1964 Pontiac GTO

Engine: 389 ci (6.4 L) V8
Horsepower: 348
Torque: 428 lb-ft
Number Built: 32,450
Price: $2,852

The “Goat” as it has been nicknamed just had to be on this list and why not start with the first year the car was offered, 1964. The GTO was actually offered as an upgrade to the Pontiac LeMans. The $289 GTO, or Grad Turismo Omologato, upgrade consisted of swap in engines from the stock 326 ci engine in the base LeMans to a 348 hp 389 ci (6.4 L) V8. There were other features of the upgrade and you could also order Tri-Power package, which comprised of three Rochester two-barrels, a four-speed manual transmission, a Super Turbine 300 two-speed automatic transmission and much more.

The GTO option for the LeMans was so popular, Pontiac, which hoped to sell at least 5,000, sold 32,450 of the cars. Pontiac finally made the GTO a separate model in 1966 and the rest is muscle car history.