Requirements:
1. First and foremost, it must be made in AMERICA! Fuck yeah!
2. Rear drive only!
3. Must have a V8 95% of the time, with some domestic turbo 6s counted (Grand National, anniversary Firebird turbo, etc.)
4. Must have 2 doors 95% of the time, except in cases of old hotrod wagons or, barely, the new Charger Hemi.
Things automatically barring a car from being a muscle car:
1. Being made in Asia or Europe, or by a foreign country in the US.
2. Being front- or 4-wheel drive.
3. Having an engine with less than 6 or more than 8 cylinders, and must have forced induction if a 6.
4. Having more than 4 doors.
1. First and foremost, it must be made in AMERICA! Fuck yeah!
2. Rear drive only!
3. Must have a V8 95% of the time, with some domestic turbo 6s counted (Grand National, anniversary Firebird turbo, etc.)
4. Must have 2 doors 95% of the time, except in cases of old hotrod wagons or, barely, the new Charger Hemi.
Things automatically barring a car from being a muscle car:
1. Being made in Asia or Europe, or by a foreign country in the US.
2. Being front- or 4-wheel drive.
3. Having an engine with less than 6 or more than 8 cylinders, and must have forced induction if a 6.
4. Having more than 4 doors.
Muscle Car Timeline:
1949 - Olds introduces the Rocket 88, featuring cool styling, and a Kettering-designed OHV V8 producing 135hp from 303ci and a 7.5:1cr.
1955 - Chrysler introduces the Hemi-powered C300 luxury car. It's advanced 300hp powerplant gives it a top speed of 130mph, making it, at the time, the fastest production car in the world.
1957 - The hideous but fast AMC Rambler Rebel was made this year, featuring a 327ci engine.
1964 - Not since the 50s had their been a performance car this popular. Approved for production by John Delorean, the GTO was truely incredible for its time, with the optional 348hp Tri-Carb engine (and proper gearing) launching it to 60mph in 6 seconds; that's on 6"-wide tires! Unfortuneatly, no disc brakes were available. :(
1964-65 - In just a year or so, several prominent muscle cars were introduced by GM and Ford.
1968 - ChryCo brings out the infamous Road Runner and SuperBee models, favoring low options and big engines for incredible performance. Indeed, a 69 Hemi RR was capable of 0-60 sprints in the low 5-second range, all while driving on bias-ply tires (read: shitty) measuring about 7"-wide.
1971 - Facing raising gas prices and increasing insurance payments, manufacturers were forced to reduce compression on their engines, dropping power in large amounts.
1974 - Import econoboxes take over as the oil embargo swells and the last of the muscle cars die off, mere shells of their former glory.
Examples of Muscle Cars:
- AMC Javelin and AMX
- Buick GS models
- Chevy SS models
- Dodge R/T models
- Ford GT and XR models
- Plymouth Cudas, Dusters, RR/GTXs, and more
- Pontiac GTO and Firebird models
The average muscle car was capable of:
5.5 to 6.5s 0-60 sprints
12 to 14s 0-100 sprints
120-140mph top speeds
.80g skidpad #s (not bad for 18:1 steering and 7" tires)
58-63mph slalom speeds (see above parenthesis)
70-0 braking distances in the range of 120-135ft. (thats even good today!)
And 12-13mpg.
1949 - Olds introduces the Rocket 88, featuring cool styling, and a Kettering-designed OHV V8 producing 135hp from 303ci and a 7.5:1cr.
1955 - Chrysler introduces the Hemi-powered C300 luxury car. It's advanced 300hp powerplant gives it a top speed of 130mph, making it, at the time, the fastest production car in the world.
1957 - The hideous but fast AMC Rambler Rebel was made this year, featuring a 327ci engine.
1964 - Not since the 50s had their been a performance car this popular. Approved for production by John Delorean, the GTO was truely incredible for its time, with the optional 348hp Tri-Carb engine (and proper gearing) launching it to 60mph in 6 seconds; that's on 6"-wide tires! Unfortuneatly, no disc brakes were available. :(
1964-65 - In just a year or so, several prominent muscle cars were introduced by GM and Ford.
1968 - ChryCo brings out the infamous Road Runner and SuperBee models, favoring low options and big engines for incredible performance. Indeed, a 69 Hemi RR was capable of 0-60 sprints in the low 5-second range, all while driving on bias-ply tires (read: shitty) measuring about 7"-wide.
1971 - Facing raising gas prices and increasing insurance payments, manufacturers were forced to reduce compression on their engines, dropping power in large amounts.
1974 - Import econoboxes take over as the oil embargo swells and the last of the muscle cars die off, mere shells of their former glory.
Examples of Muscle Cars:
- AMC Javelin and AMX
- Buick GS models
- Chevy SS models
- Dodge R/T models
- Ford GT and XR models
- Plymouth Cudas, Dusters, RR/GTXs, and more
- Pontiac GTO and Firebird models
The average muscle car was capable of:
5.5 to 6.5s 0-60 sprints
12 to 14s 0-100 sprints
120-140mph top speeds
.80g skidpad #s (not bad for 18:1 steering and 7" tires)
58-63mph slalom speeds (see above parenthesis)
70-0 braking distances in the range of 120-135ft. (thats even good today!)
And 12-13mpg.
by KickOutTheJamsMotherF*ckers March 15, 2006
A group of American made cars that were produced between the late-50's and early-80's. The engines were usually high horsepower and high torque and when tuned correctly, got between 15 and 30 mpg. Typically, they ran 11 to 14 seconds on the quarter mile and speed up to 160mph, stock. Most weighed between 2500lbs and 4500lbs (Many were a bit lighter than todays cars) Even though considered obsolete by todays standards, A restored muscle car would be worth $10,000 - $150,000, and some muscle cars have sold for upwards of $3 million at auctions.
" Contrary to popular belief, not all American cars made in the 60's and 70's were considered a muscle car "
by Peiceofpaper February 07, 2006
Term used to describe American or Australian model cars hosting large powerful motors produced between 1960's-1970's. These are TRUE cars that will tear up tarmac with the force of a huge roaring V8 with hardcore torque with the absence of cheesey gadgets and microships that infest the weak 4 cylinder rice rockets that plague the roads these days.
Muscle Cars :
Pontiac GTO (holden monaro)
Buick Skylark
Superbird
Chev Chevelle
Plymouth roadrunner
Holden Monaro GTS
Holden Torana
Pontiac GTO (holden monaro)
Buick Skylark
Superbird
Chev Chevelle
Plymouth roadrunner
Holden Monaro GTS
Holden Torana
by schizer December 08, 2006
The kind of car that just blew your doors off. Why all the muscle car bashing? Have you ever owned one? driven one? I doubt it. Muscle cars were built from about 1964 to 1972. Camaros and Mustangs are not muscle cars, they are generally refered to as pony cars. Muscle cars are mid sized cars with large displacement engines. A muscle car in the truest sense is a big block V8 car. A muscle car can't have a 6 cylinder and be a true muscle car, even if it is the same body style. Just because you drive a pile of import crap doesn't mean you should bad mouth real pieces of automotive history. They were built decades ago and are still faster and worth more than your import car. Exhaust tips, graphics, stereo systems and spoilers don't make your car faster. You think trailer trash drive muscle cars? Have you seen the prices of muscle cars lately? Many are worth far more than the house you live in.
by My name none of your business July 09, 2006
My 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 with a 461 and 519hp will KILL any import on the Road today and for the rest of my life.
by John Perry December 21, 2003
by not a 4 banger September 12, 2003
Badass class of cars created almost exclusively by americans. The prime of the muscle car was during the 60s-70s where cars were often equiped with the biggest engines possible. The 80s saw a slow of muscle cars due to fuel prices, and the ford mustang even lowered it's standards to allow a 4 cylinder engine, defyng the "theres no replacement for displacement". This was corrected in the 90s there was a decent revival of the old legends, mainly the camaro, firebird, and mustang holding the banner for affordable, badass, and extreme speed for money. Although most muscle cars died by the late 90s, they are being revived currently and address the old issue of "american cars can't handle" to make them the ultimate in affordable sprts cars,;unless the communist president and current lord of the U.S. manages to stop their produciton and implement hybrid cars. The main competitor for the muscle cars is the imported "eco/sports" car, aka ricers, who reckon a couple stickers makes up for the torque lost by their pure horsepower engines.
Muscle car legends include: Corvette, Camaro, Firebird, Charger, Challenger, Mustang, Baracuda, Monte Carlo, Nova, Cougar, and many more American made rear wheel drive 300+ cube v8s built for pure horsepower.. Some english cars approach the muscle car ideology and may also be considered muscle cars in certain company.
Muscle car legends include: Corvette, Camaro, Firebird, Charger, Challenger, Mustang, Baracuda, Monte Carlo, Nova, Cougar, and many more American made rear wheel drive 300+ cube v8s built for pure horsepower.. Some english cars approach the muscle car ideology and may also be considered muscle cars in certain company.
Typical person 1: American muscle cars are redneck rods that only go fast in a straight line and are inferior to european and asian tecnolodgy
Informed person 1: Yeah... Ok.. Please look up Nurburgring (one of the trickiest turning courses in the world) lap times.. Oh wait.. the fastest production car lap time is a corvette? And your 250,000+ car placed where? yeah that sucks for you.
Informed person 1: Yeah... Ok.. Please look up Nurburgring (one of the trickiest turning courses in the world) lap times.. Oh wait.. the fastest production car lap time is a corvette? And your 250,000+ car placed where? yeah that sucks for you.
by Bill Y September 16, 2009