History[edit]

1950s: Origins[edit]

1949 Oldsmobile 88
 

1955 Chrysler C-300
 

1957 Rambler Rebel
Opinions on the origin of the muscle car vary, but the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, is
cited as the first full-sized muscle car.[27] The Rocket 88 was the first time a powerful V8
engine was available in a smaller and lighter body style (in this case the 303 cu in
(5.0 L) engine from the larger Oldsmobile 98 with the body from the six-
cylinder Oldsmobile 76).[28] The Rocket 88 produced 135 hp (101 kW) at 3600 rpm and
263 lb⋅ft (357 N⋅m) at 1800 rpm and won eight out of ten races in the 1950 NASCAR
season. The Rocket 88's Oldsmobile 303 V8 engine (along with the Cadillac
331 engine, also introduced in 1949) are stated to have "launched the modern era of
the high-performance V-8."[29]
In 1955, the large sized Chrysler C-300 was introduced that produced 300 hp (224 kW)
from its 331 cu in (5.4 L) V8 engine, and it was advertised as "America's Most Powerful
Car".[28] Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 9.8 seconds and reaching
130 miles per hour (209 km/h), the 1955 Chrysler 300 is also recognized as one of the
best-handling cars of its era.[30]
The compact-sized 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk was powered by a 275 hp (205 kW)
352 cu in (5.8 L) Packard V8, the second most powerful engine to the Chrysler 300.[31]
The Rambler Rebel, introduced by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1957, is the
first mid-sized car to be available with a big-block V8 engine.[31] The Rebel followed most
of the muscle car formula including "make 'em go fast as well as cheaply."[32] It is
therefore considered by some to be the first muscle car.[33][32] With a 327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
engine producing 255 hp (190 kW), its 0–60 mph acceleration of 7.5 seconds made it
the fastest stock American sedan at the time.[34] Only the fuel-injected Chevrolet
Corvette beat it by half a second.[35]