American carmakers in the 1970s were left with a choice to adapt or perish. The fuel crisis of the time resulted in the automotive equivalent of the Dark ages. This was most felt in the Muscle car and Hot Rod world, where once mighty V-8 engines were strangled by regulations. Car manufacturers were forced to reduce their carbon footprint and make more fuel-efficient cars, but what happens when you have already poured millions into developing high-performance engines that all of a sudden, had fallen out of favor? Instead of starting from scratch, American carmakers decided to re-purpose existing powerplants.

Unfortunately, this meant sapping power from them. All of a sudden beloved powertrains like Chrysler's 440 Magnum and Chevy's 454 Big block became pale shadows of their former selves, with some engines losing as much as 40 percent of their original output in favor of saving more polar bears. While performance experienced a gradual decline from 1971, cars produced in 1970 were spared from the performance-ravaging smog regulations. It is thanks to that that we can say that fast American Muscle cars from the 1970s exist, and these are the 10 fastest examples you could buy before the smog-era took away all of the fun.

Related: The Fastest Muscle Cars Of The 1960s

7 Plymouth Roadrunner 426 Hemi

Top Speed: 142 MPH

In the Chrysler family, Plymouth was always positioned under Dodge’s products. Although Plymouth’s products, typically, featured less powerful engines than the Dodge equivalents, the Roadrunner shared the Charger’s range-topping V-8s as well as the B-Body platform. This meant that the base engine was a 383 cubic-inch V-8 with 335 horsepower. The 440 and 426 Hemi were available too, with the latter being the range-topping variant, the same as the Charger.

Dubbed the Elephant engine due to its physical size, the 426 Hemi was notoriously underrated. Chrysler claimed peak power came at 5,000 RPM, but in reality, the engine kept building power to 6,000 RPM, resulting in 470 to 500 horsepower, depending on the source. Like other Chrysler performance products, the Roadrunner came with a Dana 60 rear end that could feature the standard 3.23 rear gears or optionally 3.55 or 4.10.

6 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi

Top Speed: 146 MPH

When we talk about the fastest 70s Muscle cars, we cannot go without mentioning the Dodge Challenger. Movies like Vanishing Point and Deathproof (which was, basically, an homage to the former) immortalized the fast MOPAR on the big screen. Based on the F-Body together with other models like the Plymouth Barracuda, the Challenger was the smaller sibling of the Charger. While officially classified as a Pony car, the Challenger’s higher trims shared the bigger Charger’s V-8 engines, and yes, this included the 426 Hemi.

The Challenger was noticeably lighter than the Charger, at 3,801 pounds (1,724 kg) versus the equivalent Charger’s 4,034 pounds (1,830 kg). Challenger R/T models could be optioned with 3.54, 3.91, or 4.10 rear gears, which meant a 0 to 60 mph times could differ by over a second, depending on the axle ratio.

5 Ford Torino Cobra

Top Speed: 150 MPH

The Ford Torino is, often, left out of the conversation when talking about the fastest Muscle cars from the 1970s. Although it’s bigger and more luxurious than the Mustang, the Torino is no slouch. This was, in no small part, due to the 429 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V-8, which featured semi-hemispherical combustion chambers and was homologated for NASCAR. Its most notable application is in the Mustang BOSS 429, but it was originally homologated for the NASCAR version of the Torino.

Just like Chrysler’s 426 Hemi, Ford’s 429 Cobra Jet was severely underrated. In truth, the engine is said to produce between 425 and 450 horsepower and 480 pound-feet. The Ford Torino also has some fame on the big screen, being featured in movies like Starsky and Hutch, Gran Torino, and the 2009 Fast and Furious, although not all movies featured the same generation Torino.

Related: The Fastest Muscle Cars Of The 1980s

4 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

Top Speed: 162 MPH

The Big daddy of Muscle cars is, often, believed to be the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454. Packing one of the biggest and most powerful V-8 engines of its day, it is a force to be reckoned with even today. The second-generation, in particular, introduced a 454 cubic-inch Big Block Chevy V-8 as the range-topping powertrain. Out of all full-size Muscle cars in the 1970s, the Chevelle SS 454 boasted the highest top speed, although that greatly depended on what axle ratios were fitted in the back.

A 12-bolt rear end with posi-traction was standard and factory options for the SS 454 included 3.31 and 4.11 rear gears. The best performance was achieved with the optional, LS6 engine, which was the most powerful version of Chevy’s Big block.

3 DeTomaso Pantera

Top Speed: 162 MPH

Can a mid-engine, Italian sports car be even classified as an American Muscle? The same question comes to mind when talking about the Corvette, yet it seems to always make it on the list. The DeTomaso Pantera is an Italian car, but it spawned the same year Ford Motor Company acquired 84 percent of the brand. Propulsion was entrusted to the very American, 351 Cleveland and 351 Windsor V-8 engine, with many examples featuring four, two-barrel Weber carburetors. A few examples also featured a Ford 302 or a 360 cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V-8.

A five-speed manual transaxle supplied by ZF was the only available transmission, and it sent power to the rear wheels. In the early 1970s, the Pantera was priced between $9,000 and $11,000, which made it about $3,000 more expensive than a Corvette. However, the Pantera cost less than half of a brand-new Ferrari 308, and it was quicker. As it was a more upscale model, Ford sold the Pentera through its Mercury and Lincoln dealerships.

2 Plymouth Superbird

Top Speed: 185 MPH

Muscle cars and motorsport always had an intrinsic connection. The best way to advertise a performance model was through motorsports, which spawned the motto “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”. When it comes to American motorsports, NASCAR is as good as it gets, and all the big boys wanted a piece of the podium. At the time, Ford was dominating with the Torino Talagera and Mercury Cyclone, which prompted Chrysler to create the infamous, Aero-body cars.

Plymouth’s answer to the blue oval came in the form of the Superbird. Underneath the aerodynamic body, featuring a conenose and a gigantic rear wing, was a Plymouth Road Runner. Naturally, the fastest version of the road car was equipped with the 426 Hemi, which is also what the NASCAR variant featured. Among the Plymouth Superbird's most impressive numbers is the drag coefficient of 0.28.

Related: 10 Cool American Cars You Can Buy For Under $20,000

1 Dodge Charger Daytona

Top Speed: 200 MPH

We can’t talk Aero-body cars without mentioning the Dodge Charger Daytona. Just like the Plymouth Superbird, which was, essentially, a Road Runner with a cone-nose and an extreme rear wing, the Daytona was a Charger with the same treatment. Power was entrusted to the legendary and conservatively-rated 426 Hemi V-8, which together with a drag coefficient of 0.28 (identical to the Superbird), made it the fastest 1970s Muscle car.

Sadly, the “Winged Warriors” did not compete for long as NASCAR regulations for the next seasons banned all cars with engines bigger than 305 cubic inches. Just 305 Charger Daytona were built, and they, currently, go for six figures, with the rare 426 Hemi models closing in on $1.0 million.