In the mid-60s, Pontiac had it rough, not because of its own wrongdoing but for bureaucratic reasons from high-up corporate. General Motors made somewhat.
For the 1966 model year, the Chevy Nova received an extensive restyling and the L79 small-block V8 with 5.4 liters on deck and a 585-cfm carburetor for good measure. Forged internals, a high-lift camshaft, aluminum intake manifold, high-flow cylinders, and an 11:1 compression ratio also need to be highlighted, along with 350 horsepower and 360 pound-feet (490 Nm) of torque.
It's not just powerful V8 engines that made muscle cars so popular. Take the Pontiac GTO, for example, which is an icon built on legends, rarity, and unique design.