9 Of The Greatest Muscle Wagons Of All Time

Do you want to cognize thing profoundly disheartening? The American capacity wagon does not beryllium anymore. It's been much than a decade since nan past 1 was offered and — astatine slightest arsenic of 2026 — location are nary plans for a comeback.

While location are Americans who emotion wagons, nan mean user seems to beryllium convinced that an SUV is simply a amended prime because it has much room and being higher disconnected nan crushed is safer. Little do they cognize that immoderate wagons tin transportation conscionable arsenic overmuch and taller vehicles don't needfully supply information benefits for passengers — although they do summation threat for those they clang into.

We could constitute a dissertation connected nan psychology down nan decease of this assemblage style and why nan long-dead wagons merit a resurrection, but we won't. Instead we're taking nan ceremony of life way and looking backmost connected immoderate of nan top musculus wagons ever put into accumulation — specifically, we're looking astatine American aliases American-adjacent wagons that person a V8 and a genuine cool factor. Oh, and they person to beryllium capable to do a burnout. 

The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon was nan past we saw of a modern Cadillac wagon, debuting for 2011 during nan second-generation CTS and leaving successful 2014. What's crazy to america is that moreover backmost then, 15 years agone erstwhile it debuted, magazines were shocked that a hot, accelerated wagon for illustration nan CTS-V existed pinch really mini nan marketplace stock was for that assemblage style. But Cadillac, bless it, sacrificed income successful favour of enthusiast brownie points.

In summation to nan Sport Wagon's other expanse metal, nan CTS-V's different superior constituent of liking was nan supercharged 6.2-liter V8 nether nan hood and nan six-speed manual transmission action — part of nan logic why CTS-V wagons are still truthful expensive. The peculiar centrifugal was GM's LSA engine, which was utilized for nan first clip successful nan second-gen CTS, and would soon find its measurement into nan business extremity of nan Camaro's lineup pinch nan ZL1. In CTS-V trim, however, nan LSA produced 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque — capable to scoot nan position wagon from 0-60 mph successful 4.3 seconds and done to nan quarter-mile successful 12.6. 

To support each that get-up betwixt nan lines, Cadillac fitted nan CTS-V Sport Wagon pinch large sticky Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, Brembo brakes, and magnetic dampers — basically, everything that came connected nan coupe and sedan versions. Of course, what those 2 didn't person was 58 cubic feet of full cargo space and a sexy long-tailed roofline.

The mid-to-late 2000s knowledgeable a musculus car roar from nan Big Three not seen since nan 1960s. Ford launched nan S197 Mustang successful 2005, Chevy was getting fresh to debut nan 5th-gen Camaro, and successful nan span of astir 2 exemplary years, Chrysler brought backmost nan Charger and Challenger (2006 and 2008, respectively), some of which were coming disconnected a decades-long hiatus from nan accumulation line. Of nan three, though, only Chrysler expanded beyond nan accepted musculus car business to present nan Dodge Magnum SRT-8 — 1 of only 2 21st-century American musculus wagons.

The Magnum exemplary debuted successful 2005 pinch nan SE and SXT trims offering a 2.7-liter V6 (190 hp), a 3.5-liter V6 (250 hp), and nan range-topping R/T packing a 340-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8. In 2006, nan SRT-8 yet deed nan streets. The 5.7-liter, while already powerful capable for this family wagon, was child's play successful Dodge's eyes, and arsenic such, nan caller king of nan Magnum elevation would person a 6.1-liter Hemi tin of a very patient 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.

The 6.1 was nan consequence of a bored-out 5.7 Hemi pinch stronger rods, an upgraded block, caller cylinder heads, a forged crankshaft, arsenic good arsenic a billet camshaft and lighter valves. For nan value of astir $38,000 successful 2006, nan SRT-8 besides came from nan mill pinch large Brembo brakes, beefier (and lower) suspension, a quicker steering rack, a Mercedes-sourced five-speed automatic gearbox, and subtle yet functional cosmetic modifications, peculiarly astatine nan beforehand end. The full statement ended aft 2008, arsenic you could imagine, but 20 years later the Magnum SRT-8 still stands nan trial of time.

The Roadmaster was Buick's full-size, luxurious onshore yacht that became nan brand's flagship for astir of nan '50s. However, the nameplate vanished aft 1958 arsenic Buick decided to attraction connected different models, and wouldn't beryllium seen again until the early 1990s erstwhile GM decided to resurrect it pinch nan Roadmaster sedan and nan Estate Wagon.

The caller Roadmaster was a nonstop related of nan modern Chevy Caprice, sharing underpinnings and astir of nan exterior design. Speaking of nan exterior, 1 of nan astir endearing characteristics of nan Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was not needfully its V8 but its sheer size. These are highly agelong cars, moreover by today's standards. At astir 217 inches bumper to bumper, it outstretches a 2026 Mercedes S-Class and nan newest Chevy Tahoe. This exceptional magnitude contributed to its tremendous cargo capacity and helped make it 1 of our readers' favorite family cars of each time.

Now onto nan engine. It primitively had a 170-horsepower 305 cubic-inch V8, but by 1992, powerfulness was up to 180 pinch nan 350 c.i. V8. In its last mates of years from 1994 to 1996, nan Corvette's LT1 V8 was made available, albeit pinch robust heads alternatively of aluminum and a different camshaft. It made 260 horsepower and helped thrust nan extra-long Buick to decent sales. While 260 horsepower and 4,500 pounds of wagon aren't a peculiarly speedy combination, successful nan 1990s, it was among nan only decently powered American wagons since nan CAFE regulations deed successful nan 1970s. In our books, that intends that nan Roadmaster counts arsenic a legendary musculus wagon.

For nan 1973 exemplary year, GM's A-body cars received thing called nan Colonnade assemblage style. This meant that nan caller people of car had fixed, structural B-pillars, 4th windows, and would nary longer beryllium offered arsenic convertibles. To GM, this meant that caller and existing models would beryllium mixed astir successful nan lineup to fresh this caller order.

One of nan models affected by these changes was nan Malibu, which still had its apical trim SS variants connected nan caller Colonnade bodies. However, it would besides beryllium made disposable arsenic 1 of nan rarest wagons ever made by nan Big Three — for 1973 only, willing customers could acquisition a Chevelle Malibu SS Wagon.

This obscure musculus wagon was already wholly rad connected nan surface, and its motor options were nan cherry connected top. The SS package came pinch a modular 350 cubic-inch V8 rated astatine 175 horsepower, though genuinely wacky folks could besides cheque nan container for nan legendary 454 c.i. V8. Since it was 1973, though, nan big-block made only 245 horsepower, which isn't precisely CTS-V levels of brawn, but was acold amended than what was to travel during nan remainder of nan decade. Another factoid we emotion astir this car is that, according to Hagerty, only 71 wagons were ordered pinch nan SS package and nan 454 V8 option. Whoever those 71 group were, we'd for illustration to shingle their hands.

The Ford Country Squire wagon first appeared in 1950, erstwhile Ford started utilizing nan word "Country Squire" to picture its flagship position wagons. Early Country Squires only had 2 doors, but by 1952 nan Squire had morphed into nan classical four-door type of nan exemplary we're acquainted pinch today.

Country Squire wagons were successful accumulation for much than 40 years, ending pinch nan LTD-based Country Squire wagons successful 1991. Of that four-decade-long run, arguably nan astir fascinating illustration came successful nan 1960s, erstwhile those who wanted large powerfulness successful their position wagons could opt for a Q-code, 345-horsepower 428 V8. Sadly, location aren't galore accounts of group really doing this — perchance because you would person to typical bid it done a dealership, aliases possibly because family car buyers didn't usually want aliases request nan big-block.

However, Hagerty has shared nan communicative of astatine slightest 1 well-documented illustration of a 1967 exemplary that was featured connected nan Barn Find Hunter series. In this case, nan purchaser told nan trader he wanted a Country Squire pinch nan 428 V8, a four-speed manual, bucket seats, and a halfway console. The purchaser was told he could only get nan 428 pinch an automatic, aliases nan three-speed manual pinch a 390 V8. 

After immoderate convincing, nan trader put nan man successful interaction pinch none different than Lee Iacocca himself, who, car feline that he was, approved nan build expanse himself and gave that man nan world's only 428-powered four-speed Country Squire.

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You astir apt don't deliberation of nan Dodge Polara arsenic often arsenic a Charger, Coronet, aliases Challenger, but nan Polara was besides an important portion of Dodge's musculus car frenzy passim nan 1960s. A operation of chaotic rear fins, melodramatic assemblage lines, and eye-catching colors defined nan first 2 Polara iterations, which were made from 1960 to 1964. Soon after, nan Polara would beryllium promoted arsenic Dodge's guidelines full-size C-body offering, opening up galore caller possibilities for nan model.

One of those possibilities came on successful 1966, erstwhile Chrysler unleashed its 440 cubic-inch V8 onto nan market, changing nan big-block crippled and further fueling nan horsepower wars. As a full-size C-body car, the Polara besides came successful position wagon shape and had since its 1960 debut, meaning that starting successful 1966, nan Polara Station wagon could beryllium mill equipped pinch nan 440, which produced 350 horsepower and a monstrous 480 pound-feet.

As acold arsenic we know, location weren't immoderate typical C-suite interventions that occurred pinch nan Polara, truthful each of them apt came pinch nan mill three-speed TorqueFlite automatic portion that was modular crossed galore Chrysler products of nan time. This musculus wagon operation was disposable each nan measurement until 1973, erstwhile nan Polara was phased retired successful favour of nan existing Dodge Monaco.

When 1 of nan Big Three debuts a successful product, nan others will ever want to propulsion their hats into nan ringing — it's an automotive manufacture norm arsenic aged arsenic nan U.S. car industry. So, erstwhile Ford's fancy Country Squire wagon proved its viability astatine dealerships, you wouldn't beryllium amazed to cognize that Chevrolet wasn't excessively acold behind, debuting nan caller Kingswood wagon for nan 1959 exemplary year. It would only past done 1960 earlier being shelved for different projects, but 8 years later, arsenic nan 1970s approached, Chevy reconsidered nan Kingswood concept.

In 1969, it returned. Now based connected nan Caprice, nan top-of-the-line Kingswood Estate wagon went each successful connected nan full-size family experience, featuring wood paneling, rear-facing 3rd statement seating, and features for illustration headlight washers, an motor artifact heater for acold starts, and a dual-action tailgate. Aside from those amenities, though, nan Kingswood whitethorn person taken nan full musculus wagon point much earnestly than immoderate different '60s aliases '70s wagon we've featured frankincense far. 

For nan 1969 exemplary year, you could get 1 straight-six, a 327 V8, a 350 V8, a 396 V8, and moreover 2 versions of nan 427 Turbo-Jet V8. The astir powerful advertised type of nan 427 pumped retired 390 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Driven by a three-speed automatic, nan Turbo-Jet-powered Kingswood was easy among nan quickest position wagons of its time. Reportedly, location was besides a typical COPO L72-code 427 V8 disposable for nan Kingswood pinch 425 horsepower, but moreover without that enigma option, nan Kingswood is nan quintessential horsepower-era musculus wagon.

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In nan mid-to-late 1960s, Dodge brought backmost nan Coronet sanction aft a comparatively speedy 5 twelvemonth break successful accumulation from 1960 to 1964, but not earlier making a flimsy miscalculation. Chrysler believed that General Motors was readying to downsize its full-size cars into a smaller, much intermediate people of automobile. Turns out, this accusation was false, meaning that for a fewer years successful nan early 1960s, Dodge's full-size cars were alternatively pathetic-looking compared to nan larger Fords and GM products.

To salvage this mistake, Dodge ended up utilizing overmuch of nan engineering from this awkward full/medium size level to create a intent built mid-size platform, which would springiness emergence to nan all-new 1965 Coronet. This streamlined family car came successful each shapes and sizes, including coupes, sedans, and of course, position wagons. The Coronet, somewhat confusingly, utilized triple-digit numbers arsenic trim level designations for illustration 440 and 500 (eventually location were besides Deluxe and R/T trims available), meaning your car could beryllium named Coronet 440, and travel pinch a mini 273 c.i. V8.

While nan Coronet Station Wagon wasn't regularly seen pinch a 426 HEMI, it was occasionally seen pinch different formidable big-block — nan 383 c.i. V8. The high-output type of this centrifugal utilized a amended 10.0:1 compression ratio, a four-barrel carburetor, dual-exhaust system, and a dual-snorkel air-cleaner, allowing for 330 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque. So, moreover pinch 9 of your friends aliases kids successful nan back, nan Coronet wagon earnestly scooted, and according to roadworthy tests, nan 383-equipped wagon was only a 2nd slower successful nan quarter-mile than a 440-powered Coronet R/T coupe.

The Bel Air Nomad is benignant of nan musculus wagon that started it all. It began arsenic a Motorama show car successful 1954 utilizing galore parts from nan precocious debuted Corvette, but it wouldn't hit nan accumulation line until 1955. It utilized nan aforesaid moving cogwheel arsenic each different '55-'57 Chevrolet car, but nan motor action that made it a existent musculus wagon was nan new-for-'57 283-cubic inch V8, which made either 250 aliases 283 horsepower depending connected options.

While nan Nomad was an early portion of a activity of increasing wagon fame successful nan 1950s that would highest successful consequent decades, it didn't past long. After 1957, nan Bel Air Nomad arsenic we knew it was gone, though nan sanction was utilized a fewer much times successful consequent decades for different, little imaginative cars. It wouldn't extremity up being a peculiarly celebrated prime either, only trading astir 22,000 units for its 3 twelvemonth run.

Some 70 years later, though, its fame is simply a different story. According to Hagerty, moreover a little powerful 265 V8-powered Nomad is worthy much than $53,000 successful "good" condition, and up to $85,000 successful "concours" condition. The factory high-output 283 V8-powered examples are moreover crazier, ranging from $85,000 successful "good" information up to much than $140,000 for a "concours" level car.

As a speedy extremity to this portion we're including nan Australian-built Holden Commodore Sportwagon because it's fundamentally a Chevy SS underneath. However, an important favoritism – the Chevy SS we emotion truthful overmuch wasn't nan blueprint. Instead, it was nan SS that was based connected nan Holden Commodore SS-V. Plus, nan Chevrolet SS ne'er came successful a wagon.

Either way, we decided it qualifies because it has American humor mixed successful and uses a Chevy V8 from nan factory. There was a Sportwagon type of nan high-performance Commodore successful nan earlier VE generation, and it came pinch a manual, dissimilar nan later VF-gen, but because nan VF was nan last iteration, we've decided it deserves nan pick.

As for specs, nan 2015-2017 VF-II SS-V Redline Sportwagon came pinch nan 6.2-liter LS3 V8, which was besides recovered successful nan guidelines Corvette and made 408 hp and 420 lb-ft successful nan Australian wagon. It besides came pinch a six-speed automatic transmission, performance-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, and sporty cosmetic goodies.