Muscle CarsTime Capsule to American GreatnessToday, sought after 1960’s and 70’s era American Muscle Cars are not only rarely seen – they’re popularity has driven prices into outer orbit. Limited edition models can fetch hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. A 1971 Plymouth "Hemi" Cuda convertible is currently valued at over $2 million dollars! A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454/LS-6 convertible is now valued at nearly $500,000. These cars sold for around $3,000 new!.. * Check out some local car shows: Savannah Mall - April 10, 2010 1969 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air III Auto
65' - 72' ~ Eight Years of Detroit MagicThe question is: What was so magical about this short period of American auto manufacturing history that allowed such timelessly styled, creatively designed, awe-inspiring vehicles to be brought into our world?
Even today, often the most popular American vehicles are revived relics from the 1960’s and 70’s. The new Ford Mustang is designed to look like the 1969 model year. The new Dodge Charger is a play on the beloved “General Lee” 1969 Dodge Charger. The Doge Challenger is another example. The new Chevrolet Camaro is also designed to bring the 1969 Camaro back to life (and hopefully, GM’s sales with it)! It’s becoming exceedingly difficult to find many of these classic cars that are not already restored. Most forty year old vehicles were crashed and smashed - years ago. The opportunity to own one of these icons from America’s automotive “golden age” is quickly drawing to a close.
A Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high performance automobiles. The term refers to American 2-door rear wheel drive mid-size cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s equipped with large, powerful V8s and sold at an affordable price for street use and drag racing, formally and informally.
As such, both muscle and pony cars are distinct from two-seat sports cars and expensive 2+2 GTs intended for high-speed touring and road racing.
69 FIREBIRD DUAL EXHAUST
According to a contemporary issue of Road Test magazine (June 1967), "A muscle car is exactly what the name implies. It is a product of the American car industry adhering to the hot rodder's philosophy of taking a small car and putting a BIG engine in it. The Muscle Car is Charles Atlas kicking sand in the face of the 98 hp weakling.” Commercial - 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge - Paul Revere And The Raiders
The following is a list of muscle cars and their manufacturers (along with the pony car of the same company):
Manufacturer - Pony car ~ Muscle car
AMC - Javelin ~ AMX Chevrolet - Camaro ~ Chevelle Dodge - Challenger ~ Charger Ford - Mustang ~ Torino Mercury - Cougar ~ Montego Oldsmobile - none ~ 442 Plymouth - Barracuda ~ Road Runner Pontiac - Firebird ~ GTO
The end of an EraLed by Ralph Nader, the automotive safety lobby decried offering powerful cars for public sale, particularly when targeted at young buyers. They were very upset at the power of many muscle cars, their marginal brakes, handling, and tire adhesion. In response, the automobile insurance industry levied surcharges on all high-powered models, an added cost that put many cars out of reach of their intended buyers. Simultaneously, efforts to combat air pollution, a problem that grew more complicated in 1973, when the OPEC oil embargo led to price controls and gasoline rationing—focused Detroit's attention on emissions control.
 1969 Chevelle stretching her legs
A majority of of these cars came optioned with high-compression powerplants - some as high as 11:1. Prior to the oil embargo, 100-octane fuel was common (e.g. Sunoco 260, Esso Extra, Chevron Custom Supreme, Super Shell, Texaco Sky Chief, Amoco Super Premium, Gulf No-nox) until the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970 where octane ratings were lowered to 91 - due in part to the removal of tetraethyl lead as a valve lubricant, unleaded gasoline was phased in.
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