American Muscle Car Companies

Posted by admin

August 21, 2009

Back during the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many automobiles that were out and out "muscle" automobiles. These kinds of vehicles shared the same characteristics: they were two door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel costs and changing tastes ultimately limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that period. Today, muscle vehicle mania is back, in spite of even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and van models from Dodge, there's 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 yesteryear, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a complete host of vehicles produced that at one 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 Tempest; Olds the 442 ; Yankee Motors' had its Javelin ; Plymouth had the 'Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives though the Dodge Charger has returned as a 4 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 current muscle automobile time craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang welcomes a retro look while incorporating recent technology. The result has been the Mustang currently sells its whole 150,000 model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been electrifying DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept auto, popping up at car shows across the States, has been a huge 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 auto also making the rounds of the States car show circuit.

So, isn't it silly 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 in town and 15 or sixteen miles per gallon on the road. Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a very respectable 28 miles to the gallon the road. So, though fuel mileage will definitely be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle cars will still better the prior generation vehicles with fuel mileage 80% or more above the cars from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we live in a fairly free country and what the customer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will probably appeal to several. No, they won't be exact duplicates of yesterday's muscle cars, but they're going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can't wait!.

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