Hey guys, over on the Challenger forum, someone got an idea to start a thread to define what a Muscle Car is. Some are saying the modern cars like the Mustang and the Challenger are not muscle cars because of parts or assembly being done out of country or not meeting the original "concepts" behind the birth of muscle cars.
I don't believe you can really define what a Muscle Car is when it come to the car itself. because I don't believe the car itself is what makes a muscle car. I did, however, try to capture the spirit of the era, and I wanted to share it with you. I wonder how many of you will agree.
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The truth is, today's muscle cars don't meet the true definition of a "Muscle Car". Or do they?
As mentioned in the first post, a Muscle Car is an American made car.
Typically a two door, though that was not a requirement. The actual requirement was to take the smallest car they had and put the biggest motor they could in it. This is what "Hot Rodders" were doing prior to the American car companies copying after market. This was also the expressed desire of Ford when they put the Mustang together.
Speaking of the Mustang... some people say cars like the Mustang and Corvette are not muscle cars at all... but rather categories called Pony Cars (Mustang) and Super Cars (Corvette). Me personally, I think Pony Cars are muscle cars (Muscle Car Club agrees), but they would fall on the lighter side of the category, as they were much more nimble on corners and did not have a big block motor in them, at least not in the common production vehicles. Though some limited production Mustangs had engines such as the 428ci, most cars were equipped with a 289-302.
Another reason I say I feel Pony Cars are muscle cars is because, the original Challenger R/T was a Pony Car.
Also, a Muscle Car must be rear-wheel drive.
A Muscle Car is also designed for straight line speed.
Another big aspect was the car had to be affordable, AKA easily obtainable by the average American. High performance cars like the Corvette and the Ford Le Mans GT40 are considered Super Cars and Sports Cars, not muscle cars. Mostly due to being cost prohibitive.
Many will say if it is not built in America, with American parts and by an American company... it is not a Muscle Car. The Muscle Car is supposed to embrace, pay tribute and salute American engineering as well as being considered a signature staple of the American culture. Unfortunately, that culture ended in the late 70's thanks to the EPA, ever encroaching regulatory over-reach of the political Left and either total buy outs or merging of American car companies with foreign interests, leading to a massive outsourcing of assembly and part manufacturing out of country.
With all that said... at a minimum, we can certainly call modern muscle cars amazing tributes to an era long gone. Or we can say we have been a part of the rebirth of the modern Muscle Car era. After all, taking the "Made in America" part out of it, they still embrace, pay tribute and salute American culture. After all, isn't that really what its all about?
Maybe that's why people can't really define what a Muscle Car is. It's not a thing, its an American culture. True to the founding and growth of America, it really can't be just any one thing, but a collection of feelings that says, we are Americans and we are proud!
.
I don't believe you can really define what a Muscle Car is when it come to the car itself. because I don't believe the car itself is what makes a muscle car. I did, however, try to capture the spirit of the era, and I wanted to share it with you. I wonder how many of you will agree.
____________________________________________________________
The truth is, today's muscle cars don't meet the true definition of a "Muscle Car". Or do they?
As mentioned in the first post, a Muscle Car is an American made car.
Typically a two door, though that was not a requirement. The actual requirement was to take the smallest car they had and put the biggest motor they could in it. This is what "Hot Rodders" were doing prior to the American car companies copying after market. This was also the expressed desire of Ford when they put the Mustang together.
Speaking of the Mustang... some people say cars like the Mustang and Corvette are not muscle cars at all... but rather categories called Pony Cars (Mustang) and Super Cars (Corvette). Me personally, I think Pony Cars are muscle cars (Muscle Car Club agrees), but they would fall on the lighter side of the category, as they were much more nimble on corners and did not have a big block motor in them, at least not in the common production vehicles. Though some limited production Mustangs had engines such as the 428ci, most cars were equipped with a 289-302.
Another reason I say I feel Pony Cars are muscle cars is because, the original Challenger R/T was a Pony Car.
Also, a Muscle Car must be rear-wheel drive.
A Muscle Car is also designed for straight line speed.
Another big aspect was the car had to be affordable, AKA easily obtainable by the average American. High performance cars like the Corvette and the Ford Le Mans GT40 are considered Super Cars and Sports Cars, not muscle cars. Mostly due to being cost prohibitive.
Many will say if it is not built in America, with American parts and by an American company... it is not a Muscle Car. The Muscle Car is supposed to embrace, pay tribute and salute American engineering as well as being considered a signature staple of the American culture. Unfortunately, that culture ended in the late 70's thanks to the EPA, ever encroaching regulatory over-reach of the political Left and either total buy outs or merging of American car companies with foreign interests, leading to a massive outsourcing of assembly and part manufacturing out of country.
With all that said... at a minimum, we can certainly call modern muscle cars amazing tributes to an era long gone. Or we can say we have been a part of the rebirth of the modern Muscle Car era. After all, taking the "Made in America" part out of it, they still embrace, pay tribute and salute American culture. After all, isn't that really what its all about?
Maybe that's why people can't really define what a Muscle Car is. It's not a thing, its an American culture. True to the founding and growth of America, it really can't be just any one thing, but a collection of feelings that says, we are Americans and we are proud!
.
