What are Muscle Cars?

Muscle cars are a type of vehicle that was made between the years of 1964 and 1972, though some argue the definition to include any vehicle made at any time that was a small car with a big engine.While Australia and New Zealand also had what was deemed as muscle cars, the classic term is most commonly deemed as American.Most muscle cars, when manufactured were inexpensive cars, typically 2-door with a V8 engine.The term was generated because these small to midsized cars had very powerful engines in them, increasing their “muscle”.They were designed for street use but their speed and popularity with the younger set also made them popular for racing both in sanctioned events and street racing.

Some examples of muscle cars include:

·1966–1971 Plymouth/Dodge

·1966–1967 Chevy II SS327

·1966–1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396

·1968–1969 Chevy II Nova SS396

·1969 Ford Torino Cobra 428

·1968–1971 Dodge Super Bee

·1964-1974 Pontiac GTO

·1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454

·1968-1971 Mustang Cobra Jet

One of the advantages to muscle cars when they were originally in production was the low cost, making them affordable to younger people.However, this affordability was short lived after insurance companies decided that muscle cars were more dangerous and started charging a higher premium for them.This added expense made the muscle car more expensive than many younger drivers could afford.

Muscle cars faded away with the OPEC oil embargo and laws regarding emissions standards.Because these muscle cars had little to no pollution or safety standards imposed, when the government began pressuring auto manufacturers for such, the cost increased, the performance ability decreased and so did the demand.Muscle cars were soon replaced with other safer, cleaner options.