I'm not sure Corvettes are considered Muscle cars. No more than a Porsche 924 or 928 is a "muscle car." Those are sports cars and while fast and agile, not so much off the line. Muscle cars were usually compact or small sedans and ragtops that were fast off the line because they held huge engines, but were pigs in the twisties.
Built for stoplight street racing, they were power and noise you didn't have to build yourself. You could buy it off the rack.
Still, the Corvette is a beautiful bit of Automobile art and certainly classic.
My favorite "muscle" car would be the Oldsmobile 442 Cutlasses. Built on the Olds F-85 platform, they were fast off the line but could not hold the road in the twisties. The '68's were beautiful.
Chevy and Buick came out with similar models as well.
“Evolution of a winner… The ultimate expression of the American Supercar is now available in Oldsmobile showrooms around the country. Seeing is believing… owning is unreal.” 1968 Hurst/Olds pamphlet
- The 442 was officially made its own model in 1968.
- The special limited edition Hurst/Olds was introduced and produced nearly 400 horsepower.
- Completely redesigned from the previous year, the 442 sported the then-popular fastback design for the first time ever.
There was also a Hurst Version at 400 HP.
THAT, my friend, is MUSCLE!