The 1967 Plymouth GTX is the best muscle car of 1967, with the Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 at #2 and the Pontiac GTO at #3; the Pontiac Firebird 400 is the best value. The GTX came standard with a 375 hp 440 V8.
Photo: MrWalkr / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best overall muscle car of 1967.
Horsepower: 375 hp from the standard 440 cu in (7.2 L) Super Commando V8Hemi option: 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi rated at 425 hp and 490 lb-ft0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds with the 440; 4.8 seconds with the 426 HemiQuarter mile: 15.2 seconds at 97 mph (440); 13.5 seconds at 105 mph (Hemi)Positioning: Marketed as a “gentleman’s muscle car”, with a heavy-duty suspension standard
The Belvedere-based GTX came standard with the 440 cu in Super Commando V8, rated at 375 hp, plus a heavy-duty suspension; the 426 Hemi (425 hp) was the option. Published 0-60 mph times were 6.5 seconds for the 440 and 4.8 seconds for the Hemi.
Go ifBuyers who want a big-block V8 as standard equipment, not an option
Skip ifYou want a pony-car-sized car (the GTX is a mid-size Belvedere)
Why #1 over #2: Its 375 hp V8 came standard; the Camaro needed the optional L78 396 to match it.
2
1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396
Photo: Sicnag / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe first-year pony-car icon.
Horsepower: 325 bhp (L35 396 V8) or 375 bhp (L78 396 V8)Torque: 415 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm from the 396Debut: The first-generation Camaro was introduced in fall 1966 for the 1967 model yearIndy 500: A 1967 Camaro RS/SS convertible with a 396 paced the Indianapolis 500; 100 replicas were soldOptions: Almost 80 factory and 40 dealer-installed options, including the RS, SS and Z/28 packages
Chevrolet’s new Camaro arrived in fall 1966 for 1967. The SS offered the L35 396 at 325 bhp or the L78 at 375 bhp, both with 415 lb-ft, and an RS/SS 396 convertible paced the 1967 Indianapolis 500.
Go ifBig-block power in Chevrolet’s new pony car
Skip ifYou want 375 bhp without the L78 option (the L35 396 made 325 bhp)
Why #2 over #3: Its L78 396 reached 375 bhp, more than the GTO’s 360 hp top engine.
3
1967 Pontiac GTO
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best-selling pick.
Horsepower: 335 hp standard 400 V8; 360 hp high output; 265 hp economyEngine: The 389 was bored out to 400 cu in (6.6 L), fed by a single four-barrel Rochester QuadrajetSales: 81,722 in 1967: 65,176 hardtops, 9,517 convertibles and 7,029 sports coupesTransmission: Three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic TH-400 with a Hurst “his/hers” dual-gate shifterBrakes: Front disc brakes were an option in 1967
For 1967 the GTO’s engine grew to 400 cu in with a single Quadrajet: 265 hp economy, 335 hp standard and 360 hp high output. A TH-400 automatic with the Hurst his/hers shifter arrived, and Pontiac sold 81,722 GTOs.
Go ifThe best-selling muscle car on this list
Skip ifYou want Tri-Power carburetion (replaced by a single Quadrajet for 1967)
Why #3 over #4: Its 81,722 sales in 1967 far outnumber the GT500’s 2,048.
4
1967 Shelby GT500
Photo: Sicnag / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe rare Shelby pick.
Horsepower: 355 bhp at 5,400 rpmEngine: 428 cu in (7.0 L) Police Interceptor V8 with two 600 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetorsTorque: 420 lb-ft at 3,200 rpmProduction: 2,048 built in 1967, the first Shelby GT500 model yearRarity: Only one Shelby GT500 convertible was built in 1967
The first GT500 put a 428 Police Interceptor V8 with two 600 CFM Holleys into the 1967 Mustang-based Shelby, rated at 355 bhp and 420 lb-ft. Shelby built 2,048 in 1967, and only one GT500 convertible.
Go ifCollectors who want the first Shelby GT500
Skip ifYou want a convertible (only one was built in 1967)
Why #4 over #5: Its twin four-barrel 428 and 2,048-car run make it the rarer, more special car.
5
1967 Dodge Coronet R/T
Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Dodge big-block pick.
Horsepower: 375 bhp from the standard 440 cu in (7.2 L) Magnum V8Hemi option: The only engine option was the 426 Street Hemi, rated at 425 bhp, a $908 optionIntroduced: 1967, as a two-door hardtop or convertibleTransmission: Heavy-duty three-speed TorqueFlite automatic or four-speed manual
The Coronet R/T was new for 1967, with the 440 Magnum (375 bhp) standard and the 426 Street Hemi (425 bhp) as its only engine option, at $908. Buyers chose a TorqueFlite automatic or a four-speed manual.
Go ifMopar big-block power with a Hemi option
Skip ifYou want a smaller engine (the 440 Magnum was standard)
Why #5 over #6: Its standard 375 bhp 440 beats the 442’s 350 hp.
6
1967 Oldsmobile 442
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe upscale Oldsmobile pick.
Horsepower: 350 hp from the 400 cu in L78 V8 (the base engine carried over from 1966)W30: 502 factory W30 engines were built to meet NHRA homologation rulesPerformance: W30 test car: quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 103 mph; 0-60 mph in 6.5 to 6.7 secondsProduction: 24,833 in 1967Base car: Based on the top-line Cutlass Supreme; front disc brakes were a new option
The 1967 442 kept its 350 hp 400 V8 and moved to the top-line Cutlass Supreme. Oldsmobile built 502 W30 engines for NHRA rules, and a tested W30 ran the quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 103 mph. Production was 24,833.
Go ifA well-trimmed muscle car on the top-line Cutlass Supreme
Skip ifYou want triple carburetors (the L69 was dropped for 1967)
Why #6 over #7: Its 350 hp 400 out-rates the GS 400’s 340 hp.
7
1967 Buick GS 400
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Buick sleeper pick.
Horsepower: 340 hp and 440 lb-ftEngine: 400 cu in (6.6 L) big-block V8 with a four-barrel Rochester QuadrajetNew for 1967: The Gran Sport was renamed GS 400 for 1967 with a new 400 engine replacing the nailheadGM limit: The big-block 400 was the only large V8 for mid-size A-body Buicks under GM’s 400 cubic inch limit
Renamed GS 400 for 1967, Buick’s muscle car got a new big-block 400 with a Rochester Quadrajet, rated at 340 hp and 440 lb-ft. It was the only large V8 for mid-size Buicks under GM’s 400 cubic inch limit.
Go ifBig-block torque in a more conservative Buick
Skip ifYou want the smaller GS 340 (a different 260 hp car)
Why #7 over #8: Its 340 hp beats the Firebird 400’s 325 hp.
8
1967 Pontiac Firebird 400
Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best value of 1967.
Horsepower: 325 hp from the 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 from the GTOPrice: Coupe listed at $2,666 before options; convertible $2,903Introduced: February 23, 1967, five months after the CamaroRam Air: Optional Ram Air package with functional hood scoops, higher-flow heads and a hotter camshaftRestrictor: All 1967-1968 400 engines had throttle restrictors that kept the carburetor secondaries from fully opening
Pontiac’s pony car launched February 23, 1967 with the GTO’s 400 V8 at 325 hp, plus an optional Ram Air package. The Firebird coupe listed at $2,666 before options, which is why it is our best value.
Go ifGTO power in a lower-priced pony car
Skip ifYou want an unrestricted 400 (1967 Firebird 400s had throttle restrictors)
Why #8 over #9: Its coupe listed at $2,666 before options, putting a 400 V8 in a low-priced pony car.
9
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Photo: Sicnag / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Chevelle pick.
Horsepower: 325 hp standard 396 V8; 350 hp and 375 hp options375 hp engine: Arrived late in the model year; 612 were soldModel: The SS396 continued as a separate model in hardtop and convertible body styles1967 updates: Front disc brakes available, a dual master cylinder brake system and a collapsible steering columnCanada: Only 867 SS 396 models were built at Oshawa, Ontario in 1967
The SS396 stayed a separate Chevelle model for 1967, with a 325 hp 396 standard and 350 hp or 375 hp options; just 612 of the late 375 hp cars were sold. Front disc brakes were available on all 1967 Chevelles.
Go ifA mid-size Chevrolet with a choice of three 396 V8s
Skip ifYou want the 375 hp 396 (only 612 were sold)
Why #9 over #10: Its 325 hp standard 396 and 375 hp option beat the Fairlane GT’s 320 bhp 390.
10
1967 Ford Fairlane GT 390
Photo: Bull-Doser / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Ford pick.
Horsepower: 320 bhp from the 390 cu in four-barrel V8GT package: Introduced for 1966 with the 390 FE V8 standard; the GTA added the SportShift automatic1967 changes: A mild facelift plus federally mandated safety features, including an energy-absorbing steering column and a dual-chamber braking systemEngine family: The 390 four-barrel was rated at 320 bhp; the 1967-1968 Ford Fairlane is listed among its applications
Ford’s Fairlane GT carried the 390 FE V8 as standard, and the four-barrel 390 was rated at 320 bhp. The GTA version added the SportShift automatic, and 1967 cars got a mild facelift and new federal safety equipment.
Go ifA Ford mid-size with a 390 big-block
Skip ifYou want the most power here (it has the lowest-rated engine on this list)
How we ranked these
We ranked each 1967 car on standard-engine power, published performance and production records from each model’s documented history; the Firebird 400 is our best value for its published $2,666 coupe base price. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What was the best muscle car of 1967?
The Plymouth GTX. Its 440 cu in Super Commando V8 made 375 hp as standard, and the optional 426 Hemi ran 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Which 1967 muscle car was the best value?
The Pontiac Firebird 400. It used the 400 cu in V8 from the GTO, rated at 325 hp, and the Firebird coupe listed at $2,666 before options.
How much horsepower did a 1967 Camaro SS 396 have?
The L35 396 made 325 bhp and the L78 396 made 375 bhp, with 415 lb-ft of torque.
How many 1967 Pontiac GTOs were sold?
81,722: 65,176 hardtops, 9,517 convertibles and 7,029 sports coupes.
Standard engine horsepower, 1967 at a glance
1967 Ford Fairlane GT 390320 hp
1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396325 hp
1967 Pontiac Firebird 400325 hp
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396325 hp
1967 Pontiac GTO335 hp
1967 Buick GS 400340 hp
1967 Oldsmobile 442350 hp
1967 Shelby GT500355 hp
1967 Plymouth GTX375 hp
1967 Dodge Coronet R/T375 hp
Standard engine horsepower, 1967, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
