8 Muscle Cars That Were Never Sold In America

Muscle cars are vehicles that are embedded into the American car culture. The iconic growl, powerful engine, and fantastic bodywork have created some of the best automobiles ever. America contains the largest percentage of the muscle car market since the first muscle car was produced in the 1960s with the release of the Dodge Charger. Since then, this market has only grown exponentially.

While America has created and released some of the most revered muscle cars to be manufactured, some excellent vehicles were never produced for US soil. They were instead sold in Australia, Brazil, Europe, Argentina, and many other countries. They were still created in America but sold in specific markets in which automobile manufacturers deemed the vehicle to be most successful.  

In the article, we are showing the ten best muscle cars that were never sold in America. Surprisingly, these cars were not introduced to the American market as they would have been successful but many were sold in small numbers and are rare today.

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Chevrolet Opala

The Chevrolet Opala was produced specifically for the South American market. It was designed with the first muscle cars in mind and was brought to market in 1969. Its production ceased in 1992, and during that time, it was known as one of the quickest cars in South America. But it also attracted families, cab drivers, and even the Brazilian Federal police due to this affordability and dependability. It had a 0-60mph of 11 seconds and had a maximum speed of 113 mph.

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Dodge GTX

While GTX is most connected with the Plymouth, Dodge also has its version. It was produced by the Argentinian branch of Chrysler-Fevre and was for sale exclusively in Argentina from 1907 until 1979. It originally housed a 3.7-liter engine. At a later date, it was upgraded to a 5.2L V8 engine. It has 188 horsepower and 308 lb-ft of torque that can complete 0-60 mph in 8 seconds.  It performed excellently on the racing tracks due to its aggressive engine and aerodynamic design.

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Chrysler Valiant Charger R/T

This Chrysler was sold primarily in Australia, with 149 cars ever manufactured during its production run. It has a 4.3-liter engine, producing up to 302 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.  It could go from 0-60mph in 6 seconds. The exterior of this vehicle was based on the American Chrysler body, except it had a broader fender. It was produced from 1966 until 1971, and during this time, it was the fastest muscle car on the road.

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Holden HX Sandman

A branch of General Motors called Holden produced the HX Sandman in Australia in 1974. Holden manufactured this vehicle as a way to incorporate Australia’s surfing culture through its large trunk system. It was also shipped to Asia, where Holden split manufacturing with Opel, Pontiac, and Vauxhall. The HX Sandman has a 4.2L V8 engine with 160 horsepower. It was produced for six years and was very successful. It even made a cameo in the original Mad Max movies.

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Firenza CanAm

This car has a more extensive history than most, as it was sold as a Chevrolet vehicle in South Africa and an Opel for European consumers. It contains the infamous DZ302 solid lifter 302 engine, which was only given to one other vehicle, the X28 Camaro. It was very light at 2,000 pounds. Its weight, coupled with its powerful engine, made it a successful racing car. It can complete 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and has a maximum speed of 140mph. Only 100 of these cars were made, making it a collector’s item for muscle car enthusiasts now.

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Toyota Mark II

The Toyota Mark II GT Turbo is an enhancement of the Mark II for the Japanese market and produces over 250 horsepower. This vehicle was improved for the Japanese market, as cars were always tweaked to have a higher output in Japan than in America. The higher output is due to the Japanese crushing a high amount of their vehicles after four years, so drivers do not worry about cars lasting a considerable time. It is available in two- and four-door models and manual transmission with 5 speeds.

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Ford Perana Capri Mk I

Ford manufactured the Perana Capri Mk I as a way to replicate the success that the Mustang was receiving in America. It was based on the Ford Cortina but updated with a better design and a more powerful engine. In 1970, Basil Green Motor exchanged its original engine for a more powerful V-8 engine so that they could be used as competitive race cars. Capris were eventually manufactured in the US, but the Perana Capri was sold exclusively in Europe. 

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Ford Falcon XC Cobra

Ford discontinued the Falcon in 1970 but continued production in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, and Mexico. In Australia, it continued to be manufactured until 2016 and had several different models, including a compact model and a van. The XC Cobra is one of the more exciting models, as only 400 hundred were produced. The first 200 had 5.9-liter V8 engines, and the second 200 vehicles had 4.9-liter engines. 

These cars show that muscle car enthusiasts are not just in America but worldwide. While the most synonymous muscle cars still come from America, it is plain to see that the rest of the world has its fair share of excellent muscle cars to choose from.

What do you think of these muscle cars that were never sold in America?

When it comes to iconic muscle cars, American classics like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger often dominate the conversation. However, there’s a number of muscle models that were made for distribution and never sold in America. Some even had great success in international markets. Tell us which of these international muscle cars you find the most impressive, and whether you think they could have made an impact in the American automotive landscape.

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