American Muscle Car Companies
Back in the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many cars that were out and out “muscle” vehicles. These sorts of automobiles shared the same traits : they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel costs and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a couple of models were produced beyond that period of time. Today, muscle automobile mania is back, notwithstanding even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and wagon models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of times past, the Camaro.
Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of vehicles produced that at a previous previous point or another might have been considered a muscle automobile. As well as the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 and Ford Torino did duty ; the Mercury Montego was another model; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Storm ; Olds the 442; American Motors’ had its Javelin ; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle vehicle together with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.
Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the current muscle vehicle age craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang welcomes a retro look while incorporating contemporary technology. The result has been the Mustang now sells its entire 150,000 model capacity without incentives.
The Mustang has been provoking DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at automobile shows across the United States, has been a massive hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. In addition, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the USA auto show circuit.
So, isn’t it daft to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and fifteen or 16 miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and potency, even the Corvette returns a very respectable 28 miles to the gallon the road. So, though fuel mileage will certainly be lower than many other models, the new group of muscle automobiles will still better the prior generation autos with fuel mileage 80% or more above the cars from the 1970s.
Fortunately, we live in a reasonably free country and what the buyer wants, the buyer gets. So, V8 powered muscle vehicles paired to 6 speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will probably appeal to several. No, they will not be exact duplicates of yesterday’s muscle cars, but they are going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.
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