1970s:

This decade gave us the end of the Muscle Car Era, and the beginning of the less powerful, slicker looking european styled cars.

To comply with a GM decree that all engines must be able to run on unleaded fuel, all engines saw a drop in compresion and a corresponding drop in power ratings. This was further compounded by the move to rate engines with all accessories attached (the "net rating") which lead to some drastic changes over the previous "gross" ratings.

Most cars throughout the 70s were only producing around 150 bhp, even former top notch cars such as the Camaros and Mustangs. The 70s weren't all bad for cars though. The early 70s produced a few cars that are considered the most powerful muscle cars ever built. Such cars as the '70 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 LS-6. Plus the powerful and awesome 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and nobody can forget Buicks powerful beast, the 1970 Buick GS 455. These named cars which are all in the Top 50 fastest Muscle Cars ever. There are only 14 cars from the 1970s that are in the Top 50 fastest Muscle Cars ever, all of which are from '70 and '71 with the exception of the 1973 Pontiac Trans Am.