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Cars · Top 10

Top 10 Muscle Cars 1968

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
1968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)
Direct answer

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is the best muscle car of 1968, with the Plymouth GTX at #2 and the Pontiac GTO at #3; the Plymouth Road Runner is the best value. The Charger R/T’s standard 440 Magnum was rated at 375 hp.

At a glance

#PickHorsepowerBest for
11968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)375 hp from the 440 Magnum that came with the R/T package; the 426 Hemi (425 hp) was the optionBuyers who want the 440 Magnum in the most famous 1968 body
21968 Plymouth GTX (B-body)375 hp from the standard 440 Super Commando; the 426 Hemi was the only engine optionA big-block 440 and an automatic as standard equipment
31968 Pontiac GTO (A-body)350 hp at 5,000 rpm from the standard 400 V8Buyers who want the Car of the Year and the original muscle car name
41968 Oldsmobile 442 (A-body)350 hp from the 400 V8 with the standard three-speed or optional four-speed; automatics were rated at 325 hpBuyers who want the first stand-alone 442
51968 Buick GS 400 (A-body)340 hp and 440 lb-ft from the 400 cu in V8 with a four-barrel Rochester QuadrajetBuyers who want big Buick torque in a hardtop or convertible
61968 Shelby GT500KR (Mustang)335 hp as rated by Ford, with 440 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm; the rating was considered significantly underreportedFord fans who want the 428 Cobra Jet in Shelby form
71968 Plymouth Road Runner (B-body)335 bhp at 5,200 rpm and 425 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm from the Road Runner 383 V8Buyers who want the most power for the least money in 1968
81968 Dodge Super Bee (B-body)335 hp from the standard 383 Magnum; the 426 Hemi was rated at 425 hpDodge fans who want the Road Runner formula with Charger gauges and a Hurst shifter
91968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (A-body)325 hp from the standard 396 Turbo-Jet V8; 350 hp and 375 hp 396 engines were optionalBuyers who want a 396 big-block with 375 hp available
101968 AMC AMX 390 (first generation)315 hp and 425 lb-ft from the top 390 cu in V8 (X-code)Buyers who want a two-seat muscle car

Pick by what you want

Best overall
1968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)
Best value
1968 Plymouth Road Runner (B-body)
Car of the Year
1968 Pontiac GTO (A-body)
Ford pick
1968 Shelby GT500KR (Mustang)
Two-seater
1968 AMC AMX 390 (first generation)

The ranking

1

1968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)

1968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best overall muscle car of 1968.
Horsepower: 375 hp from the 440 Magnum that came with the R/T package; the 426 Hemi (425 hp) was the optionBase price: $3,480 for the 1968 Charger R/T two-door hardtopProduction: 17,665 Chargers had the R/T package in 1968; the Hemi went into 467 hardtopsNew body: Redesigned for 1968 with Coke-bottle styling, a “flying buttress” roof, a full-width hidden-headlight grille and dual round taillightsBullitt: A black Charger R/T 440 is the car chased by Steve McQueen’s Mustang GT in the 1968 film Bullitt

The redesigned 1968 Charger got Coke-bottle styling, a flying-buttress roof and a hidden-headlight grille, and the R/T came with the 375 hp 440 Magnum. The R/T hardtop listed at $3,480; 17,665 Chargers got the R/T package and 467 got the Hemi.

Go ifBuyers who want the 440 Magnum in the most famous 1968 body
Skip ifYou want the lowest price (the R/T listed at $3,480)
Why #1 over #2: It matches the GTX’s 375 hp and adds the hidden-headlight body that starred in Bullitt.
2

1968 Plymouth GTX (B-body)

1968 Plymouth GTX (B-body)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe upscale Plymouth pick.
Horsepower: 375 hp from the standard 440 Super Commando; the 426 Hemi was the only engine optionBase price: $3,329 for the 1968 GTX two-door hardtopProduction: 18,940 built in 1968, up from 12,115 the year beforeHemi: Only 450 GTXs (414 hardtops and 36 convertibles) were ordered with the $564 Hemi optionStandard: The 440 and the TorqueFlite automatic were standard; offered as a two-door hardtop or convertible

The GTX came with a 375 hp 440 Super Commando and the TorqueFlite automatic as standard, and the hardtop listed at $3,329. Plymouth built 18,940 in 1968, and only 450 were ordered with the $564 Hemi.

Go ifA big-block 440 and an automatic as standard equipment
Skip ifYou want a budget car (the Road Runner was the stripped model)
Why #2 over #3: Its standard 375 hp 440 out-rates the GTO’s 350 hp 400.
3

1968 Pontiac GTO (A-body)

1968 Pontiac GTO (A-body)
Photo: Calreyn88 / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Pontiac pick.
Horsepower: 350 hp at 5,000 rpm from the standard 400 V8Award: The GTO was named Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1968Sales: 87,684 sold, the GTO’s second-best sales yearBase price: $3,101 for the 1968 GTO two-door hardtopEndura bumper: A body-color Endura front bumper designed to absorb low-speed impacts without permanent deformation

The 1968 GTO got a new body with a body-color Endura front bumper, and its standard 400 was rated at 350 hp. It was Motor Trend Car of the Year and sold 87,684, with the hardtop at $3,101.

Go ifBuyers who want the Car of the Year and the original muscle car name
Skip ifYou want a Mopar 440 (the GTO’s standard 400 was rated at 350 hp)
Why #3 over #4: It matches the 442’s 350 hp and outsold it, 87,684 to 33,607, as Motor Trend Car of the Year.
4

1968 Oldsmobile 442 (A-body)

1968 Oldsmobile 442 (A-body)
Photo: Ermell / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Oldsmobile pick.
Horsepower: 350 hp from the 400 V8 with the standard three-speed or optional four-speed; automatics were rated at 325 hpNew model: 1968 was the first year the 4-4-2 was a separate model rather than an optionProduction: 33,607 built in 1968Road test: Car Life’s 1968 4-4-2 with Hydramatic ran 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.13 seconds at 92 mphW-30: W-30 cars were rated at 360 hp; Car Life’s four-speed W-30 ran the quarter mile in 13.3 seconds at 103.30 mph

For 1968 the 4-4-2 became a separate model, with a 350 hp 400 on manual cars and 325 hp with an automatic. Oldsmobile built 33,607, and a W-30 rated at 360 hp ran the quarter mile in 13.3 seconds for Car Life.

Go ifBuyers who want the first stand-alone 442
Skip ifYou want an automatic at full power (automatics were rated at 325 hp)
Why #4 over #5: Its 350 hp 400 out-rates the GS 400’s 340 hp.
5

1968 Buick GS 400 (A-body)

1968 Buick GS 400 (A-body)
Photo: MercurySable99 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Buick torque pick.
Horsepower: 340 hp and 440 lb-ft from the 400 cu in V8 with a four-barrel Rochester QuadrajetBase price: $3,127 for the hardtop; the convertible started at $3,271Production: 10,743 hardtops and 2,454 convertiblesNew body: GM’s redesigned A-body on a 112-inch wheelbase for 1968Stage 1: Buick offered Stage 1 and Stage 2 valve-train packages beginning January 1968

The GS 400 moved to GM’s new A-body on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a 340 hp, 440 lb-ft 400 V8. The hardtop listed at $3,127, and Buick built 10,743 hardtops and 2,454 convertibles.

Go ifBuyers who want big Buick torque in a hardtop or convertible
Skip ifYou want a pillared coupe (1968 GS 400s were hardtops or convertibles)
Why #5 over #6: Its 340 hp rating beats the 335 hp Ford gave the GT500KR’s 428 Cobra Jet.
6

1968 Shelby GT500KR (Mustang)

1968 Shelby GT500KR (Mustang)
Photo: Sicnag / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Ford pick.
Horsepower: 335 hp as rated by Ford, with 440 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm; the rating was considered significantly underreportedCobra Jet: Ford began factory-installing the 428 Cobra Jet in April 1968; KR stood for “King of the Road”Base price: $4,594 base price for the 1968 GT500KR convertibleBuild: 1968 was the only year 1960s Shelby Mustangs came from New Jersey, modified by A.O. SmithEngine dress: Die-cast aluminum “Cobra Le Mans” valve covers marked Ford’s FE engine wins at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967

From April 1968 the Shelby GT500 got the 428 Cobra Jet and became the GT500 KR, for “King of the Road.” Ford rated it at 335 hp and 440 lb-ft, a figure considered significantly underreported, and the convertible’s base price was $4,594.

Go ifFord fans who want the 428 Cobra Jet in Shelby form
Skip ifYou want a low price (the convertible’s base price was $4,594)
Why #6 over #7: It matches the Road Runner’s 335 hp with 440 lb-ft against the Road Runner’s 425 lb-ft.
7

1968 Plymouth Road Runner (B-body)

1968 Plymouth Road Runner (B-body)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best value of 1968.
Horsepower: 335 bhp at 5,200 rpm and 425 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm from the Road Runner 383 V8Base price: $2,870 for the 1968 two-door coupe; the hardtop was $3,034Production: 29,240 coupes and 15,359 hardtopsSales: Plymouth expected to sell about 20,000; actual sales were around 45,000, third among muscle carsHemi: The 426 Hemi, rated at 425 bhp, was a $714 option

The new Road Runner put a 335 bhp, 425 lb-ft 383 in a stripped Belvedere, and the coupe listed at $2,870. Plymouth expected about 20,000 sales and sold around 45,000, which makes it our best value.

Go ifBuyers who want the most power for the least money in 1968
Skip ifYou want carpet and comfort (early cars lacked even carpets)
Why #7 over #8: It matches the Super Bee’s 335 hp at a lower price, $2,870 for the coupe against $3,027.
8

1968 Dodge Super Bee (B-body)

1968 Dodge Super Bee (B-body)
Photo: dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Dodge budget pick.
Horsepower: 335 hp from the standard 383 Magnum; the 426 Hemi was rated at 425 hpBase price: The 1968 Super Bee started at $3,027, slightly pricier than the Road RunnerHemi: The Hemi option raised the price by 33%, and 125 were soldDebut: The Super Bee show car was introduced at the 1968 Detroit Auto ShowBody: Two-door coupe only, on a 117-inch wheelbase versus the Road Runner’s 116 inches

Dodge’s answer to the Road Runner debuted as a show car at the 1968 Detroit Auto Show, with a 335 hp 383 Magnum and a $3,027 starting price. It was a coupe only, and 125 were sold with the Hemi.

Go ifDodge fans who want the Road Runner formula with Charger gauges and a Hurst shifter
Skip ifYou want the lowest price (it cost more than the Road Runner)
Why #8 over #9: Its 335 hp 383 out-rates the Chevelle SS 396’s standard 325 hp.
9

1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (A-body)

1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (A-body)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Chevrolet pick.
Horsepower: 325 hp from the standard 396 Turbo-Jet V8; 350 hp and 375 hp 396 engines were optionalBase price: $2,899 for the 1968 SS 396 sport coupeProduction: 60,499 SS 396 sport coupes and 2,286 convertiblesNew body: All-new sculpted body for 1968; coupes and convertibles moved to a 112-inch wheelbaseOwn series: The Super Sport became a series of its own for 1968

The SS 396 became its own series for 1968 on an all-new body, with a 325 hp 396 standard and 350 hp or 375 hp options. The sport coupe started at $2,899, and Chevrolet built 60,499 of them.

Go ifBuyers who want a 396 big-block with 375 hp available
Skip ifYou want the most standard power (the base 396 was rated at 325 hp)
Why #9 over #10: Its standard 325 hp 396 beats the AMX 390’s 315 hp.
10

1968 AMC AMX 390 (first generation)

1968 AMC AMX 390 (first generation)
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe rarest pick of 1968.
Horsepower: 315 hp and 425 lb-ft from the top 390 cu in V8 (X-code)Base price: $3,245 for the 1968 AMX fastback coupeProduction: 6,725 built for 1968Debut: Introduced to the public on February 24, 1968, as a two-seater on a 97-inch wheelbaseRecords: In January 1968, two prepared AMXs set 106 world speed and endurance records driven by Craig Breedlove, his wife Lee, and Ron Dykes

AMC’s two-seat AMX reached the public on February 24, 1968, on a 97-inch wheelbase, and the 390 was rated at 315 hp and 425 lb-ft. The fastback listed at $3,245, and 6,725 were built for 1968.

Go ifBuyers who want a two-seat muscle car
Skip ifYou need a back seat (the AMX is a two-seater)

How we ranked these

We ranked each 1968 car on the rated SAE gross horsepower of its standard (or named) engine, using each model’s documented history, and broke ties with published sales, torque or price; the Road Runner is our best value for its published $2,870 coupe 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 1968?

The Dodge Charger R/T. Its standard 440 Magnum was rated at 375 hp, the 426 Hemi (425 hp) was optional, and the R/T hardtop listed at $3,480.

Which 1968 muscle car was the best value?

The Plymouth Road Runner. The coupe listed at $2,870 with a 335 bhp 383, and Plymouth sold around 45,000 against an expected 20,000.

Which muscle car was Motor Trend Car of the Year for 1968?

The Pontiac GTO, which sold 87,684 that year with a 350 hp 400 V8 as standard.

How many 1968 AMC AMXs were built?

6,725, at a price of $3,245 for the fastback coupe.

Rated horsepower of the standard or named engine, 1968 (SAE gross) at a glance

1968 AMC AMX 390 (first generation)315 hp
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 (A-body)325 hp
1968 Shelby GT500KR (Mustang)335 hp
1968 Plymouth Road Runner (B-body)335 hp
1968 Dodge Super Bee (B-body)335 hp
1968 Buick GS 400 (A-body)340 hp
1968 Pontiac GTO (A-body)350 hp
1968 Oldsmobile 442 (A-body)350 hp
1968 Dodge Charger R/T (B-body)375 hp
1968 Plymouth GTX (B-body)375 hp
Rated horsepower of the standard or named engine, 1968 (SAE gross), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.