The best Musclecar year was....

[StealthBird]

There is always a lot of discussion on this topic, and I would like to hear some opinions as to which year you think was truly the peak Musclecar year. Not just horsepower and 1/4 mile times, but the best year for Musclecars in general.

Most magazines and books pick either 1969 or 1970. It's really a tough call, because obviously 1970 was the peak year for horsepower and style for several of the makes, but 1969 was also a pinnacle (with several noteworthy introductions) for other makes. See what you think, and if I'm leaving off any noteworthy items...

1969
----

1. The introduction of the first winged wonder: The Dodge Daytona
2. The introduction of the outrageous Boss 429 Mustang
3. The introduction of the Judge
4. The introduction of the Trans Am
5. The introduction of the Mach 1 Mustang
6. The introduction of the Boss 302 Mustang
7. The wildest looking Oldsmobile ever, the 69 Hurst/Olds
8. Arguably the pinnacle of Pontiac performance, the radical RAIV engine
9. The introduction of The Beast: The 427 ZL-1
10. Factory installed 427's are ordered in COPO Chevelles and Camaros
11. Operation Overkill from Pennsylvania: the 1969 Yenko 427 Nova
12. AMC gets into the Musclecar pool with its in-your-face Hurst Rambler/Scrambler
13. Wild Mercury Cougar Eliminator hits the streets
14. Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II "Cale Yarborough" introduced along with Ford Torino Talladega, kicking off the NASCAR aero wars
15. Plymouth somehow crams a 440 into a Cuda
16. The 440 6-pack debuts in the Super Bee
17. Wildest AMC ever made: the 1969 Hurst S/S AMX


1970
----
1. This is a big one: Chevelle SS454 LS6 introduced
2. GM A-bodies, arguably the pinnacle of GM Musclecar styling, with the 70 GTO, 70 Chevelle SS, 70 442, and 70 GS all becoming classics.
3. The gloves come off as GM allows 454's and 455's into mainstream GM A-bodies, making the 1970 LS6, 1970 W-30 442, and 1970 Buick Stage 1 GS, the pinnacle year for horsepower in these Musclecars.
4. Stunning redesign of the 1970 F-bodies, the Camaro and Firebird
5. This is another biggy : the redesign of the 1970 Cuda and introduction of companion Dodge Challenger
6. AMX styling peaks in 1970
7. The Buick GSX debuts, the wildest looking Buick ever built.
8. Dodge Challenger T/A and Plymouth AAR Cuda introduced


As you can see, I believe that 1969 was the most significant year for Musclecars, while 1970 had some peak moments for certain makes.

Votes and/or opinions?

[Belair62]

1962

[GTO_DON]

THATS THE YEAR I WAS BORN!!

[Belair62]

Well most of the year was good anyway !

[JoeG]

1966--

[mmcporter]

I like 1970, as I own a 1970 Chevelle LS6, and it truly is a milestone car. However, many might say it was 1967, as that was the last "no smog" year.

[Michael]

...1969...

[copo9566aa]

It's hard but 1970 for me
1969 many introduction
1970 final product
1964 is a very cool year too GTO Mustang Barracuda...

[Salvatore]

Come on 1969!!! The year of the COPO, The year of the ZL1! Crosby,Stills,Nash,and Young,The Greatful Dead, The Wonder Years, and.....the year I started driving

[Gach]

1970