When you think of muscle cars from the ’60s, you probably picture screaming V8s, smoking tires, and ¼ mile times that’ll snap your neck. But not every muscle car from the era was built to blow your doors off. Some looked the part but lagged where it mattered most—at the dragstrip. Whether due to emissions tuning, base-model engines, or heavy curb weights, these cars were more bark than bite. Here are 10 of the slowest muscle cars of the ’60s, ranked by how long they took to get through the quarter mile.

1. 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT – 15.4 Seconds

The Cougar XR-7 GT looked like it meant business, but it didn’t exactly scorch the strip. Powered by a 390 V8 making 320 horsepower, it managed a 15.4-second ¼ mile—decent, but not neck-snapping.

Built on the Mustang platform, the Cougar had a longer wheelbase, a bit more weight, and a suspension tuned for a smoother ride. Inside, it offered upscale trim, toggle switches, and woodgrain accents. Mercury sold around 150,000 Cougars that year, and the XR-7 GT was more about grand touring than drag racing.

2. 1966 Dodge Charger 318 – 15.7 Seconds

The original Charger had the looks but not always the muscle. The base 318 V8 version took 15.7 seconds to hit the quarter mile, even though it had a sleek fastback profile that screamed speed.

The 318 put out around 230 horsepower and was paired with a 3-speed auto. Inside, it was futuristic for its time—four bucket seats and full-length console. Suspension was shared with the Coronet: torsion bars up front, leaf springs out back. It wasn’t slow for a cruiser, but in the muscle world, it was outgunned.

3. 1968 Ford Torino GT 302 – 15.9 Seconds

The 302-powered Torino GT was a stylish midsize coupe, but it wasn’t going to win pink slips. With 210 horsepower and an automatic transmission, it ran the quarter in 15.9 seconds.

Ford sold over 172,000 Torinos in 1968, and the GT trim added performance looks more than actual bite. Bucket seats, rally dash options, and dual exhaust dressed it up, but the small-block just didn’t move the weight like a 390 or 428 would. It was more of a cruiser with muscle car clothes.

4. 1967 AMC Rebel SST 343 – 16.0 Seconds

AMC’s Rebel SST with the 343 V8 made about 280 horsepower but still took a full 16 seconds to get through the ¼ mile. It was saddled with a heavier frame and automatic transmission that dulled the power delivery.

The car came standard with coil springs and trailing arms out back, plus an independent front setup. Inside, the SST trim included nicer upholstery and simulated woodgrain. AMC was chasing the muscle trend, but the Rebel couldn’t keep up with the big boys on the strip.

5. 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 283 – 16.3 Seconds

Not all Chevelles were tire-smokers. The Malibu trim with a 283 two-barrel V8 barely made 195 horsepower and ran the ¼ mile in around 16.3 seconds. It looked like a muscle car but moved more like a family sedan.

Chevy sold hundreds of thousands of Chevelles that year, and the Malibu was a popular choice for folks who wanted style without the insurance hit. Suspension was standard coil spring front and rear, with drum brakes all around. The 283 was reliable—but not built for speed.

6. 1969 Plymouth Satellite 318 – 16.5 Seconds

The 318-powered Satellite looked the part but didn’t perform like its Road Runner cousin. With just 230 horsepower and a curb weight around 3,700 pounds, it took about 16.5 seconds to get through the ¼ mile.

It used Chrysler’s typical torsion bar front and leaf spring rear suspension, and it shared its B-body structure with higher-trim Mopars. Inside, it had bench seats, minimal trim, and a no-nonsense dash. Plymouth sold over 80,000 Satellites in 1969—proof that not every buyer needed big-block bragging rights.

7. 1966 Pontiac Tempest 326 – 16.7 Seconds

The 1966 Tempest 326 was like the GTO’s quiet cousin—same bones, but less flash and a lot less power. Its 326 V8 produced about 250 horsepower, which wasn’t enough to pull its weight quickly. It clocked in around 16.7 seconds in the ¼ mile.

The suspension setup included coil springs all around, and the ride was more tuned for comfort than aggression. Pontiac moved over 130,000 Tempests in ’66, and for folks who liked GTO looks on a budget, this was the ticket—even if it wasn’t winning drag races.

8. 1968 Dodge Coronet 318 – 16.9 Seconds

The 318-powered 1968 Coronet was Dodge’s version of a respectable-looking muscle car that didn’t actually hustle. Making around 230 horsepower, it ran the ¼ mile in 16.9 seconds and felt more like a cruiser than a street brawler.

It came with the usual Mopar torsion bar and leaf spring suspension setup, delivering a smooth but unremarkable ride. Inside, you got a wide dash, bench seating, and simple controls. Dodge sold well over 100,000 Coronets in ’68—many of which looked fast but didn’t drive like it.

9. 1967 Buick Skylark 300 – 17.2 Seconds

With a 300-cubic-inch V8 producing around 210 horsepower, the 1967 Skylark looked ready to play but clocked a slow 17.2-second quarter mile. Buick aimed this car more at comfort and style than street dominance.

It featured a soft suspension tuned for ride quality, not cornering, and had standard drum brakes and optional A/C. The Skylark’s interior leaned upscale with full carpeting and cloth-and-vinyl seats. Buick sold over 100,000 units that year, mostly to folks who liked the muscle look without the muscle fuel bill.

10. 1969 AMC Ambassador SST 290 – 17.6 Seconds

Topping the list of slowest ’60s muscle cars is the 1969 AMC Ambassador SST with the 290 V8. Despite its name and styling, the car made just 200 horsepower and lumbered through the ¼ mile in a glacial 17.6 seconds.

AMC gave it coil springs at all four corners and a roomy, well-trimmed interior. It was better suited for long highway drives than any kind of straight-line action. AMC produced around 30,000 Ambassadors that year—good for comfort, not so much for bragging rights at the track.

*This article was hand crafted with AI-powered tools and has been car-fully, I mean carefully, reviewed by our editors.