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There’s most likely no subject that will get traditional automobile lovers extra fired up than arguing about what counts as a “actual” muscle automobile. Stroll into any automobile present or cruise evening, and also you’ll hear passionate debates about whether or not sure beloved American classics deserve the muscle automobile badge.
The strains have gotten fairly blurry over the a long time, with advertising and marketing departments and nostalgia typically clouding the waters.
What Really Makes a Muscle Automobile?
Earlier than we dive into particular automobiles, let’s set up the bottom guidelines. A real muscle automobile is outlined as a two-door, mid-sized sedan constructed between 1964 and 1974 that got here with a efficiency bundle from the manufacturing facility. This implies it needed to be an intermediate-sized platform (not full-size, not compact) with severe horsepower straight from the dealership. There are many automobiles which were confused for muscle automobiles, however solely a choose few make the minimize.
The muscle automobile period was transient however sensible, ending when insurance coverage charges skyrocketed and emissions laws tightened within the mid-70s.
1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda: 99% Sure
The ‘Cuda walks the road between muscle automobile and pony automobile, and it’s a detailed name. Plymouth constructed the ‘Cuda on their compact A-body platform, which technically makes it smaller than the mid-size requirement.
Nevertheless, when you would order one with a 440 Six Pack or the legendary 426 Hemi (which produced a loopy 425 horsepower, in response to the Audrain Vehicle Museum), it’s exhausting to argue towards its muscle automobile credentials based mostly on measurement alone.
1969 Dodge Charger R/T: Sure, As a result of the Automobile Group Mentioned So
Right here’s the place issues get much more complicated: the Charger R/T is usually known as a muscle automobile, but it surely was truly constructed on Chrysler’s full-size B-body platform. By our strict definition, this makes it too huge to be a real muscle automobile, regardless of its simple efficiency pedigree.
The R/T bundle with its 440 Magnum or 426 Hemi definitely had the facility. So though it was marketed as a private luxurious automobile, the R/T often will get a cross from the automobile group.
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396: Heck Sure, Brother
Now we’re speaking! The Chevelle SS hits all of the marks completely. It was constructed on GM’s mid-size A-body platform, got here normal with a 396 huge block (and later 454), and was obtainable solely as a two-door.
The SS bundle was pure efficiency focus, with heavy-duty suspension, twin exhausts, and aggressive styling. That is muscle automobile DNA at its best with a 0-60 of simply 5.8 seconds, in response to Prime Velocity.
1967 Pontiac GTO: The OG Muscle Automobile
Typically credited as the unique muscle automobile, the GTO earns its title honest and sq.. Pontiac took their intermediate Tempest platform and stuffed a 389 cubic inch V8 below the hood, creating the template that everybody else would comply with.
The GTO proved that mid-size automobiles might deal with huge engines and that consumers have been hungry for inexpensive efficiency. It’s the automobile that began the entire muscle automobile motion, in response to Scorching Rod.
1970 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1: Sure, And Don’t You Neglect It
The Gran Sport typically will get neglected in muscle automobile discussions, which is a disgrace as a result of it suits the definition completely. Constructed on the identical A-body platform because the Chevelle, the GS got here with Buick’s underrated 455 cubic inch V8 that produced large torque.
The Stage 1 bundle added high-flow heads and a warmer cam, making it one of many strongest muscle automobiles of the period – even when it didn’t get the identical consideration as its flashier cousins.
1969 AMC AMX: Not Fairly
The AMX presents an fascinating case as a result of it was technically a two-seater sports activities automobile quite than a sedan. American Motors constructed it on a shortened model of their Javelin platform and provided it with severe V8 energy, together with a 390 cubic inch possibility.
Whereas it had the suitable efficiency and timeframe, the AMX was extra of an American reply to the Corvette than a standard muscle automobile.
The Verdict
The muscle automobile definition may appear restrictive, but it surely helps protect the which means of what made these automobiles particular. They represented a particular second in automotive historical past when producers found that younger consumers wished inexpensive, mid-sized automobiles with big-car engines. Not each quick traditional American automobile is a muscle automobile, and that’s completely high quality – there’s room within the storage for pony automobiles, private luxurious automobiles, and sports activities automobiles.
The true magic occurs once you flip the important thing and listen to that rumble, no matter what class the automobile suits into.
