10 Non-American Muscle Cars

Associating between America and cars, to most of us, means muscle cars. American car manufacturers are most known for models with massive shouty V8s, with rear-wheel drive and optional limited slip differential. However, muscle cars do exist globally. These are the 10 best muscle cars outside the United states.

1. Vauxhall VXR8

Successor to the Monaro VXR, the first Vauxhall VXR8 had a 6 litre V8 engine, with over 400 horsepower. Later it was upgraded to 425 by getting the same engine from a Chevrolet Corvette C6. The same engine also had a ‘Bathurst S’ version which was supercharged, named after Australia’s famous racetrack. In 2013 the VXR8 got a whopping 577 horsepower supercharged V8 from Camaro ZL1.

2. Opel Diplomat V8

In 1964, successor to the ‘Kapitan’ from the early 1960s, Opel launched a new model with either a 2.6 I6, 2.8 I6, 4.6 Chevy V8 or a 5.4 Chevy V8. From 1966 the Diplomat was available only in its V8 forms. In 1969 the Diplomat was re-launched in its second generation “Diplomat B” and had either a 2.6 I6 or a 5.4 V8. Even though It’s under General Motor’s ownership and the Chevy motor, the Opel Diplomat is considered to be one of the most iconic foreign classic muscle cars.

3. Aston Martin Virage

Produced between 1989 and 2000 (relaunched in 2011), the Aston Martin Virage featured a 5.3 litre V8. With just 1,050 cars made, it is also quite rare. In 1992 Aston Martin also introduced a conversion service featuring a 6.3 litre V8 from AMR1 racing car that reached a top speed of 282 Km/h (175 mph). Aston Martin also had a Virage Volante version, two shooting brake versions, a saloon and a convertible.

4. BMW E90/92/93 M3

The first and only BMW M3 to come with a V8. Began production in 2007 until 2013, the BMW M3 had a modest 4 litre v8 that produced 414 horsepower. Available chassis were a four door saloon (e90), two door coupe (e92) and a two door convertible (e93). The coupe version was initially set to be called the M4 but remained under the M3 name, by BMW, due to interest in retaining the M3 line. In 2011 a pickup version was built as a one-off from the convertible version.

5. Jaguar XK8 & XK

Launched in 1996, as a replacement for the XJ-S, the XK8 was a proper British muscle car. A newly developed V8 engine was introduced with a supercharged model. Ignition system from Japan, transmission from Mercedes and a French lighting system, it was a world car. Renewed in 2006, again, with a v8, had featured an all-aluminum monocoque and a top speed of 300 km/h making it the 3rd fastest jaguar ever made (Jaguar over the years had a lot of fast cars including record speed production road cars). In 2014 production ended, and the F-Type was introduced as a replacement, featuring a V8 or a V6.

6. Nissan Skyline C110

Also called the Datsun 160K/180K/240K, it is considered being the most American-like Japanese car to be made. It was made between 1972 and 1977 as a four-door sedan, two-door coupe or a five-door station wagon. However, it did not feature a v8. Instead it had a 1.6, 1.8 or a 2 litre inline-4 engines, 2 versions of a 2 litre inline-6 and a 2.4 inline-6. The styling, which what made it look so American, is known as “Ken & Mary” or “Kenmeri”. Ken & Mery were a young couple featured in a skyline ad campaign.

7. Holden Maloo

The Holden Maloo is what happens when you combine a pickup truck with a modern muscle car. Classified as a ‘high performance utility vehicle’, the Holden Maloo began production in 1990. The Maloo began as a 5 litre V8 and the current Maloo has a 6.2 litre supercharged V8 from a Camaro ZL1. “Maloo” means ‘thunder’ in Aboriginal language, the language of the native Australians. The Maloo has a top speed of 271 km/h, and is the fastest pickup vehicle in production. Honorable mention is the Commodore which shares a lot with the Maloo, both under Holden’s HSV division (Holden Special Vehicles).

8. Jensen Interceptor

Even though it’s classed at a GT-Classic, the 6.3 litre ‘Golden Commando’ V8, the 7.2 litre ‘TNT’ V8 and the 5.9 litre ‘LA’ V8 gives it an unofficial muscle car title. Only 6,408 were made in a 10 year period between 1966 and 1976. The car also featured a limited slip differential and Jensen was between the first carmakers to sell production cars with four-wheel drive. A special ‘Jensen FF’ was made and also featured anti-lock brakes and traction control which were very rare when it was made in 1967. Only 320 FFs were made, making them super rare.

9. Alfa Romeo Montreal

The Alfa Romeo Montreal was debuted as a concept car in 1967 in Montreal, hence its name. The car had a small but advanced DOHC 2.6 litre V8 and featured fuel injection. The car had 197 horsepower and had a limited slip differential. The car redlined at 7,000 rpm, which in 1967 was unheard of. With a top speed of 220 km/h (136 mph) and 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds, it was ahead of its time. The car proves that you don’t need a massive engine to have the specs of a supercar. The car was discontinued in 1977, and Alfa Romeo was struggling to sell the remaining cars. Around 3900 cars were made, and today the car is a very desirable classic.

10. Mercedes W204 C63 AMG

The W204 C class began production as a usual ordinary German saloon car in 2007. Later, AMG gave it steroids and the C63 AMG was born. AMG gave it a 6.2 litre (badged 6.3) of Germanic power with 451 horsepower under the bonnet, pushing the car to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. It is one of the fastest sedans on the market today, rivaling BMW and Audi. The engine was originally ment for DTM racing and is used in other AMG series cars, later replaced by a downsized 5.5 litre v8 which was bi-turbocharged.

Bonus! Mercedes W204 C63 AMG Black Series

If the ‘regular’ AMG wasn’t impressive enough, AMG gave the car even more power and torque with an impressive new aero kit including a rear spoiler, spitters and diffusers. A lighter crankshaft with new forged pistons and connecting rods were given too, controlled by a new ECU. Producing 510 horsepower, 59 more than the standard engine, that already makes big figures. The engine redlines at 7200 rpm instead of 6800 and makes 457 lb-ft of torque instead 443. The AMG black series C63 is one of the best muscle car outside the united states, and a true contender to the American muscle car.

Honorable mentions:

• Valiant Charger R/T
• Ford Falcon Cobra
• Mercedes 300SEL 6.3
• TVR Chimaera 400