Back in the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many cars that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These types of vehicles shared the same characteristics: they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a couple of models were produced beyond that period. Today, muscle vehicle mania is back, in spite of even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and truck models from Dodge, there is new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as one more manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesterday, the Camaro.
Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of autos produced that at one point or another should have been considered a muscle automobile. As well as the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 5 hundred 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 automobile 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 present muscle car era craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating latest technology. The result has been that the Mustang now sells its whole 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 auto, popping up at car 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 States car show circuit.
So, isn’t it daft to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle automobiles averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and 15 or sixteen m.p.g on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and potency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will definitely be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle cars will still better the previous generation vehicles with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the autos from the 1970s.
Fortunately, we still live in a reasonably free country and what the consumer wants, the buyer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel usage will probably appeal to several. No, they will not be actual copies of yesterday’s muscle autos, but they’re going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.
If you can have any car in the world, what would it be? Visit thesupercars.org for information and specs on the greatest cars in the world, also take a look at used cars Caravan.