V8: 1,338 Units

L72 V8 Specs

(Hemmings)

First up on the list is the L72 V8, which featured under the hood of only 1,338 Chevrolet Camaro and Chevelle muscle cars in 1969. The powerplant first emerged in 1966, though it remained exclusive to the brand's full-sized models like the Biscayne and the Corvette sports car. The 1,338 muscle versions of the engine were added as part of the brand's COPO program before it was culled at the end of '69.

11 1957 Pontiac Rochester V8: 991 Units

Rochester V8 Specs

(Austin American Statesman)

The 347 ci Pontiac V8 was one of the first engines to be equipped with direct fuel injection in the late 1950s, though reliability woes meant it was soon scrapped. This meant the engine failed to settle under the hoods of many Pontiac vehicles, though it did at least bring some needed muscle to a total of 991 Bonneville convertibles at the dawn of the muscle car era.

10 1987 Buick Turbo V6: 547 Units

Turbo V6 Specs

(Mecum Auctions)

With the end of the Regal Coupe production run soon upon the world, Buick decided to celebrate its life with one last special model. Named the GNX, the manufacturer upgraded its 3.8-liter turbo engine with a new turbocharger and cooling system to create the GNX V6. It was only available in the limited-run Regal GNX, of which just 547 were made.

9 1964 Ford Cammer V8: 500 Units (Est.)

Cammer V8 Specs

(Hemmings)

Built for Ford's NASCAR program in 1964, the Cammer V8 was never technically designed to be used in the manufacturer's range of street cars. While around 500 were built at the time, just three found their way into road cars. A trio of Galaxie muscle cars were the lucky recipients of the beastly 616 hp engine, with one of them selling for a hefty $112,000 through Bonhams Auctions in 2019.

8 1962 Pontiac Super Duty V8: 259 Units (Est.)

Super Duty V8 Specs

(Hemmings)

Looking to enhance the fortunes of its racing programs, Pontiac decided to get in on the 400 ci V8 game by producing the legendary 421 ci Super Duty engine.

The automaker was forced to build a slew of road-going versions after the NHRA Drag Racing League implemented a hom*ologation production requirement. Pontiac ended up fitting a total of 259 of the engines to its cars, with the Catalina coupe getting the bulk of them.

7 1995 Ford 5.8 V8: 250 Units

5.8 V8 Specs

(Hagerty)

Missing a hardcore track variant of its Mustang, Ford decided to develop the stripped-out Mustang Cobra R in 1995. Part of this process included upgrading the 351 ci V8 from the Lightning pickup truck and dropping it into the Mustang, a job that went to Ford tuning arm SVT.

A 300-hp powerhouse resulted, though it was only ever used in the limited-run SVT Cobra R, of which 250 were made before production ended at the end of 1995.

6 1967 Chevrolet L88 V8: 216 Units

L88 V8 Specs

(Mecum Auctions)

Available only for Corvette models between 1967 and '69, the Chevy L88 engine was an iron-block, 430 hp powerhouse that cost an arm and a leg at the time. The engine alone added around $13,000 to the base price of a Corvette, which is a likely reason only 216 L88-equipped models were ever sold.

5 1964 Ford FE Top Oiler V8: 100 Units

Top Oiler V8 Specs

(Mecum Auctions)

Like its fellow American manufacturers, Ford was desperate to come out on top of the drag racing wars with its own muscular offerings. One of its most notorious efforts was the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, which had a NASCAR-bred 427 ci engine. Producing 425 hp, the engine was 1 of only 100 top-oiler, low-riser dual-four barrel carburetor engines of its type that Ford ever produced. All came under the hood of the insane limited-run Thunderbolt.

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4 1969 Chevrolet ZL1 V8: 69 Units

ZL1 V8 Specs

(Mecum Auctions)

The ZL1 was built for use in the SCCA racing series in the late 1960s, though Chevy dealer Fred Gibb ordered a total of 50 Camaros equipped with the powerplants to sell to customers.

The all-aluminum engine cost the equivalent of $35,000 in today's money alone, so only 69 examples of the valuable car were ever built. A further two found a home in the Corvette sports car, its high price hamstringing it even more than the Camaro.

3 1963 Chevrolet Z11 V8: 57 Units

Z11 V8 Specs

(Mecum)

Another one of Chevy's drag racing specials, the Z11 engine, was offered only in special versions of 1963 Impala models. The engine had a displacement of 427 cubic inches with special raised port heads included to ensure it could run a compression ratio of 13.5:1. A stout 430 hp was the result, though only 57 examples of the engine were ever offered, making it a bit of a unicorn in Chevy circles.

2 1990 Saleen SC V8: 28 Units

SC V8 Specs

(Saleen)

The SC was a special Saleen-tuned version of the Fox body Ford Mustang, which consisted of the tuning company strapping a Vortech supercharger to a standard Mustang 305 ci V8.

According to the Saleen Owners Club of America, just 28 examples of the car were produced between 1990 and '93. The engines also received enhancements like aluminum valve covers, a performance radiator, and a Saleen-designed intake manifold.

1 1967 Ford Super Snake V8: 1 Unit

Super Snake V8 Specs

(Mecum)

The rarest engine to ever feature in an American muscle car is the mighty 427 ci Super Snake V8 featured in the one-off Mustang SS. Built for a promotional event with tire manufacturer Goodyear, the decision was made to build a special 427 ci V8 for a standard Shelby 500.

Lifted from the Ford GT40 racer that won four successive 24 Hours of Le Mans events, it produced 520 hp. It would never be used again, making it the rarest engine to ever feature in a production muscle car.

Sources: Hemmings, Austin American Statesman, Mecum Auctions, Bonhams, Hagerty, Saleen, Saleen Owners Club of America, Bring a Trailer