Muscle car

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1966 Pontiac GTO

Muscle car is a term for high-performance American coupes, usually but not limited
to rear-wheel drive and fitted with a high-displacement V8 engine. General Motors
introduced the first proper muscle car in 1949.[1] The term originated for 1960s and early
1970s special editions of mass-production cars which were designed for drag racing.[2]

Contents

 1Terminology
o 1.1Definition
o 1.2Supercars
 2History
o 2.11950s: Origins
o 2.2Early 1960s: Drag racing influences
o 2.31964–1970: Peak muscle car era
o 2.41970s Decline of the segment
o 2.51980s–1990s: Performance revival
o 2.62000s to present
 3Australia
 4List of muscle cars 1963-1973
 5See also
 6References
 7External links

Terminology[edit]
Definition[edit]
The definition of muscle car is subjective and frequently debated. [3][4] Muscle cars often
have many of the following characteristics:[3][5][6][7][8][9][10]
  A large V8 engine in the most powerful configuration
offered for a particular model
 Rear-wheel drive
 Being manufactured in the United States in the
1960s or early 1970s (the specific year range of
1964–1973 is sometimes used)[5]
 A relatively lightweight two-door body (opinions vary
as to whether high-performance full-size
cars, compacts, and pony cars qualify as muscle
cars,[11] as it is sometimes claimed that
only intermediate cars can be considered muscle
cars)[3][5]
 An affordable price
 Being designed for straight-line drag racing, while
remaining street legal.
High-power pony cars are sometimes considered muscle cars, however personal luxury
cars are often too expensive to be considered muscle cars. [3] Sports cars and sports
sedans are not usually considered muscle cars, since they are generally associated
with circuit racing rather than drag racing. [12] Muscle cars are an extension of the hot
rodding philosophy of taking a small car and putting a large-displacement engine in it,
for the purpose of increased straight-line speed.[12]
Supercars[edit]
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Muscle cars were originally referred to as "Supercars" in the United States, often
(though not always) spelled with a capital S." [13] From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s,
"dragstrip bred" mid-size cars were equipped with large, powerful V8 engines and rear-
wheel drive were referred to as Supercars more often than muscle cars. [14][15][16] An early
example is the 1957 Rambler Rebel, which was described as a "potent mill turned the
lightweight Rambler into a veritable supercar." [17]
In 1966, the supercar became an official industry trend" [18] as the four domestic
automakers "needed to cash in on the supercar market" with eye-catching, heart-
stopping cars.[19] Examples of the use of the supercar description for the early muscle
models include the May 1965 Car Life road test of the Pontiac GTO along with how
"Hurst puts American Motors into the Supercar club with the 390
Rogue"[20] (the SC/Rambler) to fight in "the Supercar street racer gang" market segment,
[21]
 with the initials "SC" signifying SuperCar.[22]
The supercar market segment in the U.S. at the time included special versions of
regular production models[23] that were positioned in several sizes and market segments
(such as the "economy supercar"[24]), as well as limited edition, documented dealer-
converted vehicles.[25] However, the supercar term by that time "had been diluted and
branded with a meaning that did not respect the unique qualities of the 'muscle car'." [26]