There Are Over 300 Muscle Cars — We'll Be Impressed If You Can Name 40!

By: Jacqueline Samaroo
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
There Are Over 300 Muscle Cars — We'll Be Impressed If You Can Name 40!
Image: WikiCommons by Greg Gjerdingen

About This Quiz

Ready to flex your muscles? Time to go cruising with some of the most awesome stud-muffins of the auto industry.

The muscle car era is said to have begun either in the 1940s with the Rocket 88 or in the 1950s with the C-300. Whichever it is, one thing is certain — the ensuing decades produced some very formidable cars in terms of both looks and performance. 

Powerful engines and a tough, lean appearance are the hallmarks of the muscle car class. Muscle cars can, however, be found with an intriguing array of other characteristics. Some muscle cars are full-sized behemoths while others are mid-sized with the ability to take on anything on four wheels. There are sports and pony muscle cars, as well. In fact, one of the earliest muscle cars is actually the founder of the pony class, and now many of the best-known muscle cars are ponies. 

Can you think of any muscle cars which fit into these categories? They are all in the quiz — go right ahead and ogle them! 

Muscle car fans are some of the most knowledgeable auto buffs around. If you consider yourself to be above average when it comes to muscle car knowledge, then don't try to Dodge it, show you are the Boss. Take the quiz!

1955 Ford Thunderbird It's named for a mythical creature, but this iconic muscle car barely missed being called the "Whizzer"! Do you recognize it?
1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 Convertible
1955 Ford Thunderbird
When production began in 1954, Ford projected selling 10,000 units of the 1955 Thunderbird. The T-bird was such a big hit, however, that Ford ended up selling over 16,000 of them. Makes you wonder what sales might have been like if Ford had gone with the suggestion of "Whizzer" for the car's name!
1971 AMC Matador
1984 Puma GTB

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1972 Dodge Challenger Can you name the car shown here, which takes on both pony car and muscle car status?
1972 Dodge Challenger
The pony car class includes 2-door hardtops that are sporty, built for high performance and affordably priced. That description perfectly matches the 1972 Dodge Challenger. It is very much a pony car/muscle car, a status held by other vehicles such as the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
1971 Ford XY Falcon GT
1966 AMC Rambler Rebel

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1970s - 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS The 454 engine in this sporty car proved to be a game changer in the muscle car market. Which of these is it?
1975 Ford XB Falcon John Goss Special
1972 Buick Skylark
1970 Plymouth Road Runner
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle came in several styles, including the Sport Coupe, 4-door sedan, wagon and convertible. It was the Super Sport (SS) version, however, with its high-performance 454 engine, which drew the attention and admiration of muscle car lovers.

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1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Buyers were invited to "Say hello to big daddy" when the manufacturer put which car, shown here, on the market?
1975 Mercury Comet GT
1973 Ford Ranchero 500
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Everything about the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am seemed bigger ... and better! It was specifically designed for high performance, but Pontiac also put plenty of thought into styling this pony car/muscle car to ensure it would stand out in a crowd.
1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

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Dodge Super Bee 1970 It sure stings to realize Plum Crazy purple, not yellow, was this car's most popular color. Do you recognize the car?
1964 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans GTO
1970 Dodge Super Bee
Plum Crazy purple was the 1970 Dodge Super Bee's most ordered color, while the color buyers requested the least turned out to be the Panther Pink option — go figure! Years later, the car was renamed the Dodge Charger Super Bee with a couple of the available colors being Stinger Yellow and Pitch Black.
1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster
1963 Studebaker Super Lark

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1959 Ford Galaxie This conservative beauty was one of the very first stars on the muscle car scene. Do you know its name?
1959 Ford Galaxie
Chrome and stainless steel may have been the order of the day, but the 1959 Ford Galaxie still managed to keep its styling on a very conservative level, even in the eye-catching two-toned color options. Despite its understated appearance, the 1959 Galaxie turned out to be one of the year's bestsellers.
1974 AMC Javelin
2005 Dodge Magnum SRT-8
1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird

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1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 Can you name this car, which began as an option package but soon became one of the company's most famous models?
1974 Plymouth Barracuda
1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2
The "four-four-two" was initially an option package which buyers could choose with the Oldsmobile F-85 or Oldsmobile Cutlass. Buyers, however, know a great thing when they see (and drive) it! Their demand led the company to introduce the 4-4-2 as a separate model from 1968 to 1971.
1963 Buick Wildcat
1956 Mercury Montclair

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2006 Dodge Charger This remake of an old classic is considered to be one of the "modern" muscle cars. Do you recognize it?
1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible
1996 Ford Mustang Saleen S281
2006 Dodge Charger
The 2006 Dodge Charger has "muscle car" in its genes! Dodge rolled out the first Charger in 1966 and kept them coming until 1987. Nineteen years went by before fans saw a new Charger on the market for 2006. It has certainly done its part in terms of keeping Dodge's mid-sized muscle car legacy alive!
1976 Chevrolet Nova

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1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS Can you name this muscle car which is also classified as a coupe utility pickup?
1971 AMC Hornet SC/360
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS
Chevrolet sold over 40,000 of the 1970 El Camino but offered such a wide variety of package options that each buyer could easily make their car stand out if they wanted to. Among the variations was the Super Sport (SS) package which added an even more "muscular" appearance to the El Camino.
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Hang 10
1972 Ford Maverick Sprint

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1971 Plymouth Hemi-cuda Convertible Can you identify this prized classic which is regarded as one of the fastest muscle cars ever made?
1968 Pontiac Banshee II
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
1969 Ford Torino Talladega
1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda
This car gets its name from being a specific trim package of the Plymouth Barracuda with a Hemi engine installed. Plymouth only sold the Hemi 'Cuda in the 1970 and 1971 models, making it one of the most sought after muscle cars today.

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1970 Buick GS Stage 1 Can you identify this version of the Skylark which had all the "Xtras" thrown in?
1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
2012 Ford Mustang
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
The 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 stood head-and-shoulders above most of the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In fact, since Buick ensured this car came with ALL the "Xtras," it can hold its own among muscle cars of any era. No wonder it is one of the most collectible of all muscle cars.
1968 Dodge Dart GTS

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1992 Dodge Viper Can you name this sleek muscle car which was designed as a modern interpretation of the original Ford Shelby Cobra?
1992 Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is one of the most popular muscle cars still under production. It has been around since 1992 and has been available in an amazingly wide range of variants. This muscle car even had its own hour-long action/adventure TV series appropriately titled "Viper."
1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30
1963 Holden EH S4
1964 Pontiac GTO Tri-Power

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2004 Cadillac XLR This car maker is often associated with luxury cars and the one shown here is a perfect example. Can you name it?
2004 Vauxhall Monaro VXR
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Spirit of '76
1979 Ford Falcon (XC) Cobra
2004 Cadillac XLR
As with any car produced by Cadillac, buyers of the 2004 XLR can expect to ride in extreme comfort. This includes temperature-controlled seats as well as wood and leather trim. These internal creature comforts complement the XLR's seamlessly elegant exterior.

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1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 This muscle car's name hints that it's a pony car with plenty of horsepower. Do you know it?
1978 Holden Torana (LX) A9X
1972 Dodge Challenger
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
This extremely rare version of the 1970 Ford Mustang had a Boss 429 engine installed. It is often referred to as simply the Boss 9 and fetches a very high price whenever one happens to make its way onto the market.
1963 Studebaker Super Lark

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Pontiac GTO Do you recognize this car which was built for high street performance but also handled well on the track?
1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2
1964 Pontiac GTO Tri-Power
As a muscle car, the 1964 Pontiac GTO already had a high-performance rating. That was given quite a boost, however, in the option package which included the Tri-Power engine. The GTO Tri-Power was rated at 348 horsepower, compared to 325 on the standard package.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
1965 Chrysler AP6 Valiant

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1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 This option package turns a classic pony car into a formidable muscle car. Do you know which one it is?
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
The official description of the Z28 option of the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is "Special Performance Package." It is, however, widely known simply as the Z28 (its order code). Muscle car enthusiasts have come to equate the code with high performance.
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Spirit of '76
1987 Buick Regal GNX
1975 Ford XB Falcon John Goss Special

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Plymouth Fury Which car, shown here, did Stephen King use as the furiously jealous and deadly Christine in his famous horror novel?
1972 Ford Maverick Sprint
1966 AMC Rambler Rebel
1958 Plymouth Fury
Stephen King used a custom 1958 Plymouth Fury as the demon-possessed antagonist in his 1983 bestseller, Christine. Fans of the Plymouth Fury will quickly realize that although King describes Christine as red and white, the 1958 was sold only in buckskin beige with gold trim.
1964 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass

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1964 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans GTO Can you identify this car which bears the name of a prestigious 24-hour endurance race held annually in France?
1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
1964 Pontiac Tempest LeMans GTO
The Pontiac Tempest was introduced in 1961 with the LeMans upgrade offered in 1962. By 1963, the popular Tempest LeMans was a completely separate series with the GTO package available in 1964. Before long, the Pontiac Tempest LeMans GTO became known as the most significant of the '60s muscle cars!
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

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1970 AMC AMX This muscle car came in two versions: Standard and Big Bad! Do you recognize it?
1984 Chevy Corvette
1970 AMC AMX
The AMC AMX sports car/muscle car was produced from 1968 to 1970. It was an affordable, powerful award-winning record-breaker which set the world speed record in 1968. The 1970 AMC AMX is of particular importance since its styling differs significantly from the previous two models.
1984 Buick Grand National
1968 Holden HK

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1965 Ford Mustang This muscle car created the "pony" class - just as its name suggests! Which of these is it?
1964 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass
1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1
1965 Ford Mustang
When Ford began selling the 1965 Mustang, it had hoped to see sales in the region of 100,000 units. The Mustang blew that figure right out of the water by ending up with over half a million (559,451 to be exact) units sold in the U.S. alone!
1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator

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1969 Mercury Cyclone This collector's dream was designed to be an aerodynamic marvel. Can you guess its "out of this world" name?
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II
There were times when automakers went all out to put the "muscle" in muscle car, and Mercury's design of the 1969 Cyclone Spoiler II was one of them. As one of the cars from the legendary Aero Wars, it was built for speed. Nowadays, it is highly sought after but a rare find, indeed!
1969 Dodge Charger R/T-SE
1971 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette
2007 Ford Mustang Saleen Boss 302

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1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible This pony car/muscle car lets you enjoy the wind in your hair! Think you can name it?
2005 Ford Thunderbird
1974 AMC Javelin
1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible
When Pontiac released the Firebird in 1967, it gave buyers plenty to choose from. For example, each of the five Firebird engine options was accompanied by slightly modified interior and exterior trim. Horsepower values of the engines ranged from 215 to a respectable 325 with the Firebird 400.
1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350

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1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR This car earned the designation "King of the Road" thanks to its Cobra Jet engine. Can you identify it?
1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR
The 1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR is named in honor of racing driver and automobile designer Carroll Shelby. It often goes by the name Cobra GT500KR among muscle car aficionados in recognition of its factory-installed 355 horsepower Cobra Jet engine.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1969 AMC AMX/3
1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88

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1970 Plymouth Road Runner Beep-beep! Can you identify this low-cost, high-performance muscle car which is named for a sprinting bird?
1970 Plymouth Road Runner
During its 1928 to 2001 operation, Plymouth specialized in offering affordable vehicles to buyers. When it brought out the iconic 1970 Road Runner, there were no fancy features and trim — just the basics. It was a formidable street car with an awesome design, real power and pure muscle!
1992 Dodge Viper
1969 Ford Torino Talladega
1963 Holden EH S4

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2010 Chevrolet Camaro Which of these is a fifth generation model carrying on the muscle car tradition in fine style?
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Caravan Tan
1970 Plymouth Valiant Duster
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
The very first Camaro went on sale in 1966 and production continued up to 2002 when it was canceled by General Motors. The Camaro roared back to life, however, with the 2010 model which was styled to be reminiscent of past Camaros but with a distinctly modern twist.
1968 Holden HK

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1969 Pontiac GTO Judge This no-frills option package laid down the law for future muscle cars to follow. Which of these is it?
1972 Ford Falcon GTHO
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge
Pontiac released the first GTO in 1964 but did not unleash the affordable Judge until 1969. The soon-to-be-legendary Judge served as direct competition to Plymouth's pocket-friendly Road Runner which had started the trend of low-priced muscle cars and was still a force to be reckoned with!
1979 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds W-30
1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda

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1971 AMC Hornet SC 360 Can you name this model, which was designed to take some of the sting out of rising muscle car insurance costs?
1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Hang 10
2004 Vauxhall Monaro VXR
1971 AMC Hornet SC/360
The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 came along close to the end of the classic muscle car era. It had just one production year in which less than 800 were built. Today, fewer than 150 remain, making the SC/360 one of the "rarest of the rare" when it comes to collectible muscle cars.

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1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 Which unique-looking muscle car built for motorsport is shown in this image?
1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
1970 Holden HG Monaro GTS
1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350
If you love the color yellow, then the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 359 is definitely for you! Its bright Sebring Yellow body was complemented by its similarly yellow bumper and wheels. Oldsmobile added orange and black accents for one of the most distinctive finishes in muscle car history.
1984 Puma GTB

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1976 Chevrolet Nova This star burned bright by giving declining sales a hefty boost. Can you name the car?
2006 Dodge Charger
1970 Holden HG Monaro GTS
1996 Ford Mustang Saleen S281
1976 Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II (aka Chevy Nova) was introduced in 1962 and became a popular compact muscle car with good sales figures. When sales began to decline, the company tweaked the design for the 1976 model and saw a jump of over 60,000 in the number of units sold.

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1969 Dodge Charger RT SE Do you recognize this mix of muscle and luxury offered as a special edition option package to a popular model?
1958 Plymouth Fury
2004 Cadillac XLR
1969 Dodge Charger R/T-SE
The 1969 Dodge Charger R/T-SE was a limited Special Edition offer whose features included leather and vinyl bucket seats and a sport steering wheel. The R/T-SE can be seen in action as one of the cars used as the General Lee (driven by Bo and Luke) on the hit '80s TV series Dukes of Hazzard.
1967 Ford Falcon XR GT

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1974 Plymouth Barracuda This was the third and last generation in a line of great-looking, performance-focused muscle cars. Can you identify it?
1974 Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda first hit the market on April 1, 1964, making it a veteran of the pony car class. Its production ended exactly 10 years later on April 1, 1974. Muscle car aficionados often rank the '74 Barracuda below earlier Barracuda models, but it is still a much-loved model.
2007 Ford Mustang Saleen Boss 302
1970 Dodge Super Bee
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1

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2005 Ford Thunderbird Can you name this modern muscle car which can be bought with a silver hardtop to mark its 50th anniversary?
1968 Dodge Dart GTS
1964 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass
2005 Ford Thunderbird
Ford produced the very first Thunderbird in 1955. When 2005 came around, the company celebrated by offering customers the chance to opt for a silver hardtop instead of the traditional black. Sadly, the 2005 model would prove to be the T-bird's last, since plans for the 2006 model never materialized.
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II

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1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS Do you recognize this Super Sport verison of a classic muscle car?
1975 Mercury Comet GT
1972 Ford Falcon GTHO
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
Buyers of a Malibu trim to the 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle could upgrade to the Super Sport (SS) version. If they had another $1,501 to spare, they could further upgrade to the ultimate level, the Z16 SS396, which had practically everything included! Two-hundred buyers opted to go for it.
1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

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1984 Buick Grand National Which pricey mid-sized vehicle, shown in this image, is a modification of the Regal?
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
1969 Ford Torino
1964 Pontiac GTO Tri-Power
1984 Buick Grand National
Although it had previously released the 1982 Regal Grand National, Buick released the 1984 Grand National to further celebrate its Buick Regal winning the 1981 and 1982 NASCAR Grand National Series. Only 215 of the 1984 Grand National were produced, making this GN a true collectors gem.

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1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator Can you identify this feline-named muscle car which was meant to devour the competition?
1955 Ford Thunderbird
1984 Chevy Corvette
1978 Holden Torana (LX) A9X
1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
The Mercury Cougar was designed as a pony car, but buyers could take it into muscle car territory with the Eliminator option. One Eliminator package even offered the choice of a powerful Cobra Jet engine. Color choices were Bright Blue Metallic, Bright Yellow, Competition Orange and White.

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1973 Ford Ranchero 500 Muscle car meets coupe utility in the iconic design of this vehicle. Can you recall its name?
1973 Ford Ranchero 500
The 500 began as a trim level of the Ranchero but later became the standard. The Ford Ranchero has been out of production for nearly half a century, but there have been some reports that this muscle car is set to make a comeback.
1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1965 Chrysler AP6 Valiant
1967 Ford Falcon XR GT

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1969 ZL1 Corvette This option package for a classic muscle car included a powerful 500-horsepower aluminum engine. Do you know it?
2004 Pontiac GTO
1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1
The ZL1 engine option for the Chevrolet Corvette was only available for the 1969 model. It was a costly package which caused the price of the car to almost double. It's no surprise that only two were ever ordered — one white and one yellow.
1987 Buick Regal GNX
1971 Ford XY Falcon GT

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1970 Plymouth Superbird Can you name this muscle car which flew into the thick of things for the Aero Wars?
1963 Buick Wildcat
1971 Baldwin-Motion III GT Corvette
1969 AMC AMX/3
1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
The 1969 - 1970 Aero Wars are legendary among muscle car and racing enthusiasts. It was a time when the Ford, Mercury, Dodge and Plymouth tried to outdo each other by creating the perfect blend of speed and raw power. Plymouth's contender was the Road Runner Superbird, complete with Road Runner graphics!

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Ford Torino Can you name this mid-sized muscle car which featured the Talladega, GT and King Cobra as variations?
1956 Mercury Montclair
1969 Ford Torino
Optimal use of aerodynamics was at the heart of the design of the Ford Torino. The Talladega version of this muscle car figured prominently in Ford's NASCAR efforts as the very first of the Aero Cars in the 1969 to 1970 Aero Wars.
1972 Buick Skylark
1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

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AMC Matador The muscle car shown here was named in honor of bullfighting. Do you know which of these it is?
1971 AMC Matador
The 1971 AMC Matador is unique in that it was the only model year to offer the option package called The Machine. Only 50 Matador Machines were made, and currently, only one is known to still be in existence.
1979 Ford Falcon (XC) Cobra
1975 Dodge Dart Sport Caravan Tan
2009 Cadillac CTS-V

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