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Muscle Car History: How It All Began

Have you ever wondered about the history of muscle cars and how it all began? Well, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the events that spurned the start of the public’s love for these iconic vehicles.

A muscle car is a term that is used to refer to a variety of high performance vehicles. Typically, the term is used for Australian, American and South African models but it is also used for others as well. The average model would be a two door, mid-sized automobile with a rear wheel drive. What sets it apart from others of the same kind would be its powerful engine which is usually a V8 engine. The first muscle car models were produced between the 60’s and the 70’s. These vehicles were designed to be used for races as well as normal street use. Now, one must never confuse a muscle car with a sports car or a GT because those were intended, specifically, for both road racing and touring.

When it comes to the muscle car history in America, some would say that the very first model to be manufactured would be the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 which was released in 1949. This vehicle was innovative for its time because of its power and speed which aroused the public’s interest for more vehicles of the same sort. The Rocket had the very first V8 installed in it. Now, due to the increase in public interest, more manufacturers thought about producing flashier models. Chrysler was among the first ones with their 1955 C-300 which became “America’s Most Powerful Vehicle” during the time it was produced.

When the 1960’s came rolling in, muscle cars became even more popular with several of the biggest car manufacturers locked in a tight race as to who could produce the fastest, meanest and biggest muscle car there was. Dodge, Ford, Chrysler and Plymouth battled it out in drag racing and manufacturing. The decline came when politicians stated their concern over such powerful vehicles in the hands of the reckless youth, as well as new emissions laws that reduce the size of the engines. Needless to say, many people thought of these cars as being dangerous to both the driver and pedestrians who shared the same streets.

These days, while there are still plenty of people who own and drive classic muscle cars, they really are not as rampant as before. But who knows? As history has taught us, some things repeat themselves and for all we know, we could be in the midst of a muscle car revival.

If you enjoyed reading this article, William invites you to read his latest on the barracuda car at MuscleCarMonster.com

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Mass Appeal of Muscle Cars

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about muscle cars? For most people, they think of a vehicle that not only looks tough, but also delivers tough performance when on the road. These cars are also associated with very masculine activities such as drag racing. Of course, there are some girls who are also into these things, but typically, there are more guys who are interested in these types of cars. However both sexes can really enjoy these classic cars because they are so incredible.

The classic American muscle cars are stunning products that were made from the combination of high power and luxurious appearance. Such facts made these cars a hit among enthusiasts and collectors. The engines of these cars were bigger than the more common kinds of automobiles. When it came to the frame, it was also bigger than a sports cars. The most popular models were done between the years of 1964 to 1973. There are various models that have captured the hearts of those who are keen about muscles cars. Some of the most popular models include the Chevrolet El Camino, Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, Plymouth Road Runner, Mercury Montego, Ford Fairlane 500, Chevrolet Camaro, Firebird, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac GTO, Ford Torino and a lot more.

It is also possible to create your own custom models by hiring the services of a car company that will modify it to your specifications. You just have to speak with their engineers about what you intend to be done. You can dictate what you want to be used on the engine, the frame, the interiors and paint. Keep in mind however, that this can get quite costly.

Muscle cars continue to enjoy great popularity all around the world. This may be due to the fact that there are more people, especially teens, who are just learning about these cars. Ironically enough, this was the exact target market that the car manufacturers had in mind all those decades ago. Now today, people who grew up with these cars are usually the ones you will see buying them at auction houses and other high end venues, trying to relive their pasts. This is why I believe these cars will contiune to be revered well into the future, becasue they seem to transcend generations and are so appealing to a wealth of people, regardless of where and when you grew up.

To learn more about our feature classic, the 1969 Dodge Charger, visit our MuscleCarMonster.com blog today.

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The 1964 Ford Thunderbolt

Ever since the Ford Motor Company released the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt, it was a surprise to many that their production only continued for over a year. All told there were only about 100 units of these cars ever produced. The Thunderbolt had a four-speed transmission and it was an automatic. It is of common knowledge that most automobiles in America at this time were automatic since the stick shift had low preference value. This was because driving a stick shift back then, was seen as a harder way to drive. Of course many people today are now looking to buy sticks because it is more of a “cool” factor than anyting else.

The car possessed a 427 High Riser racer engine that had a distinctive ram air induction system, twelve to one compression ratio, aluminum scatter pump, dual 4-barrel Holley carburetion, tubular headers, trunk mounted battery, revised drag suspension, heavy duty breaks, electric fuel pump, gauges, tachometer, drag tires and special wheels.

This type of engine was already street legal in America as early as the 60s – that is why a lot of street racers grew fond of the 500 horsepower vehicle.

The Thunderbolt was very lightweight, which was in fact a big advantage for car racing since the lighter the car, the faster it would figuratively fly. While this wasn’t the fastest muscle car in its class, it could really hold its own on any dragracing strip. However, this car isn’t so popular because of its power, but because of how rare it is.

Due to its minute production, the 1964 Ford Thunderbolt is like caviar to car enthusiasts since only a few were ever produced. There even was once a countrywide search for the few ones that could still be auctioned or bought from previous owners. That is why the thunderbolt is one of the most sought after muscle cars by collectors, much like the Super bird.

Sure enough, this superb muscle car is indeed a gemstone in the automobile industry. For those who are lucky enough to own the Thunderbolt, it can fetch up to as much as $200,000 at an auction, making it one of the most valuable classic cars I know of and I can only see this value going upwards for many years to come. To me, owning this vehicle is like owning stock in a valuable company.

To view more articles on the muscle car you love best, visit my site today.

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The Ever Popular 1961 Chevelle

What makes muscle cars so great that they can transcend trends and generations in order to remain at the top when it comes to being the most coveted cars out there? Is it the way they look and their powerful engines? Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

These days, when people think of muscle cars, they immediately associate the term with vehicles that were made for speed and great performance. Classic car enthusiasts, the ones considered to be purists, believe that only mid sized vehicles from the 60’s are the only ones truly deserving to be referred to as muscle cars. In this article, we’ll discuss one of the most popular muscle car models ever to come out. It was so popular that one of the biggest bands in the 60’s even wrote a song about it. Can you guess which one it is?

Considered by many to be the first real muscle car, the 1961 Chevy Impala SS is also the vehicle wherein Chevrolet introduced its 409 cubic inch V8 engine. This is the engine that launched the Big Three car manufacturers into a horsepower race that would last up until the 70’s. Of course, muscle cars wouldn’t be referred to as such if they had weak engines. This 409 engine became so iconic after the Beach Boys created a song about the car itself. “She’s so fine, my 409”, a simple line in a song, turned the car into an icon for baby boomers.

Seeing as the 1960’s was a time to be young, wild and free, Chevrolet marketed the 1961 Chevy Impala SS as a vehicle “for young men on the move, who wont settle for less than REAL driving excitement”. But did it live up to that promise? Well, it certainly did. The vehicle’s performance was excellent for the era in which it was created. It could go from 0 to 60 in 7 seconds and could complete the quarter mile in around 14 seconds at 98 miles per hour, thus making the 1961 Chevy Impala SS one of the fastest models available. Needless to say, the car had earned its place and certainly deserved being referred to as a legend among the many other muscle cars of it’s time. This is why it is such a highly collectable car among many muscle car enthusiats almost forty years later and will remain so for many years to come.

William loves to share his muscle car passion with others and has created his own classic car blog.

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A Short History of Muscle Cars

From its flashy exterior to its high-performance engines, a muscle car is every inch the perfect automobile. While this type of vehicles was introduced to the public ages ago, it is still the favorite vehicle among car enthusiast all over the world. Also, they are considered a truly valuable collector’s item, making these cars some of the most sought after automobiles on the market. You will see many of these vehicles on popular tv shows and in movies, and some of the most desirable and rare models can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, these vehicles are becoming more and more popular than they have ever been.

A Short Background of Muscle Cars

Muscle cars burst on the scene in the 1960’s, as drag racing gradually rose to popularity. At that point, car manufacturers such as Ford, MOPAR and American Motors produced an extensive array of muscle cars to satisfy its growing market. Muscle cars were characteristically medium sized vehicles with the power of huge engines. These 2-door automobiles were unique in every sense, from their designs to their speed capacities. Exterior designs of this car breed range from those simple yet elegant structures to the fiery and detailed ones largely used for racing. Although these cars were initially intended for sports racing, they differed very much from sports cars.

Features common in Muscle Cars

Over the years, different car manufacturers and individuals have created various improvements and modifications to the original version of muscle cars. Through this, these cars have evolved so much in terms of engines, structure and ability. However, the key features of the old muscle cars remain, and that’s what makes them so incredible and alluring to collectors today. Among the few qualities that define muscle cars and represent even most of the modern ones are large wheels, superior horsepower, expertly crafted car parts and classic, stylish designs.

Some of the Most Popular Models

Muscle cars have consistently endured the test of time. That’s why most of these models have been so popular among racers and collectors alike. There are the Ford’s Torino, GTO, and Mustang. Other well-known muscle cars include Chevrolet’s Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, Plymouth Roadrunner, Buick Skylark, Dodge Challenger and the Super Bee. Chrysler, another leading car manufacturer, has produced its own line of famous muscle cars including Valiant Charger and LX platform.

If you are hungry for more articles on old school cars please visit William’s blog, MuscleCarMonster.com.

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