Muscle car

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The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car.
The Pontiac GTO is a classic example of the muscle car.

A muscle car is a high-performance automobile. The term principally refers to American, Australian and South African models with large-capacity engines produced between 1964 and 1973 for American cars and between 1968 and 1976 for Australian cars.

Contents

[edit] Definition

The term muscle car generally describes a rear wheel drive mid-size car with a large, powerful engine (typically, although not universally, a V8 engine) and special trim, intended for maximum torque on the street or in drag racing competition. It is distinguished from sports cars, which were customarily and coincidentally considered smaller, two-seat cars, or GTs, two-seat or 2+2 cars intended for high-speed touring and possibly road racing. High-performance full-size or compact cars are arguably excluded from this category, as are the breed of compact sports coupes inspired by the Ford Mustang, the "pony car". Another factor used in defining classic muscle cars are their age and country of origin. A classic muscle car is usually but not necessarily made in the US or Australia between 1964 and 1975.

An alternate definition is based on power-to-weight ratio, defining a muscle car as an automobile with (for example) fewer than 12 pounds per rated hp. Such definitions are inexact, thanks to a wide variation in curb weight depending on options and to the questionable nature of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) gross hp ratings in use before 1972, which were often deliberately overstated or underrated for various reasons.

[edit] Origin

Focus on performance among the major American automakers after World War II was rekindled by the Chrysler 300 letter series in 1955. They can be considered the muscle car's ancestors, though much more luxurious, expensive, exclusive, and larger in size. Other makes soon offered high performance engines in their "standard"-sized models.

The idea of installing a powerful engine in a post WWII mid-size car was introduced in 1957. The American Motors (AMC) Rebel showcased AMC’s new 327 in³ V8 255  hp with a 4-barrel carburetor (fuel injection was to be optional), thus making it the first American budget-priced and intermediate-sized, factory hot-rod hardtop sedan. The Rambler Rebel came with a manual or automatic transmission, and dual exhaust. The Rebel was promoted as the fastest four-door car in America from 0–60 mph (0–96.6 km/h) and ran the quarter mile in 17.0 seconds. It was one of the quickest production automobiles at that time.

The popularity of the muscle car grew in the 1960s. Among these was the Pontiac Tempest. For 1964 and 1965, the GTO was an option package that included Pontiac's 389 in³ (6.5 L) V8 engine, floor-shifted transmission with Hurst shift linkage, and special trim. In 1966, the Pontiac GTO was no longer an option, and became its own model. The project, spearheaded by Pontiac division president John De Lorean, was technically a violation of General Motors' policy limiting its smaller cars to 330 in³ (5.4 L) displacement, but it proved far more popular than expected, and inspired a host of imitations, both at GM and its competitors.

The Dodge Charger, known for its appearance as the villain's vehicle in the movie Bullitt and the heroes in The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dodge Charger, known for its appearance as the villain's vehicle in the movie Bullitt and the heroes in The Dukes of Hazzard

This marked a general trend towards factory performance, which reflected the importance of the youth market. A key appeal of the muscle cars was that they offered the burgeoning American car culture an array of relatively affordable vehicles with strong street performance that could also be used for racing. The affordability aspect was quickly compromised by increases in size, optional equipment, and plushness, forcing the addition of more and more powerful engines just to keep pace with performance. A backlash against this cost and weight growth led in 1967 and 1968 to a secondary trend of "budget muscle" in the form of the Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Super Bee, and other stripped, lower-cost variants.

Although the sales of true muscle cars were relatively modest by total Detroit production standards, they had considerable value in publicity and bragging rights. They also served to bring young customers (or their parents) into showrooms who would then buy the standard editions of these mid-size cars. Automakers saw these as halo models and some, such as the AMC Rebel Machine, the COPO (Central Office Production Order) Chevrolet Chevelle, and the Super Cobra Jet Ford Torino were factory upgraded to be turn-key drag racers. The 1970 Machine even came with a standard flamboyant and patriotic red, white, and blue reflective body graphics and paint for maximum street and racetrack visibility.

The AMC Rebel Machine, a factory built drag racer in its standard RWB stripe and paint scheme
The AMC Rebel Machine, a factory built drag racer in its standard RWB stripe and paint scheme

The fierce competition led to an escalation in power that peaked in 1970, with some models offering as much as 450 hp (and others likely producing as much actual power, whatever their rating).

Another related type of car is the car-based pickup. Examples of these are the Ford Ranchero, GMC Sprint, GMC Caballero, and one of the most famous examples, the Chevrolet El Camino.

[edit] Politics of the muscle car

The muscle cars' performance soon became a liability during this period. The automotive safety lobby, which had been spearheaded by Ralph Nader, decried the irresponsibility of offering such powerful cars for public sale, particularly targeted to young buyers. The high power of the muscle cars also underlined the marginal handling and braking capacity of many contemporary cars, as well as the severe limitations of their tires. In response, the automobile insurance industry began levying punitive surcharges on all high-powered models, soon pushing many muscle cars out of the price range of their intended buyers. Simultaneously, efforts to combat air pollution led to a shift in Detroit's attention from power to emissions control, a problem that grew more complicated in 1973 when the OPEC oil embargo led to price controls and gasoline rationing.

With all these forces against it, the market for muscle cars rapidly evaporated. Power began to drop in 1971 as engine compression ratios were reduced, high-performance engines like Chrysler's 426 Hemi were discontinued, and all but a handful of performance models were discontinued or transformed into soft personal luxury cars. One of the last hold-outs, which Car and Driver dubbed "The Last of the Fast Ones", was Pontiac's Trans Am SD455 model of 1973–1974, which had performance to rival most any other muscle car of the era. The Trans Am remained in production through 2002, but after 1974 its performance, like those of its predecessors and rivals, entered the doldrums.

While performance cars began to make a return in the 1980s, spiraling costs and complexity seem to have made the low-cost traditional muscle car a thing of the past. Surviving models are now prized collectibles, some carrying prices to rival exotic European sports cars.

[edit] Outside the US

Australia developed its own muscle car tradition around the same period, with the big three manufacturers Ford Australia, Holden (by then part of General Motors) and Chrysler Australia. The cars were specifically developed to run in the Bathurst 500—then known as the Armstrong 500 (miles) race and later the Hardie Ferodo 500. These cars were supercars in every sense of the word and were brimming with powerful engines and other racing options. The demise of these cars were brought about by the racing rules of the time being that 200 examples had to be sold to the general public before the car could qualify. In 1972 this rule came to a head and the Government stepped in to ban supercars from the streets.

Ford produced what is considered to be the first Australian muscle car in 1968, being the 289 Windsor–powered XR Falcon. Ford continued to release faster and faster models culminating in what is considered to be Australia's most desirable muscle car—the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III of 1971, which was powered by a 351 Cleveland.

Holden produced the famous Holden Monaro with 307, 327, and 350 Chevrolet small-block engines, or 253 and 308 Holden V8s, followed by the release of four high performance Toranas, the GTR-XU1 (1970–1973), SL/R 5000 (1974–1977), L34 (1974) and the A9X (1977). The XU-1 was originally fitted with a 186 ci (3 litre) triple carburetored 6-cylinder engine, later increased to 202 ci (3.3 litre), as opposed to the 308 ci (5.0 litre) V8 with a single 4-barrel carburetor in the SL/R 5000, L34, and A9X models.

Chrysler produced the R/T Valiant Charger from 1971 to 1973 when the R/Ts were discontinued; the dominant R/T models were the E38 and E49 with high performance 265 ci Hemi engines featuring triple Weber carburetors. Chrysler apparently considered a high performance V8 program importing 350 340 ci V8 engines from the USA.

The 1972 SE E55 340 V8 Valiant Charger
The 1972 SE E55 340 V8 Valiant Charger

Unfortunately this project never went ahead and the engines were subsequently fitted to the upmarket 770 model Charger. Initially this model was designated "SE" E55 340 (V8) and only available with automatic transmission, with a model change to the VJ in 1973 the engine became an option and the performance was watered down. All Chrysler performance Chargers were discontinued in 1974 with the exhausting of high performance 265 ci hemi and 340 V8s.

The Australian muscle car era is generally considered to have ended with the release of the Australian Design Rule regarding emissions in ADR27a in 1976. There were a small number of Bathurst 1000 homologation specials that were built after 1976 that are considered to be muscle cars.

Currently in Australia Ford and Holden are producing performance vehicles—for example Holden has the 2-door Monaro, the 4-door Club Sport, and the SS and SSZ Commodores.

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), turns out similarly uprated special versions of the Ford Falcon Sedan. The major difference being Ford offer a 350+ hp turbocharged 4.0 litre I6 as well as their V8s. FPV are producing the GT 4-door Falcons—both Boss V8 and turbocharged sixes; the premier Fords are currently the BOSS V8 and Typhoon turbocharged inline 6.

Holden Special Vehicles currently produces high-performance versions of various rear-drive Holden Utes, Commodore sedans and Monaro coupes including one model with AWD, fitted with high performance (400hp+) V8 engines, and are perhaps one of the closest contemporary equivalents to the classic American muscle car (excluding the AWD of course)—fast, exciting, but relatively crude automobiles (though with far more attention to handling, suspension, safety and, exceptional brakes compared with the stock models).

In the United Kingdom, the muscle car itself never gained a significant market, but it certainly influenced British manufacturers, with models such as the Ford Capri and Vauxhall Firenza directly inspired by American designs. Later, both Ford and Vauxhall continued the tradition of producing high performance variants of its family cars, though often these had subtler styling than the traditional muscle car, though with some notable exceptions. The more European influenced hot hatch has largely occupied this segment of the market since the early 1980s. Vauxhall imported the Holden Monaro from Australia in 2004 and this could possibly be considered a muscle car as it is identical to the Pontiac GTO (which is a rebadged Monaro).

In South Africa, Chevrolet shoehorned the Z28 302 Chevrolet small block V8 into a Vauxhall Viva coupe bodyshell and called it the Firenza CanAm. Basil Green produced the 302 Windsor–powered Capri Perana. In addition, Australian Falcon GTs were exported to South Africa and rebadged as Fairmont GTs. In South African the Australian XW Falcon GT was called the 1970 Fairmont GT and the XY Falcon GTs were called the 1971/72/73 Fairmont GT. The Falcons were re-badged as Fairmonts due to the bad reputation of the American Falcons at the time. The Fairmonts were almost the same as their Australian cousins apart from a few cosmetic differences.

Holden Monaros where also exported to South Africa and badged as Chevrolets.

[edit] Modern muscle cars

The "classic" muscle car era in America is long gone. However, many contemporary "performance" models may be included by expanding the definition to include all sizes of sports sedans, imported brands, V6 engines, and front-wheel-drive.

In the US, the full-size, 4-door Chevrolet Impala SS had a short but popular production run from 1994–1996 as a high-performance limited-edition version of the Caprice equipped with a Corvette-derived 5.7 L V8 LT1 engine and other specific performance features and body styling. The Impala SS nameplate was resurrected again in 2000 as a high-performance version of the standard Impala with larger and/or supercharged engines (whether the 21st century Impalas, which are front-wheel drive and have had variously V6s and V8s, can be considered muscle cars in the same vein as their earlier namesakes is debatable). GM discontinued its F-body pony-car models, the Chevrolet Camaro and Firebird after 2002, but brought back the GTO in 2004 as a rebadged Holden Monaro imported from Australia. The new GTO only lasted three years, making 2006 the last model year for the current GTO.

For 2003, Mercury revived its old Marauder nameplate, as a modified Mercury Grand Marquis. Sales were poor, just like those of its 1970s predecessor, and this traditional full-sized four-door sedan was discontinued after two years.

In the spring of 2004 Chrysler introduced their LX platform, which serves as the base for a new line of rear-wheel drive, V8-powered cars (using the new Hemi engine), including a four-door version of the Dodge Charger. While purists would not consider a station wagon (the Dodge Magnum) or a four-door sedan a muscle car, the performance of the new models is the equal of many of the vintage muscle cars of legend. Dodge has also been developing a new performance vehicle under the Challenger badge, which borrows styling cues from its older namesake, the prototype for which made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show.

Chevrolet has recently unveiled their Camaro Concept as well, with plans to sell new Camaros beginning with the 2009 model year. GM plans to base the new Camaros, as well as the Impala, Pontiac G8 and possibly a new GTO and other vehicles starting in 2009 or 2010 on the Holden-developed RWD "Zeta" platform, raising at least the potential of a new slate of 21st-century GM muscle cars after more than a decade of relatively lean offerings. In 2005, a "retro" version of the Ford Mustang went on sale—this new model resembled a 1967/68 model year Mustang.

This recent increase in popularity of the muscle car has been reflected in their price. A vintage 1965–1972 muscle car can now cost as much as $500,000 and possibly more depending on availability, demand, and condition of the vehicle.

Still, in recent years criticisms commonly brought against SUVs with large engine displacements have also been brought against modern muscle cars, as well. Ironically, the original muscle cars of the 1960s were subject to the same arguments that criticise the SUV today. The point in question is the fuel consumption of passenger cars during a time of rising petroleum prices (see the Transportation section of the Energy conservation article). The lighter weight of modern muscle cars compared to most SUVs (4,200 lbs or less vs. 4,000-8,500 lbs), as well as innovations such as variable displacement in some models may moderate some of these critiques, and allow the muscle cars to gain a following as the market for SUVs continues to recede.

[edit] American muscle cars

Road & Track identified the following models as "musclecars" in 1965:

Car and Driver also created a list of the 10 Best muscle cars for their January 1990 issue. They focused on the engines and included:

Other later muscle cars include the following:

[edit] Australian muscle cars

Holden

  • 1968–1969 HK Monaro GTS (327)
  • 1969–1970 HT Monaro GTS (350)
  • 1970–1971 HG Monaro GTS (350)
  • 1971–1974 HQ Monaro GTS (350)
  • 1974–1976 HJ Monaro GTS (308)
  • 1976 HX Monaro LE Coupe (308)
  • 1976–1977 HX Monaro GTS (308)
  • 1977–1977 HZ Monaro GTS (308)
  • 1970–1971 LC Torana GTR XU-1 (186)
  • 1972–1973 LJ Torana GTR XU-1 (202)
  • 1974–1976 LH Torana SL/R 5000 (308)
  • 1974 LH Torana SL/R 5000 L34 (308)
  • 1976–1978 LX Torana SL/R 5000 (308)
  • 1976–1978 LX Torana SS (308)
  • 1977 LX Torana SL/R 5000 A9X (308)
  • 1977 LX Torana SS A9X (308)

Ford

  • 1967 XR Falcon GT (289)
  • 1968 XT Falcon GT (302)
  • 1969–1970 XW Falcon GT (351)
  • 1969–1970 XW Falcon/Fairmont GS 302 and 351
  • 1969 XW Falcon GTHO Phase I (351W)
  • 1970 XW Falcon GTHO Phase II (351C)
  • 1970-71 XY Falcon/Fairmont GS 302 and 351
  • 1970-71 XY Falcon GT (351)
  • 1971 XY Falcon Phase III GTHO (351)
  • 1972 XA Falcon Phase IV GTHO 4 door (only four made: three prototypes, one production) (351)
  • 1972–1973 XA Falcon GT hardtop coupe/4 Door Sedan (351)
  • 1972–1973 XA Falcon GS Hardtop/Sedan/Ute (302, 351)
  • 1973 XA Falcon Superbird (302)
  • 1973–1976 XB Falcon GT hardtop coupe/4 Door Sedan (351)
  • 1973–1976 XB Falcon GS Hardtop/Sedan/Ute (302, 351)
  • 1974–1975 XB Falcon John Goss Special (302)
  • 1978 XC Falcon Cobra 5.8, Bathurst Homologation

Chrysler

VH model

  • Charger R/T E37
  • Charger R/T E38 - 280 BHP - 3 Speed Gearbox (Track pack and Big tank were options and a fully blueprinted engine)
  • Charger R/T E48
  • Charger R/T E49 - 302 BHP - 4 Speed Gearbox (Track pack and Big tank were options and a fully blueprinted engine)
  • Charger S/E E55 - 275 BHP - 727 Torqueflite Auto (340 cubic inch Chrysler LA engine)
  • Valiant Hardtop (318 or 360ci V8s)

VJ model (R/T nomenclature dropped) were:

  • Charger E48
  • Charger E49
  • Charger 770 E55

Options available on the VH & VJ Charger include

  • "Six-pack" 265 ci engine with three two-barrel Weber carburetors
  • lower ratio differential;
  • six-inch rims;
  • front anti-roll bar;
  • a tachometer and
  • oil pressure gauge (VH Only).

Leyland

  • P76 "Force Seven" (was going to be Leylands answer to the Monaro GTS, Falcon GT and Charger, but due to financial constraints and subsequent industrial action that closed their factories, only eight were produced.)
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Modern Australian Muscle

Muscle Cars never really died out in Australia, and even after the Torana, GT, Monaro and Charger had gone out of production, Holden (with the help of the Peter Brock and the Holden Dealer Team)continued building high-performance eight cylinder cars,starting with the VC-series holden Commodore in 1980. When the VH series arrived the next year, a sporty (by 1980s standards) SS model was introduced, aimed at younger buyers, it had a relatively low price, similar to the HQ SS of 1972. HDT also had its own versions of the SS and the upmrket SL/E, with more powerful 5.0 litre (308ci) Holden V8s. HDT continued production until 1988, through the VH, VK and VL series. The VK SS Group 3/A of 1985 is the most famous of the HDT Commodores; it put out 196kw in the post-oil crisis days when half of that was considered powerful. Chrysler no longer had a presecence in Australia, and Ford no longer offered its V8 engines, so Holden dominated the performance sedan market for nearly a decade. HDT split with Holden in 1988, although they still produce cars in small quantities.

Holden Special Vehicles was established in 1988 and has been building high performance Commodore, Ute, Monaro and Statesman derived models ever since. Its current line-up use versions of the GM LS engine, producing up to 307kw (more than the C6 Chevrolet Corvette, which the engine was orginally designed for).

In 1998, Holden displayed a one-off two door based on thed VT Commodore, which eventuated with the Monaro in 2001, and high performance HSV models following later in the year, including the insane 300kw GTS Coupe. The Callaway-tuned Gen III V8 was too powerful for the old 4-speed auto thatw as optional on all other models, so it could only be ordered with a Manual transmission.

Ford Australia reintroduced V8 engines in the early 1990s and had minimal success until the BA series of 2002, when the the Commodore SS actually had some competition with the Falcon XR6 Turbo (a turbocharged version of the Falcon's 4.0 litre six, unique to Australia) and XR8 (Boss 260)(all three are available in both sedan and utility). Ford Perrformancew vehicles revived the GT name in 2002, powered by the 5.4 litre Boss 290 engine.

Chrysler also reemerged into the market in 2005 when a right-hand drive version of the 300C was phased in, to compete with the larger Ford Fairlane and Holden Statesman/Caprice.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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