Can you name a muscle car with the highest horsepower to ever have a manual transmission? It is the 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R, with 815 hp and 664 lb/ft. It goes from 0-60 mph in 2.8 sec. and has a 202 top speed. Despite this, modern automatic transmissions rule. Here is an interesting article, from hotcars.com about the shift from manuals. "For decades, a muscle car wasn't considered complete without a stick shift. The image was cemented during the 1960s, when drivers banged through gears in GTOs, Chevelles, Road Runners, and Mustangs armed with some of Detroit's most potent V8 engines. Manuals like the Muncie M22 "Rock Crusher" and the Borg-Warner T-10 offered engagement, control, and bragging rights, making them the enthusiast's transmission of choice. What's often overlooked is that at the same time, automatics were also getting better. Heavy-duty units such as Chrysler's TorqueFlite, GM's Turbo-Hydramatic 400, and Ford's C6 proved nearly indestructible and often delivered quicker, more consistent drag-strip times by eliminating missed shifts. The balance shifted even further in the modern era. As horsepower figures climbed beyond 500, 600, and eventually 800 horsepower, manufacturers turned to increasingly sophisticated automatic gearboxes. While some manufacturers kept manuals to keep purists happy, modern eight-speed, 10-speed, and dual-clutch automatics shifted faster than any human could, improved fuel economy, and handled enormous torque loads with ease. Manual transmissions have slowly disappeared from the most powerful muscle cars on the market, which is why this muscle car we're putting a spotlight on is noteworthy. In an era dominated by paddle shifters and dual-clutch gearboxes, it's one of the few ultra-high-horsepower muscle cars that still lets drivers row their own gears."
