Citizendia
Your Ad Here

The Pontiac GTO: classic muscle car.
The Pontiac GTO: classic muscle car. Pontiac is a Brand of Automobiles produced by General Motors that has been sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico The Pontiac GTO was an Automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974 and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2004 to
Hemi-powered 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.
Hemi-powered 1970 Plymouth Road Runner. A Hemi engine (from hemisphere) is an Internal-combustion engine in which the Combustion chambers are of hemispherical form The Plymouth Road Runner was the no-frills Muscle car version of intermediate Belvedere and Satellite built by the Plymouth division of


Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high performance automobiles. The term principally refers to American, Australian and to a lesser extent South African models from the late 1960s and early 1970s and generally describes a 2-door rear wheel drive mid-size car with a large, powerful V8 engine and special trim, intended for maximum torque on the street or in drag racing competition. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of four cylinders in most cases set at a right angle to each other A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about Drag racing is a competition in which objects compete to be the first to cross a set finish mark usually from a dead stop and in a straight line It is distinguished from sports cars, which were customarily considered smaller, two-seat cars, or GTs, two-seat or 2+2 cars intended for high-speed touring and possibly road racing. A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. A grand tourer ( Gran turismo) ( initialised GT) is a high-performance Automobile designed for long-distance driving The term 2+2 (pronounced "two plus two" is a phrase used to describe the configuration of a car with seating for two passengers in the front Road racing can be a term involving Road running, road bicycle races, or Automobile races High-performance full-size or compact cars are arguably excluded from this category, as are the breed of compact sports coupes inspired by the Ford Mustang. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon Other factors used in defining classic muscle cars are their age and country of origin. The term "muscle car" did not enter common usage until after production of the cars had essentially ended. It is generally accepted that popular, widespread usage of the term took hold by the early to mid-1980s. During their heyday, print media usually referred to this class of vehicle as "supercars". [1]

Contents

Oldsmobile Rocket 88

1949 Rocket 88 engine
1949 Rocket 88 engine

Opinions on the origin of the muscle car vary, but the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, created in response to growing public interest in speed and power, is often cited as the first of the breed. The Oldsmobile 88 (aka Eighty-Eight) was a Full-size car sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and produced from 1949 until The Oldsmobile 88 (aka Eighty-Eight) was a Full-size car sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and produced from 1949 until It featured an innovative and powerful new engine—America's first high- compression overhead-valve V-8—in the lighter Oldsmobile body. [2]

Musclecars magazine wrote: "[t]he idea of putting a full-size V8 under the hood of an intermediate body and making it run like Jesse Owens in Berlin belongs to none other than Oldsmobile. James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens ( September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, an International Multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin . . [The] all-new ohv V8. . . Rocket engine quickly found its way into the lighter 76 series body, and in February 1949, the new 88 series was born. "[3]

The article continued: "Walt Woron of Motor Trend enjoyed the 'quick-flowing power. . . that pins you to your seat and keeps you there until you release your foot from the throttle [. . . ] Olds dominated the performance landscape in 1950, including wins in the NASCAR Grand National division, Daytona Speed Weeks, and the 2100-plus-mile Carrera Panamericana. In France, an 88 won a production car race at Spa-Francorchamps. . . A husky V8 in a cleanly styled, lightweight coupe body, the original musclecar truly was the '49 Olds 88. " [3]

Hudson Hornet: Rocket 88's only competitor
Hudson Hornet: Rocket 88's only competitor

Writing in Driving Today, Jack Nerad wrote: "the Rocket V-8 set the standard for every American V-8 engine that would follow it for at least three decades [. The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan between 1951 and 1954 . . ] With a displacement of 303 cubic inches and topped by a two-barrel carburetor, the first Rocket V-8 churned out 135 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 263 pound-feet of torque at a lazy 1800 rpm [and] no mid-range car in the world, save the Hudson Hornet, came close to the Rocket Olds performance potential. The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan between 1951 and 1954 . . [The Rocket 88] was the hit of NASCAR’s 1950 season, winning eight of the 10 races. Given its lightning-like success, one could clearly make the case that the Olds 88 with its 135-horsepower V-8 was the first 'musclecar'. . . "[4]

Steve Dulcich, writing in Popular Hot Rodding, also cites Oldsmobile, concurrently with Cadillac, as having "launched the modern era of the high-performance V-8 with the introduction of the "Rocket 88" overhead-valve V-8 in 1949. Cadillac is a Brand of Luxury vehicles owned by General Motors. "[5]


Development

Growth of the trend

1955 Chrysler C-300, "America's most powerful car", had 300 horsepower.
1955 Chrysler C-300, "America's most powerful car", had 300 horsepower. The Chrysler 300 "letter series" were high-performance Luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between

Other manufacturers "showcased performance hardware in flashy limited-edition models. Chrysler led the way with its 1955 C-300, an inspired blend of Hemi power and luxury-car trappings that fast became the new star of NASCAR. The Chrysler 300 "letter series" were high-performance Luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between With 300 horsepower, it was rightly advertised as 'America's Most Powerful Car. ' "[2]

Capable of accelerating to 60 mph in 9. 8 seconds and reaching 130 mph, the 1955 300 is also recognized as one of the best-handling cars of its era. [6]

America's fastest 1957 sedan: Rambler Rebel had lightweight unibody construction and V8 engine.
America's fastest 1957 sedan: Rambler Rebel had lightweight unibody construction and V8 engine. The Rambler Rebel was an automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC of Kenosha Wisconsin from 1957-60 and again in 1966 and 1967

Two years later the Rambler Rebel was the fastest stock American sedan, according to Motor Trend. The Rambler Rebel was an automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC of Kenosha Wisconsin from 1957-60 and again in 1966 and 1967 [7]

The popularity and performance of muscle cars grew in the early 1960s, while Mopar (Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler) and Ford battled for supremacy in drag racing—the 1962 Dodge Dart 413 CID (6. Mopar (short for MO tor PAR ts is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler LLC. 8 L) Max Wedge, for example, could run a 13-second 1/4-mile at over 100 mph. These were the muscle cars that ruled the road and the strip. By 1964, there were Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and Pontiac muscle cars in GM's lineup, and Buick joined them a year later. For 1964 and 1965, Ford had its 427 CID (7 L) Thunderbolts, and Mopar unveiled the 426 CID (7 L) Hemi engine. The Pontiac GTO was an option package that included Pontiac's 389 CID (6. 4 L) V8 engine, floor-shifted transmission with Hurst shift linkage, and special trim. In 1966 the GTO became a model in its own right. The project, spearheaded by Pontiac division president John De Lorean, technically violated GM's policy limiting its smaller cars to 330 CID (5. 4 L) displacement, but the new model proved far more popular than expected and inspired GM and its competitors to produce numerous imitators. The GTO itself was a response to the Dodge Polara 500 and the Plymouth Sport Fury, which in 1962 had been shrunk to intermediates—at a time when bigger was considered better.

AMC, though late entering the muscle car market, produced "an impressive array of performance cars in a relatively short time," said Motor Trend. "The first stirrings of AMC performance came in 1965, when the dramatic if ungainly Rambler Marlin fastback was introduced to battle the Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda. Origin of the Marlin AMC's closest competitor Chrysler had been developing the turbine engine for use in automobiles during the fifties and made a prototype turbine powered showcar The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon The Plymouth Barracuda is a car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964 through 1974 "[8] Although the Marlin was a flop in terms of sales and initial performance, AMC did gain some muscle-car credibility in 1967, when it made both the Marlin and the more pedestrian Rebel available with its new 280-horsepower, 343-cid Typhoon V8. And in 1968 the company offered two legitimate muscle car contenders: the Javelin and its truncated variant, the AMX. [8]

Although the sales of true muscle cars were relatively modest by total Detroit production standards, they had considerable value in publicity and bragging rights. Fierce competition between the various manufacturers meant that buyers had the choice of ever-more powerful engines—a horsepower war that peaked in 1970, with some models offering as much as 450 hp (336 kW) (with this and others likely producing as much or more actual power, whatever their rating).

Turn-key drag racers

Muscle cars attracted young customers (and their parents) into showrooms, and they bought the standard editions of these mid-size cars. A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between To enhance the "halo" effect of these models, the manufacturers modified some of them into turn-key drag racers. A halo vehicle, or halo model, is a Automotive industry marketing term for an automobile/car or other Motor vehicle, designed and

For example, Ford built 200 lightweight Ford Galaxies for drag racing in 1963. All non-essential equipment was omitted. Modifications included fiberglass panels, aluminum bumpers, traction bars, and a competition-specification 427 CID (7 L) engine factory-rated at a conservative 425 bhp (317 kW). This full-size car could run the quarter mile in a little over 12 seconds. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. [9] Also built in 1963 were 5,000 road-legal versions that could be used every day. (Ford claimed 0-60 in less than 6 seconds for the similarly-powered 1966 Galaxie 500XL 427. ) [10]

Road-legal drag racer: with 427 V8 in lightened midsize Ford Fairlane body, stock 1964 Ford Thunderbolt ran 11.76-second quarter mile.
Road-legal drag racer: with 427 V8 in lightened midsize Ford Fairlane body, stock 1964 Ford Thunderbolt ran 11. 76-second quarter mile.

Another Ford lightweight was the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt that utilized the mid-size Fairlane body. The Ford Fairlane was an Automobile model sold between 1955 and 1971 by the Ford Motor Company in North America. A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A stock Thunderbolt could run a quarter-mile (402 m) at a drag strip in 11. For the Transformers character see Drag Strip. A dragstrip is a facility for conducting Automobile and Motorcycle acceleration events such 76 seconds at 122. 7 mph (197. 5 km/h),[11] and Gas Ronda dominated the NHRA World Championship with a best time of 11. "NHRA" redirects here For other uses see NHRA (disambiguation. 6 seconds at 124 mph (200 km/h). [10] The Thunderbolt included competition-specification 427 CID (7 L) engine and special exhausts (though technically legal for street use, the car was too raucous for the public roads—"not suitable", according to a Hot Rod magazine quote, "for driving to and from the strip, let alone on the street in everyday use";[11] also massive traction bars, asymmetrical rear springs, and a trunk-mounted 95-pound (43 kg) bus battery to maximize traction from what was realistically 500 bhp (373 kW). [11] Sun visors, exterior mirror, sound-deadener, armrests, jack, and lug wrench were omitted to save weight. The car was given lightweight Plexiglass windows, and early versions had fiberglass front body panels and bumpers, later changed to aluminum to meet NHRA regulations. Poly(methyl methacrylate ( PMMA) or poly(methyl 2-methylpropenoate is a Thermoplastic and transparent Plastic. Fiberglass (also called fibreglass and glass fibre see Spelling differences) is material made from extremely fine Fibers of Glass. [12] Base price was US$3,780. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been [11] 111 Thunderbolts were built, and Ford contracted Dearborn Steel Tubing to help with assembly. Factory records show that the first 11 cars were maroon and the subsequent 100 were white. [13]

The 1964 Dodge 426 Hemi Lightweight produced over 500 bhp. This "top drag racer" had an aluminium hood, lightweight front bumpers, fenders, doors and lower valance, magnesium front wheels, lightweight Dodge van seat, Lexan side windows, one windshield wiper and no sun visors or sound deadening. Like other lightweights of the era it came with a factory disclaimer: Designed for supervised acceleration trials. Not recommended for general everyday driving because of the compromises in the all-round characteristics which must be made for this type of vehicle. [12]

Also too high-strung for the street was Chrysler’s small-production 1965 drag racer, the 550 bhp (410 kW) Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi. Although the detuned 1966 version (the factory rating underestimated it at 425 bhp (317 kW) ) has been criticized for poor brakes and cornering, Car and Driver described it as "the best combination of brute performance and tractable street manners we've ever driven. " The car's understated appearance belied its "ultra-supercar" performance: it could run a 13. 8-second quarter mile at 104 mph (167 km/h). Base price was $3,850. [14]

Chevrolet likewise eschewed flamboyant stripes and badges for their 1969 Chevelle COPO 427 and kept its appearance low-key. The car could run a 13. 3 sec. quarter-mile at 108 mph (174 km/h). Chevrolet rated the engine at 425 hp (317 kW), but the NHRA claimed a truer 450 hp. "NHRA" redirects here For other uses see NHRA (disambiguation. [15] It has been said that the 1969 COPO Chevelles were "among the most feared muscle cars of any day. And they didn't need any badges. "[15] Base price was US$3,800. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been [15]

For 1970 Chevrolet offered the Chevelle SS 454, also at a base price of US$3,800. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The "muscle car summit", its 454 CID (7. 4 L) engine was rated at 450 hp (336 kW), the highest-ever factory rating at that time. Car Life magazine wrote: "It's fair to say that the Supercar as we know it may have gone as far as it's going. "[16]

Youth market and "budget muscle"

The general trend towards high performance in factory-stock cars reflected the importance of the youth market. A key appeal of muscle cars was that they offered the burgeoning American car culture an array of relatively affordable vehicles with strong street performance that could also be used for racing. However, affordability was soon compromised by increases in size, optional equipment, and plushness, forcing the addition of more powerful engines to maintain performance levels.

A backlash against rising cost and weight led in 1967 and 1968 to a secondary trend of more basic "budget" muscle cars such as the "original budget Supercar"[17] Plymouth Road Runner, the Dodge Super Bee and other variants. The Plymouth Road Runner was the no-frills Muscle car version of intermediate Belvedere and Satellite built by the Plymouth division of The Dodge Super Bee was a limited-production Muscle car from Chrysler 's Dodge division produced from 1968 through 1971 Automakers also offered bigger engines in their compact models, sometimes making them lighter, roomier, and faster than their own pony car lines.

The 340 CID (5. 6 L)-powered 1970 Plymouth Duster was one of these smaller, more affordable cars. }The first Plymouth Duster was a semi-fastback version of the Plymouth Valiant automobile produced in the US from 1970 to 1976 Based on the compact-sized Plymouth Valiant and priced at US$2,547, the 340 Duster posted a 6. A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini The Plymouth Valiant is an Automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976 The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 0-second 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time and ran the quarter mile in 14. 7 seconds at 94. 3 mph (151. 8 km/h). [18] This "reasonably fast" compact muscle car had a stiff, slightly lowered suspension which, in the view of Hot Rod magazine at the time, let the car "ride in an acceptable fashion". [19] Consumer Guide recalls "a punishing ride" and trim that was "obviously low-budget. "[18] The 1970 model came with front disc brakes and without hood scoops. The only high-performance cues were dual exhausts and modest decals. [18] Tom Gale, former Chrysler vice president of design, describes the car as "a phenomenal success. It had a bulletproof chassis, was relatively lightweight, and had a good power train. These were 200,000 mile cars. "[20] Hot Rod magazine rated the Duster "one of the best, if not the best, dollar buy in a performance car" in 1970. [19]

"The Machine": factory-modified 1970 AMC Rebel ran 14.4-second quarter mile in stock trim.
"The Machine": factory-modified 1970 AMC Rebel ran 14. The Machine is an Automobile (2326 built in 1970 produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC 4-second quarter mile in stock trim.

American Motors' mid-sized 1970 Rebel Machine, developed in consultation with Hurst Performance, was also built for normal street use. The Machine is an Automobile (2326 built in 1970 produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC Hurst Performance Inc of Warminster, Pennsylvania, manufactured products for enhancing the performance of Muscle cars These included Manual transmission It had a 390 CID (6. 4 L) engine developing 340 hp (254 kW) — a "moderate performer"[21] that gave a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6. 8 seconds and a quarter mile in 14. 4 seconds at 99 mph (159 km/h)[22]. Early examples came in "patriotic" red, white and blue. [23] "By far the most stunning feature," according to Mopar Muscle magazine, was the advertised price for a car with The Machine's level of performance and equipment: US$3,475. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been [24]

For comparison, the "plain wrapper"[25] 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, Motor Trend magazine's Car if the Year, ran a 14. 7 quarter at 100. 6 mph (161. 9 km/h) with the standard 383 CID (6. 3 L) engine after the addition of a high-performance factory camshaft plus non-standard, high-performance induction and exhaust manifolds, carburetor and slick tires. The camshaft is an apparatus often used in Piston engines to operate Poppet valves It consists of a cylindrical rod running the length of the Cylinder bank In Automotive engineering, an intake manifold or inlet manifold is the part of an Engine that supplies the Fuel / Air mixture to A carburetor (North American spelling or carburettor ( Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and Fuel for an Internal In this form the car cost US$3,893. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been [17] In 1968 Dodge's US$3,027 Super Bee ran a 15-second quarter at 100 mph (160 km/h) on street tires with the same engine, only stock. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been [26]

Related pickup trucks

Another related type of vehicle is the car-based pickup (known colloquially in Australia as a "ute" (short for "utility"). The coupé utility combines a two-door " Coupé " cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty Unibody Automobile platform Holden makes such a vehicle under the model name "Ute""). GM Holden Ltd is an Australian automaker based in Port Melbourne Victoria. The Holden Ute is a Coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors since 2000 Examples of these are the Ford Ranchero, GMC Sprint, GMC Caballero, and one of the most famous examples, the Chevrolet El Camino. The Ford Ranchero was a Pickup truck or Coupe utility produced between 1957 and 1979 based on full-size compact and intermediate automobiles by the Ford Motor The GMC Caballero is a version of the Chevrolet El Camino coupe pickup, built and sold by GMC Truck dealers mainly in the United States and The GMC Caballero is a version of the Chevrolet El Camino coupe pickup, built and sold by GMC Truck dealers mainly in the United States and The Chevrolet El Camino (Spanish translation "The Road") was a Coupe utility vehicle built by Chevrolet in the United States from

Politics

The muscle cars' performance soon became a liability during this period. The automotive safety lobby, which had been spearheaded by Ralph Nader, decried the irresponsibility of offering such powerful cars for public sale, particularly targeted to young buyers. Ralph Nader (born February 27 1934 is an American Attorney, Author, Lecturer, political activist, and independent candidate for President The high power of the muscle cars also underlined the marginal handling and braking capacity of many contemporary cars, as well as the severe limitations of their tires. Car handling and vehicle handling is a description of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion particularly during cornering and swerving In response, the automobile insurance industry began levying punitive surcharges on all high-powered models, soon pushing many muscle cars out of the price range of their intended buyers. Vehicle insurance (also known as auto insurance, car insurance, or motor insurance) is Insurance purchased for cars, Trucks Simultaneously, efforts to combat air pollution led to a shift in Detroit's attention from power to emissions control, a problem that grew more complicated in 1973 when the OPEC oil embargo led to price controls and gasoline rationing. Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) is a Cartel of thirteen countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador The 1973 oil crisis began on October 17 1973 when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC consisting of the Arab members of The 1973 oil crisis began on October 17 1973 when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC consisting of the Arab members of

With all these forces against it, the market for muscle cars rapidly evaporated. Power began to drop in 1971 as engine compression ratios were reduced, high-performance engines like Chrysler's 426 Hemi were discontinued, and all but a handful of performance models were discontinued or transformed into soft personal luxury cars. The compression ratio is a single number that can be used to predict the performance of any engine particularly piston engines (but can be used on essentially any Internal-combustion A Chrysler Hemi engine, known by the trademark Hemi, is an Internal combustion engine built by Chrysler that utilizes a hemispherical A personal luxury car is a marketing term used to describe highly styled Luxury vehicle intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver sacrificing One of the last hold-outs, which Car and Driver dubbed "The Last of the Fast Ones", was Pontiac's Trans Am SD455 model of 1973–1974, which had performance to rival most any other muscle car of the era. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. The Pontiac Firebird was a Pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002 The Trans Am remained in production through 2002, but after 1974 its performance, like those of its predecessors and rivals, was restrained.

While performance cars began to make a return in the 1980s, but spiraling costs and complexity to meet pollution and safety regulations seem to have made the low-cost traditional muscle car a thing of the past. The original "tire-burning" cars, such as the small and powerful AMX from tiny American Motors, have become collector's items for classic car lovers. [27] Surviving muscle models are now prized with some carrying prices to rival some of the exotic European sports cars.

Australia

Australian muscle: 1970 Holden HG Monaro GTS 350 V8
Australian muscle: 1970 Holden HG Monaro GTS 350 V8

Australia developed its own muscle car tradition around the same period, with the big three manufacturers Ford Australia, Holden or Holden Dealer Team (by then part of General Motors), and Chrysler Australia. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was founded in Geelong, Victoria in 1925 as an outpost of Ford Motor Company of The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s un-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also Chrysler Australia is a trading name for DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd The cars were specifically developed to run in the the Armstrong 500 (miles) race and later the Hardie Ferodo 500 (the race's current 1,000 kilometre format was adopted in 1973). The Bathurst 1000 (currently officially known as the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000) is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit The demise of these cars was brought about by a change in racing rules requiring that 200 examples had to be sold to the general public before the car could qualify (homologation). In 1972, the government stepped in to ban supercars from the streets after two notable cases. The first instance was a Wheels magazine journalist driving at 150 mph in a 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III XY 351. [28] Whilst the car was getting exposure in the press, the second incident occurred in George Street, Sydney, when a young male was caught driving at an estimated 150 mph through the busy street, in a 1971 Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III, drag racing a Holden Monaro GTS 350. George Street is Sydney 's most famous city street There are more high rise buildings and more ASX 100 companies located here then anywhere else in the country and is well This was known in Australia as "The Supercar Scare".

Ford produced what is considered to be the first Australian muscle car in 1967, the 287 CID (4. 7 L) Windsor–powered XR Falcon. Note This is the page for the North American Ford Falcon XR For the Australian Model see Ford Falcon (Australia#XR The Ford XR Falcon was a car produced by the Ford Ford continued to release faster models, culminating in the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III of 1971, which was powered by a factory modified 351 Cleveland. The GTHO Phase III was a modified Ford Falcon Muscle car produced by Ford Australia in 1971 The Ford 335 engine family were a group of small-block V8 engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1970 and 1982 Along with its GT and GTHO models, Ford, staring with the XW model in 1969, introduced a 'sporty' GS model, available across the Falcon range. The basic GS only came with a 250 CID (4. 1 L) six cylinder engine, but the 302 CID (4. 9 L) and 351 CID (5. 8 L) Windsor (replaced by the Cleveland engines for the XY), were optional. Ford's larger, more luxurious Fairlane was also available with these engines and could also be optioned with the 300 bhp (224 kW) 351 CID (6 L) "Cleveland" engine.

Ford Falcon Cobra 351 V8
Ford Falcon Cobra 351 V8

Holden produced the famous Holden Monaro with 307 CID (5 L), 327 CID (5. The Cobra was a limited edition of the Ford Falcon released by Ford Australia in 1978. The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced 4 L), and 350 CID (5. 7 L) Chevrolet smallblocks or 253 CID (4. 1 L) and 308 CID (5 L) Holden V8s, followed by the release of four high-performance Toranas, the GTR-XU1 (1970–1973), SL/R 5000 (1974–1977), L34 (1974) and the A9X (1977). For the Australian car see Holden Torana. A torana is a type of gateway seen in Hindu and Buddhist architecture

The XU1 Torana was originally fitted with a 186 CID (3 L) triple carbureted 6-cylinder engine, later increased to 202 CID (3. 3 L), as opposed to the 308 CID (5 L) single quad-barrel carbureted V8 in the SL/R 5000, L34, and A9X.

Chrysler produced the R/T Valiant Charger from 1971 to 1973 when the R/Ts were discontinued; the dominant R/T models were the E38 and E49 with high performance 265 CID (4. See also Chrysler Valiant The Chrysler Valiant Charger was an Automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1971 to 1978 3 L) Hemi engines featuring triple Weber carburetors. Weber is an a Italian company producing Carburetors currently owned by Magneti Marelli Powertrain S

Chrysler apparently considered a high-performance V8 program importing 338 340 CID (5. 6 L) V8 engines from the U. S.

That high-performance project never went ahead, and the engines were subsequently fitted to the upmarket 770 model Charger. Initially this model was designated "SE" E55 340 (V8) and only available with automatic transmission; with a model change to the VJ in 1973 the engine became an option, and the performance was lessened. An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle

All Chrysler performance Chargers were discontinued in 1974 with the exhausting of high performance 265ci Hemi and 340 V8s.

1972 Valiant Charger SE E55 340 V8
1972 Valiant Charger SE E55 340 V8

The Australian muscle car era is considered to have ended with the release of the Australian Design Rule regarding emissions in ADR27a in 1976. See also Chrysler Valiant The Chrysler Valiant Charger was an Automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1971 to 1978 An exception to this rule was the small number of factory-built Bathurst 1000 homologation specials that were constructed after 1976: they are considered to be musclecars. Examples of these homologation specials include the Torana A9X and the Bathurst Cobras.

Later homologation cars were built outside of the factory, many by the Holden Dealer Team (HDT) for track and road use. The Holden Dealer Team was Holden’s un-official racing team from 1969 until 1987, primarily contesting Australian Touring Car events but also Although not regarded as true muscle cars, they quickly gained an enthusiastic following. The HDT program was under Peter Brock's direction and had approval from Holden. Peter Geoffrey Brock AM ( 26 February, 1945 – 8 September, 2006) otherwise known as "Peter Perfect" "The

Several highly modified high-performance road-going Commodores were produced through the early and mid 1980s. These "homologation specials" were produced to meet the Group A racing regulations. Models included the VC Group C, the VH SS Group III with a 0-100 km/h of 6. 7 seconds[29], the Blue VK SS Group A and the burgundy VL SS Group A. These vehicles are all individually numbered with only 4246 Brock HDT's made and are considered to be collectors' items.

The HDT Commodores are highly collectible muscle cars. Holden Dealer Team vehicles' became more collectible than ever in the wake of Brock's 2006 death.

Showroom-condition HDT cars are generating prices as high as $200,000 AU. [30]

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the muscle car never gained a significant market, but it certainly influenced British manufacturers, with models such as the Ford Capri and Vauxhall Firenza directly inspired by American designs. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three separate Automobile models The Ford Consul Capri coupe produced by Ford of Great Firenza was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors between 1971 and 1975 Later, both Ford and Vauxhall continued the tradition of producing high performance variants of its family cars, though often these had more subtle styling than the traditional muscle car, but with some notable exceptions. The more European influenced hot hatch has largely occupied this segment of the market since the early 1980s. A hot hatch is an informal or slang term for a high-performance derivative of a three (or sometimes five -door Automobile.

South Africa

In South Africa, Chevrolet placed the Z28 302 Chevrolet smallblock into a Vauxhall Viva coupe bodyshell and called it the Firenza CanAm. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979 Basil Green produced the 302 Windsor–powered Capri Perana. In addition Australian HT and HG GTS Monaros (1969-71) were exported in CKD form and were given a new fascia and rebadged as a Chevrolet SS, which were sold until about 1973. Falcon GTs were also exported to South Africa and rebadged as Fairmont GTs. The Australian XW Falcon GT was called the 1970 Fairmont GT, and the XY Falcon GT was called the Fairmont GT. The Falcons were re-badged as Fairmonts because of to the bad reputation of the American Falcons at the time. The Fairmonts were almost the same as their Australian cousins apart from a few cosmetic differences.

Modern muscle cars

In the U. S. , the full-size, 4-door Chevrolet Impala SS had a short but popular production run from 1994–1996 as a high-performance limited-edition version of the Caprice equipped with a Corvette-derived 5. The Chevrolet Impala was through 1996 a Full-sized Automobile built by General Motors for their Chevrolet division The Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic were full-sized Automobiles produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in the United A corvette is a small maneuverable lightly armed Warship, originally smaller than a Frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft, although many 7 L V8 LT1 engine and other specific performance features and body styling. General Motors ' Generation II LT small block V8 engine debuted in 1992 on the 1992 Chevrolet Corvette. The Impala SS nameplate was resurrected again in 2003 as a high-performance version of the standard Impala with larger and/or supercharged engines (whether the 21st century Impalas, which are front-wheel drive and have had variously V6s and V8s, can be considered muscle cars in the same vein as their earlier namesakes is debatable). General Motors discontinued its F-body pony-car models, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird after 2002 but brought back the GTO in 2004 as a rebadged Holden Monaro imported from Australia. The F platform, or F-body, was General Motors ' small Rear-wheel drive Automobile platform from 1967 until 2002. The Chevrolet Camaro is a " Pony car " made in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. The Pontiac Firebird was a Pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002 The new GTO only lasted three years, making 2006 the last model year for the current GTO. GM is hoping to capture some of the magic of the 1994 Impala SS with the launch of the Pontiac G8, a captive import made in Australia and a rebadged as the Pontiac G8 when imported and in Australia know as the Holden Commodore, which will also form the basis of the next-generation GM Zeta platform that will form the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro and 2010 Chevrolet Impala, built in Canada. The Pontiac G8 is a Rear-wheel drive sedan produced by General Motors released for the 2008 model year (2009 in Canada) Captive import is an Automobile Marketing term denoting a foreign-built vehicle that is sold and serviced by a domestic manufacturer through its own dealer The Holden Commodore is an Automobile manufactured by the Holden division of General Motors (GM in Australia and formerly in New Zealand

For 2003 and 2004, Mercury revived its old Marauder nameplate, as a modified 300hp Mercury Grand Marquis. Mercury is an Automobile Marque of the Ford Motor Company founded in 1939 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level-luxury The Mercury Marauder was the name of different automobiles made by the Mercury division of Ford Motor Company. The Mercury Grand Marquis is a Full-size Rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. In 2005, a "retro-inspired" version of the pony car Ford Mustang went on sale, which drew various design cues from Mustangs of the mid to late 1960s and early-1970s. In 2007 Ford and Shelby also re-released a new and modern version of the G. T. 500, with Super Snake and King of the Road editions following closely behind in 2008. Saleen has introduced a special edition based on the classic BOSS Mustangs of 1970 called the "PJ" after a famous Trans-Am series driver from the 1960s and 1970s, Parnelli Jones.

In 2004 Chrysler introduced their LX platform, which serves as the base for a new line of rear-wheel drive, V8-powered cars (using the new Hemi engine), including a four-door version of the Dodge Charger. The LX platform is Chrysler 's full-size Rear wheel drive Automobile platform for the mid part of the 2000s A Hemi engine (from hemisphere) is an Internal-combustion engine in which the Combustion chambers are of hemispherical form The Dodge Charger, is a Rear-wheel drive Full-size Automobile built by Chrysler LLC for its North American Dodge brand While purists would not consider a station wagon (the Dodge Magnum) or a four-door sedan a muscle car, the performance of the new models is the equal of many of the vintage muscle cars of legend. A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate The Dodge Magnum name has been used on a number of different Automobiles The most recent is a large Rear-wheel drive Station wagon introduced in 2004 Dodge has also revived two "classic" model names with the Charger: Daytona and Super Bee. The first was featured in 2006 as a Dodge Charger Daytona R/T and the Super Bee joined in 2007 as the Dodge Charger Super Bee. The Dodge Charger is an American Automobile manufactured by Chrysler, under the Dodge brand name The Dodge Super Bee was a limited-production Muscle car from Chrysler 's Dodge division produced from 1968 through 1971 In addition, Dodge has been developing a new performance vehicle under the Challenger badge, which borrows styling cues from its older namesake, the prototype for which made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Dodge Challenger is the name of three different Automobile models marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC since 1970 The North American International Auto Show (previously called the Detroit Auto Show and often abbreviated NAIAS) is an annual Auto show held in Chevrolet has recently unveiled their Camaro concept car as well, with plans to sell new Camaros beginning with the 2009 model year.

This recent revival in popularity of the muscle car has been reflected in their price. The rarest vintage 1965–1972 muscle cars can cost as much as US$500,000 (for certain original models and options) and possibly more depending on availability, demand, and condition of the vehicle. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Still, in recent years criticisms commonly brought against SUVs with large engine displacement have also been brought against modern muscle cars, as well. A sport utility vehicle ( SUV) is a generic marketing description for a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a Station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis Ironically, the original muscle cars of the 1960s were subject to the same arguments that criticize the SUV today. The point in question is the fuel consumption of passenger cars during a time of rising petroleum prices. Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used The lighter weight of modern muscle cars compared to most SUVs (4200 lb (1905 kg) or less vs. 4,000-7,200 lbs), as well as innovations such as variable displacement in some models, may moderate some of these critiques and allow the muscle cars to gain a following as the market for SUVs continues to recede. Variable displacement is an Automobile engine technology that allows the Engine displacement to change by deactivating cylinders, for improved Fuel

Australian Ford and Holden are currently producing high performance vehicles. For instance, Holden has its SS and SSV Commodores and Utilities, and HSV has more powerful Holden based versions, which will soon be joined by an as-yet unnamed 7. 0 litre Commodore. Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) turns out similarly uprated special versions of the Ford Falcon Sedan, the major difference being Ford offer a 350 hp turbocharged 4. Ford Performance Vehicles ( FPV) is the Melbourne -based official performance car division of Ford Australia, founded in 2002 A turbocharger, or turbo, is an air Compressor used for forced-induction of an Internal combustion engine. 0 litre I6 as well as their V8s. FPV are producing the GT 4-door Falcons—both Boss V8 and turbocharged sixes; the premier Fords are currently the BOSS V8 and Typhoon turbocharged inline 6.

Holden Special Vehicles currently produces high-performance versions of various rear-drive Holden Utes, Commodore sedans and, ceasing production in 2006, the Monaro coupes including one model with all-wheel drive, fitted with high performance (400 hp) V8 engines, and are perhaps one of the closest contemporary equivalents to the classic American muscle car (excluding the AWD of course)—-fast, exciting, but relatively crude automobiles (though with far more attention to handling, suspension, safety and exceptional brakes compared with the stock models). Holden Special Vehicles, abbreviated HSV is the officially designated performance vehicle division of Australian motor Automobile manufacturer The Holden Ute is a Coupe utility built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors since 2000

Models

United States

Motor Trend identified the following models as "musclecars" in 1965:

Road & Track identified the following models as "musclecars" in 1965:


Car and Driver also created a list of the 10 Best muscle cars for its January 1990 issue. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. The Ford Fairlane was an Automobile model sold between 1955 and 1971 by the Ford Motor Company in North America. The Buick Gran Sport or GS was a high-performance option package available on a number of Buick models including the Riviera and Wildcat. The Coronet was a Full-size car from Dodge in the 1950s initially the division's highest trim line but starting in 1955 the lowest trim line The Plymouth Belvedere was an American Automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951 through 1970 The Chevrolet Chevelle (pronounced "sha-vell" is a mid-sized Automobile from Chevrolet debuting in 1964 The Oldsmobile 442 (pronounced four-four-two was a Muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. Road & Track is an Automobile enthusiast Magazine in the United States, founded by two friends in 1947 The Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact Automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 The Pontiac GTO was an Automobile built by Pontiac from 1964 to 1974 and by General Motors Holden in Australia from 2004 to The Buick Gran Sport or GS was a high-performance option package available on a number of Buick models including the Riviera and Wildcat. The Buick Gran Sport or GS was a high-performance option package available on a number of Buick models including the Riviera and Wildcat. The Coronet was a Full-size car from Dodge in the 1950s initially the division's highest trim line but starting in 1955 the lowest trim line The Plymouth Belvedere was an American Automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951 through 1970 The Chevrolet Chevelle (pronounced "sha-vell" is a mid-sized Automobile from Chevrolet debuting in 1964 Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. The magazine focused on the engines and included:

Other muscle cars include the following:

Mid-size muscle models

Compact muscle models

Pony car muscle models

Australia

Chrysler

VH model

VJ model (R/T nomenclature dropped) were:


Ford


Holden


Leyland

References

  1. ^ Example of the "supercar" term is in the article "1957 Rambler Rebel" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, retrieved on February 6, 2008. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  2. ^ a b "The Birth of Muscle Cars" by the auto editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 03 2008. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  3. ^ a b Musclecars magazine, 1994.
  4. ^ Nerad, Jack. "Oldsmobile Rocket 88", Driving Today.
  5. ^ Dulcich, Steve: "Rocket Man" article in Popular Hot Rodding. Retrieved on June 07 2008. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins
  6. ^ Chrysler 300 article by the editors at Edmunds.com. Retrieved on June 05 2008. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem
  7. ^ 1957-1960 "Rambler Rebel" by the auto editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 03 2008.
  8. ^ a b "AMC Muscle Cars" by the auto editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 03 2008.
  9. ^ Shaw, Tom: "Anatomy of a Lightweight", Legendary Ford magazine, December 2005.
  10. ^ a b Henshaw, Peter (2004): Muscle Cars, Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 1-59223-303-1
  11. ^ a b c d "Ford Thunderbolt" article by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 05 2008. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem
  12. ^ a b Holder, Bill, and Kunz, Phil (2006). Extreme Muscle Cars, Krause Publications. ISBN 0-89689-278-6.
  13. ^ Gunnell, John (2005). American Cars of the 1960s, KP Books. ISBN 0-89689-131-3.
  14. ^ "1966 Plymouth Satellite 426 Hemi" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 12 2008. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath.
  15. ^ a b c "1969 Chevrolet Chevelle COPO" article by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 05 2008. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem
  16. ^ "1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 11 2008. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.
  17. ^ a b Car Life January 1969.
  18. ^ a b c "1970 Plymouth Duster 340" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 11 2008. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.
  19. ^ a b Kelly, Steve: "A new entry: DUSTER", Hot Rod March 1970.
  20. ^ Genat, Robert (2006). Mopar Muscle, Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-2679-7.
  21. ^ Cheetham, Craig (ed. ) (2007). Ultimate Muscle Cars, Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-2834-X.
  22. ^ 1970 "AMC Rebel Machine" article by the Auto editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 06 2008. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year
  23. ^ Kunz, Bruce. "1970 AMC Rebel", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits
  24. ^ Stunkard, Geoff "Welcome To The Machine" Mopar Muscle magazine, retrieved on December 17, 2007. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  25. ^ Sanders, Bill. Motor Trend, February 1969.
  26. ^ "1968 Dodge Super Bee" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Retrieved on June 11 2008. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.
  27. ^ Zuehlke, Jeffrey (2007). Classic Cars. Lerner Publications, 18. ISBN 978-0822559269.  
  28. ^ Mel Nichols- HO down the Hume
  29. ^ quickest HDT according to Modern Motor Magazine, January 1983
  30. ^ According to the Australian 5/2007 Wheels Magazine.

See also

External link

Muscle Cars at the Open Directory Project

The pony car is a class of Automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964 A personal luxury car is a marketing term used to describe highly styled Luxury vehicle intended for the comfort and satisfaction of its owner/driver sacrificing The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic