When people talk about Mopar muscle from the 1970s, the conversation usually tilts toward brute force and performance stats—but some of these cars also happened to look incredible. Dodge and Plymouth weren’t just building cars that could tear up a quarter-mile; they were cranking out designs that still stop people in their tracks today.
From wide-track stances and shaker hoods to wraparound grilles and aggressive body lines, the best-looking Mopars from this era had presence. This wasn’t subtle styling—it was swagger on wheels. Here are 10 of the best-looking Mopars from the ’70s that didn’t just move fast, they looked the part too.
1971 Dodge Charger R/T
The 1971 Charger R/T marked a major design shift with its fuselage body styling and hidden headlights. It looked wide, low, and tough—even when parked. Dodge sharpened the lines from the prior generation and added more attitude with options like the Ramcharger hood and R/T badging.
Under the hood, the standard 440 Magnum delivered 370 horsepower. Buyers could step up to the 426 HEMI, but fewer than 100 did. Production totaled just 2,659 units for the R/T that year, making it one of the rarer Chargers and a great example of early ’70s Mopar muscle design.
1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda AAR
The AAR ‘Cuda wasn’t about raw quarter-mile numbers—it was about looking ready for the track. Built for homologation in Trans Am racing, the AAR had a fiberglass hood with a massive scoop, side-exit exhausts, and bold strobe stripes. It came in high-impact colors like Lemon Twist and Vitamin C.
Power came from a 290-hp 340-cubic-inch small-block topped with three two-barrel carbs. It wasn’t a fire-breather like the 426 HEMI ‘Cudas, but it sounded the part. Plymouth only built 2,724 AARs, and they all came with heavy-duty suspension and staggered tire sizes for better handling.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
The Challenger R/T entered the muscle car market in 1970 with swagger and options galore. Designed to compete with the Mustang and Camaro, it offered big styling with wide hips and a long hood. The Rallye dash, shaker hoods, and stripe packages gave the Challenger real visual weight.
Engine options ranged from the 383 Magnum to the legendary 426 HEMI. About 18,500 R/Ts were built for 1970, but only 356 were ordered with the 426 HEMI. The Challenger gave buyers the look of a luxury cruiser with the punch of a street brawler.
1973 Dodge Dart Sport 340
By 1973, the muscle car era was winding down, but the Dart Sport 340 still managed to hold its own. With compact dimensions and relatively light curb weight, the Dart Sport looked lean and ran strong. The split grille, scooped hood, and optional stripe kits made it visually interesting.
The 340 V8 was rated at 240 horsepower in ’73, but it still moved the car well thanks to its solid torque and tuning potential. Dodge built nearly 14,000 Dart Sports with the 340 engine that year. It was a sleeper that aged well, both visually and mechanically.
1971 Plymouth GTX
The 1971 GTX had all the flash you’d expect from a performance luxury car. The updated B-body platform gave it a curvier, wider stance, and the optional Air Grabber hood added some menace. With Road Runner graphics and chrome accents, it was far from subtle.
Buyers got the 440 Super Commando as standard, but the real draw was the optional 426 HEMI. Only 30 GTX HEMI cars were built in ’71, making them unicorns today. Total production for the GTX that year was just over 2,900 units. It marked the end of the GTX as a standalone model.
1970 Dodge Coronet R/T
The 1970 Coronet R/T stood out with its unique “love it or hate it” front-end design. That split bumper and looped grille gave it an unmistakable look. While some found it strange, there’s no denying its presence, especially when paired with hood scoops and R/T badging.
Standard power came from a 440 Magnum, but buyers could option up to a 426 HEMI. Dodge only produced 2,319 Coronet R/T hardtops that year, with an additional 296 convertibles. The Coronet was one of the last Mopars to flaunt pure aggression before emissions rules started to tone things down.
1970 Plymouth Duster 340
The 1970 Plymouth Duster 340 offered muscle car looks on a budget. Its fastback roofline and wide rear fenders gave it a sporty shape that stood out from typical compacts. The blacked-out grille and available graphics package added extra visual punch.
Under the hood, the 340 small-block delivered 275 horsepower and was paired with a 4-speed or TorqueFlite auto. The Duster 340 weighed in at around 3,100 pounds, making it quick and tossable. Plymouth built about 24,817 of them in 1970, giving budget-minded buyers real muscle in a smaller, cleaner package.
1972 Dodge Demon 340
The 1972 Dodge Demon 340 carried over much of the previous year’s look but with slightly detuned performance. Even so, it had an aggressive face with dual snorkel hoods, bold side stripes, and optional Rallye wheels. It looked like a troublemaker in the best way.
The 340 engine made 240 horsepower in ’72—down slightly from 1971—but it still packed more punch than most would expect from such a small coupe. Dodge produced around 8,700 Demon 340s that year. Despite the controversy over the name, the Demon earned a cult following for its style and spunk.
1973 Plymouth Road Runner
By 1973, the Road Runner was still trying to hang onto its muscle car roots despite tightening regulations. It wore a wider, more rounded look compared to earlier models. The cartoon bird remained, and buyers could still order loud stripe packages and Air Grabber hoods.
The base engine was a 318, but real power came from the 340, 400, or 440 options. While the HEMI was long gone, the 440 Six Barrel still packed a punch. Plymouth sold over 19,000 Road Runners that year—proof that its attitude hadn’t completely faded.
1971 Dodge Super Bee
In 1971, the Super Bee shifted from the Coronet to the Charger body, giving it a fresh identity. It wore an aggressive face, power bulges on the hood, and optional high-impact paint schemes. The bee badging stayed, but everything else looked meaner.
Engine options included the 383 Magnum, 440 Six Pack, and even the 426 HEMI. Fewer than 100 HEMI-equipped Super Bees were sold, making them extremely rare. Total production hit just under 6,000 units, making it the swan song of the original Super Bee before rising insurance costs and emissions rules changed the game.
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