THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR
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CRUISING THROUGH THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSCLE
Characterized
by their 2-door coupe designs and larger-than-life engines for
high-performance driving, muscle cars are an iconic and long-lasting
piece of Americas automotive history.
From the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda
to the 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, the golden age of American muscle
cars gave the world some of the most beautiful and powerful rides to
ever grace the pavement.
OLDSMOBILE ROCKET 88 - THE FIRST MUSCLE CAR
When the Rocket 88 hit the market, it maxed out at a top speed of 97 mph and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just about 13 seconds. By today's standards that may not sound like much at all. In fact, it may be considered almost laughable. For 1949 however, this was quite the feat. It caught the public attention and, perhaps more importantly, the attention of its competitors.
By the mid-1950s, the Rocket 88 had been made obsolete by companies like Plymouth, Dodge, and Pontiac, who had all released their very own overhead valve V8 cars that outperformed the 88 in nearly every category. Still, despite the eventual outperformance by new and emerging muscle cars, the Rocket 88 deserves credit for being the vehicle to jump-start the muscle car trend.
THE HIGH PERFORMANCE V8 ENGINE
MORE AIR - MORE FUEL - OUTRAGEOUS POWER!
By the 1960s, American muscle car fever had effectively swept the nation, thanks in large part to the popularity of drag racing. Though the early 60s saw its fair share of impressive muscle cars, such as the 62 Dodge Dart and 63 Pontiac Super Duty, it didn't begin to hit peak levels until the release of the Pontiac Tempest GTO in 1964
The Tempest GTO, contrary to its resemblance to Pontiacs earlier and more standard Tempest models, was a powerhouse under the hood. It came with a 389 cubic inch V8 engine, 325 horsepower, dual exhaust pipes, chrome valve covers, a floor-mounted three-speed manual transmission, wider wheels, and hood scoops. Even its name, GTO, stood for Grand Turismo Omolgato, which translated essentially means racing approved.
If that wasnt enough, the car was surprisingly affordable at a mere $3,200. Due to its low price and impressive specs, Pontiac was able to sell more than six times as many Tempest GTOs as it anticipated
EACH YEAR THE HITS JUST KEPT COMING!
The 60s and early 70s saw the rise of iconic muscle cars like the Ford Mustang in 1964, Plymouth Barracuda and Road Runner,
the Chevrolet Camaro in 1967, Chevrolet Chevelle in 1969, and the AMC Rebel, also know simply as The Machine, in 1970.
Plus the Dodge Challenger and Charger and many more.
THE FALL OF THE MUSCLE CAR ERA
MUSCLE CARS OF THE PRESENT ERA
The future of muscle cars is currently uncertain. With increasing environmental concerns and the high fuel consumption of powerful V8 engines, manufacturers like Ford Chevy and Dodge are actively exploring electric options for the next generation of American muscle cars.
Keep an eye out for the all-electric Mustang Charger and Camaro, which have already been hinted at, so you can determine if this is where the future of American muscle truly belongs. Remember, your next muscle car might be powered by batteries instead of gasoline.
