Classic America Muscle Car. The 1970 Plymouth GTX 440
What is a Classic American Muscle Car?
The “American Muscle Car” is an affordable class of 2 door (usually 5 passengers) high-performance vehicles with large displacement high horsepower V8 engines that were built primarily throughout the mid and late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1973 a gas crisis forced the “Big Three” (GM, Ford, And Chrysler/Mopar) to make smaller more fuel-efficient cars bringing the muscle car race to a virtual halt. Throughout history and still today, auto manufacturers use this select car segment to bolster sales and generate enthusiasm for their respective line-ups.
The History of the American Muscle Cars
In the mid-1960s, with GM having a ban on its divisions (Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac) from participating in auto racing, a clever group of Pontiac engineers including the famed young John Delorean, realizing that young drivers wanted sporty cars, came up with the idea of offering an option on the second generation Pontiac Tempest calling it the GTO, an acronym for Gran Turismo Omologato (referencing a race class at LeMans: “grand tourer homologated” meaning race certified for the Touring Class). The primary focus was to attract a younger, speed thirsty, generation of car buyers. Meanwhile, an up and coming Ford executive, Lee Iacocca, was helping to launch the 1965 Mustang “pony car”. The muscle car was born and the race was on.
1964 Pontiac GTO the first American Muscle Car.
The Muscle Car War begins.
American car manufacturers began producing reasonably priced high-performance model cars that could be driven every day on the street, but also be competitive at a track on the weekend. The winners of which would help to sell all other makes and models at the dealership during the week. Manufacturers realized that they could add badges designed to inspire: GT (Gran Turismo) SS (Super Sport), CJ (Cobra Jet), BOSS, RS (Rally Sport), R/T (Road and Track) to their existing fleets of mid and full-size cars and attract buyers. Muscle cars were offered in many performance and styling packages from larger engines to fancy induction systems to special optional equipment.
By the late ’60s, The Big Three were in an all-out war to produce the fastest and best-looking cars to outsell the competition. They often teamed with famed race car drivers or renowned auto enthusiasts to help with brand recognition and to help create models (500 were required by NASCAR to be sold to the general public) in order to qualify and be entered onto the track on race day. The practice was referred to as “Win on Sunday…sell on Monday”. It brought about some of the rarest and most sought after cars such as the Yenko Camaro, Shelby and Boss Mustangs, Hemi Mopars, Super Bird, Judge, SD (Super Duty), and more. Some of the concepts led to actual advances in performance with the introduction of Cowl Induction, Ram-Air, Shaker Style Hoods, the Air Grabber system to name a few, while others were just flashy gimmicks (pace cars) stripes, and names.
1969 Ford Mustang
In 1973 the EPA ends the Muscle Car Wars.
Where the “Big Three” (Chrysler, Ford, and GM) still produce muscle cars today, for the automotive purest, the true American Muscle cars are only the ones from the mid-1960s and early 1970s. The 1973 gas crisis caused a surge in fuel prices and sealed the fate of the muscle car. The EPA called for more fuel-efficient and cleaner cars. Manufacturers, wanting to make use of existing engines in an effort to keep costs down. To reduce emissions and get better mileage they reduced the compression, installed catalytic converters and smog pumps to the engines. GM kept some customers satisfied with the Camaro and Firebird lineup, but smog devices severely hampered horsepower ratings.
Ford kept the Mustang in its lineup and found a resurgence of interest in the mid to late 1980s. GM saw the interest and allowed Buick engineers to release the Buick Gran National and GNX while Chevrolet and Pontiac offered higher performance models of the Camaro and Firebird (IROC [International Race Of Champions] and Trans-am [Trans American Racing class]). In the new century, Chrysler has reignited the imagination of enthusiasts with the introduction of a retro Dodge Challenger (reminiscent of a 1970 Challenger). By adding the likes of the SRT package, the Hellcat, and the Demon, MOPAR has relit the torch. Carrying the trend to future generations to come.
The 1971 Plymouth Cuda a true American Muscle Car
Classic American Muscle Cars of the ’60s and ’70s.
AMC AMX – 1968 to 1970 – Pony car
AMC Gremlin V8 – 1972 to 1976 – Compact
AMC Hornet SC 360 – 1971 – Compact
AMC Javelin SST – 1968 to 1974 – Pony car
AMC Matador Machine – 1971 – Mid-size
AMC Rebel – 1967 to 1970 – Mid-size
AMC Rebel Machine – 1970 – Mid-size
AMC SC/Rambler – 1968 to 1974 – Compact
AMC Rambler Rogue V8 – 1966 to 1969 – Compact
Buick Apollo GSX – 1973 to 1974 – Compact
Buick Riviera GS & GS Stage One – 1966 to 1973 – Full-size
Buick Skylark – 1965 to 1972 – Mid-size
Buick Grand Sport – 1965 to 1972 – Mid-size
Buick GSX – 1965 to 1972 – Mid-size
Buick Wildcat – 1965 to 1970 – Full-size
Chevrolet Bel Air – 1965 to 1974 – Full-size
Chevrolet Biscayne – 1965 to 1974 – Full-size
Chevrolet Camaro RS, Z/28 & SS – 1967 to 1974 – Pony car
Chevrolet Caprice – 1965 to 1972 – Mid-size
Chevrolet Chevelle SS – 1965 to 1973 – Mid-size
Chevrolet El Camino SS – 1966 to 1975 – Mid-size
Chevrolet Impala SS & Custom Coupe – 1965 to 1974 – Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu SS – 1965 to 1973 – Mid-size
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS – 197 to 1972 – Mid-size
Chevrolet Nova SS – 1966 to 1974 – Compact
Chevy II SS – 1966 to 1967 – Compact
Chrysler 300 non-letter series – 1965 to 1971 – Full-size
Dodge Challenger SE, R/T & T/A – 1969 to 1974 – Pony car
Dodge Charger 500, R/T & SE – 1966 to 1974 – Mid-size
Dodge Charger Daytona – 1969 – Mid-size
Dodge Coronet – 1965 to 1970 – Mid-size
Dodge Dart 413/426 Max Wedge/426 Hemi – 1962 to 1965 – Mid-size
Dodge Dart GT, GTS, Swinger & Demon – 1967 to 1976 – Mid-size
Dodge Polara Super-Lite – 1965 to 1973 – Full-size
Dodge Super Bee – 1968 to 1971 – Mid-size
Ford Fairlane GT, GTA & Cobra – 1966 to 1969 – Mid-size
Ford Galaxie – 1965 to 1974 – Full-size
Ford Maverick Grabber – 1970 to 1975 – Compact
Ford Mustang Mach 1, Boss 429, Boss 302 & Boss 351 – 1964 to 1973 – Pony car
Ford Torino GT, Cobra & Talladega – 1968 to 1974 – Mid-size
Mercury Comet GT – 1971 to 1975 – Compact
Mercury Cougar GT, XR-7 & Eliminator – 1967 to 1973 – Pony car
Mercury Cyclone GT, Cobra Jet & Spoiler II – 1966 to 1972 – Mid-size
Mercury Marauder – 1969 to 1970 – Full-size
Mercury Montego GT & MX Broughan – 1968 to 1973 – Mid-size
Mercury S-55 – 1966 to 1967 – Full-size
Oldsmobile 442 – 1968 to 1972 – Mid-size
Oldsmobile Cutlass SX, Supreme & Hurst Olds – 1968 to 1972 – Mid-size
Oldsmobile Jetstar I – 1964 to 1965 – Full-size
Oldsmobile Omega S – 1973 to 1974 – Compact
Oldsmobile Starfire – 1965 to 1966 – Full-size
Plymouth Barracuda BP, BS & ‘Cuda – 1967 to 1974 – Pony car
Plymouth Belvedere 426-S – 1965 to 1970 – Full-size
Plymouth Duster Gold Duster & Twister – 1970 to 1976 – Compact
Plymouth Fury GT – 1969 to 1974 – Full-size
Plymouth GTX – 1967 to 1971 – Mid-size
Plymouth Road Runner – 1968 to 1974 – Mid-size
Plymouth Superbird – 1970 – Mid-size
Pontiac Catalina 2+2 – 1965 to 1970 – Full-size
Pontiac Firebird – 1967 to 1981 – Pony car
Pontiac Trans Am – 1967 to 1981 – Pony car
Pontiac Grand Am – 1973 to 1975 – Mid-size
Pontiac Grand Prix SJ – 1964 to 1972 – Full-size
Pontiac GTO – 1974 – Compact
Pontiac GTO – 1964 to 1973 – Mid-size
Pontiac Tempest GT-37 – 1968 to 1970 – Mid-size
Pontiac Ventura – 1966 to 1969 – Full-size
Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500 – 1965 to 1970 – Pony car
Yenko Camaro 427 – 1967 to 1969 – Pony car
American Muscle Cars of the 80s & ’90s
Buick Grand National – 1984 to 1987 – Mid-Size
Chevrolet Camaro – 1980 to 1999 – Pony car
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS – 1983 to 1988 – Mid-Size
Ford Mustang – 1980 to 1999 – Pony car
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – 1980 to 1999 – Pony car
Saleen Mustang – 1984 to 1999 – Pony car
Shelby Mustang – 1965 to 1970 – Pony car
American Muscle car Models 2000 to Present
Chevrolet Camaro – 2002 to 2005 – Pony car
Chevrolet Camaro – 2010 to Present – Pony car
Dodge Challenger – 2008 to Present – Pony car
Dodge Charger SRT – 2006 to Present – Mid-Size
Dodge SRT Demon – 2018 – Pony car
Ford Mustang – 2000 to Present – Pony car
Mercury Marauder – 2002 to 2004 – Mid-Size
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – 2000 to 2002 – Pony car
Saleen Mustang – 2000 to Present – Pony car
Shelby Mustang – 2006 to Present – Pony car
- The 1970 Dodge Challenger RT – A New Pony Car is Born
The 1970 Dodge Challenger RT a Muscle Car, Pony Car, and a Luxury Car all in one awesome package. And they’re off, in the lead the Ford Mustang (introduced in 1964), in second the Chevrolet
+ Read More - This is why the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 was Chevy’s secret weapon for the Muscle Car Wars.
The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 – Chevy’s Secret weapon for the Muscle Car Wars. Chevy had a secret weapon and it was the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6. It’s 1970, the Muscle Car War
+ Read More - Pontiac Firebird a “Pony Car” icon of the 60s and 70s.
The Pontiac Firebird remains in the hearts and memories of many automobile enthusiasts. Even though, the iconic pony car’s production ended in 2002 who can forget that iconic “screaming chicken” hood decal. Every generation of the
+ Read More - The Shelby Mustang
The Shelby Mustang is a high performance variant of the Ford Mustang which was built by Shelby from 1965 to 1968, and from 1969 to 1970 by Ford. Following the introduction of the fifth generation Ford
+ Read More - 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback a Fascinating Muscle Car
The Mind-Blowing 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback is one of the most fascinating Ford Muscle Cars of all time. The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback is one of the rarest and desirable Ford
+ Read More - The Incredible and Exciting 1969 Chevelle SS 396The 1969 Chevelle SS 396 is an Incredible and Exciting Classic American Muscle Car. The 1969 Chevelle SS 396 is one of the most popular Classic American Muscle Cars ever produced. And still today, it’s one
+ Read More - The Remarkable 1969 Dodge Charger RT A Classic American Muscle Car
1969 Dodge Charger RT – A Classic American Muscle Car The Legendary 1969 Dodge Charger RT is on top of everyone’s list of best Classic American Muscle Cars. The Charger has stood the
+ Read More - 1967 Oldsmobile 442 – Owned By Chris S.
Chris S’s 1967 Oldsmobile 442. This fast and mean 1967 Oldsmobile 442 is proudly owned by Chris S. Except for paint and roll cage, Chris did all the amazing work himself. The beautiful restoration
+ Read More - Muscle Car Model List
American Muscle Cars List Full-size Muscle Car Models 1965–1970 Buick Wildcat 1966–1973 Buick Riviera GS & GS Stage One 1965–1974 Chevrolet Impala SS & Custom Coupe 1965–1974 Chevrolet Bel Air along with Chevrolet Biscayne and Chevrolet
+ Read More - The Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an American automobile manufactured by Ford. It was originally based on the platform of the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. The original 1962 Ford Mustang I two-seater concept
+ Read More - The Dodge Super BeeThe Super Bee is a muscle car marketed by Dodge, that was produced for the 1968 to 1971 model years. The Super Bee was resurrected for the 2007 to 2013 Dodge Charger Super Bee models. Super Bee Overview
+ Read More - The Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro The Chevrolet Camaro is an American automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the
+ Read More - The Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO is an automobile that was built by Pontiac in generations from 1964 to 1974 model years, and by GM’s subsidiary Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006. Pontiac GTO – The first generation
+ Read More
Recent Comments