In discussing the original and enduring appeal of muscle cars, RM Auctions’ auto specialist Donnie Gould cites the vehicles’ mainstream nature. "They were affordable and still are," says Gould. "Most guys 30 to 60 can relate to muscle cars. They’re for the average Joe with a little change in his pocket." But for those who prefer to cruise outside the mainstream, and have more than a little change in their pockets, we present these juiced-up editions of current muscle cars.

2010 HPE550 Camaro
This 562 hp Camaro is available through Chevrolet dealers—for a price that starts at about $60,000—or directly from Hennessey Performance Engineering, which operates from a 30,000-square-foot facility located at Lonestar Motorsports Park, about 45 minutes west of Houston. Hennessey plans to produce only 500 examples of the HPE550 for the 2010 model year.

The car has a neck-snapping zero-to-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. Its features include a Magnuson/Hennessey supercharger system; a Corsa stainless steel exhaust system; aluminum wheels; Cam-Aero urethane rear lip spoiler, front splitter, and side rocker panels; and HPE550 badges and exterior graphics.

2010 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
The Super Snake, a high-performance package for the Shelby GT500 Mustang, adds a 630 hp supercharger to the Ford Special Vehicle Team’s newly redesigned 540 hp pony. The upgrade, which has a starting price of nearly $30,000, also includes a carbon fiber front splitter and skirts, and improved brakes, exhaust system, and suspension. Cosmetic touches include 20-inch wheels and Super Snake badging on the front grille and front fenders.

Of the available options, the most noteworthy is the 750 hp supercharger (which you cannot order for convertibles). With the more powerful supercharger, the Super Snake has a zero-to-60 mph time of about 3.5 seconds. Other, more charming if less thrilling Super Snake options include an upgraded stereo and a two-tone leather interior.

2010 Shelby Terlingua
The distinguishing feature of a Terlingua Racing Team V-6 Mustang is the prancing rabbit that adorns the hood. It’s the same logo displayed by the Shelby competition cars of the 1960s, when Shelby and his racing associates were based in the Texas desert, near the ghost town of Terlingua, an area where rabbits—fast ones—thrive.

The Terlingua high-performance package, which starts at $25,000, features at 375 hp supercharger—a significant power boost for the 210 hp standard Mustang. Other high-performance features include Shelby six-piston brakes, a racecar-style start button, steel pedals, and 20-inch Razor wheels. Options for both the high-performance package and the $11,000 basic package include two-tone leather trim for the seats and a rear spoiler.

The car is available in a number of color schemes, including blue with a black hood and black striping, and the black with a yellow hood and yellow striping—and black Terlingua Racing Team rabbit—that is shown here.

2010 Saleen S281
Based on the 2010 Ford Mustang, the Saleen Performance Vehicles S281 has a Saleen Series VI.5 twin-screw supercharger and dual-stage intercooler mated to the Ford factory-built 4.6-liter V-8 engine. This system produces 485 hp and 460 ft lbs of torque.

Additional modifications include a lowered suspension with new springs and shocks and struts, a sway bar, and leather sport seats with suede inserts. The door panels display Saleen logos, and there are Saleen logos in the doorsill plates that illuminate when the doors are opened. Additional exterior highlights include 20-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels with Pirelli PZero Rosso high-performance tires.

2010 Saleen 435S
Introduced this past fall, the 435S was the first all-new vehicle from Saleen Performance Vehicles, which was launched in early 2009, shortly after its parent company acquired Saleen Inc. This entry-level model features more power than the 315 hp 2010 Mustang GT, a sportier chassis, and some subtle styling modifications.

The car is equipped with a supercharger that produces 435 hp and 425 ft lbs of torque, and it is fitted with a Racecraft suspension that lowers the ride height by about an inch and a quarter. The 435S also has the chevrons, optional rear spoiler, blacked-out “Saleen” insert across the back, modified front fascia, and badging that characterize all Saleens.

2010 Hurst/Hemi Challenger Series 5 SRT8
Hurst, the Southern California original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that gained renown in the late 1960s in auto-racing circles—particularly among drag racers—for its transmission shifters, offers a $36,500 upgrade to the Challenger. Among other features, the package includes a supercharger that increases the car’s horsepower to a mighty 572 and its torque to 528 ft lbs.

The Hurst/Hemi Challenger also has the pistol-grip shifter that characterizes all Hurst vehicles, 20-inch polished forged wheels with gold spokes, a stainless steel cat-back exhaust system, and exterior graphics and badges. The vehicle comes with a gold cover that matches its stripes.