What's considered a Muscle Car?

[chel_cee7]

Originally Posted by VICTORY RED 1SS

Muscle car has nothing to do with age, its a purpose. Cars built with v8's with performance at the top of the list of attributes are muscle cars.
My opinion...I think you could definately call the new Camaro SS a Muscle Car at slightly better than 420 hp.
2010 Camaro 300 hp v6..sports car.

What is really a joke is when people call plain jane cars muscle cars.
For example, a 1969 Camaro that came with a 307 is not a muscle car.
Muscle car means "factory" not a transplanted or altered.
Conversely, a 69 Camaro SS 350 is a muscle car. A 70 Chevelle with a 350 is not a muscle car, a 70 Chevelle SS 396 is a muscle car. A 340 Dart, muscle car. 318 dart not a muscle car. 69 cougar eliminator 428 = muscle, 69 cougar 302 2bbl nope.

2008 mustang GT, sports car, not a muscle car, 2008 Shelby = muscle car. Viper = c@ck extension.

I'm not sure I fully understand your "logic."

[chel_cee7]

Originally Posted by tjmac49

Wow. After reading all of this debate, I sought clarification; Here are some definitions I unearthed on Wikipedia (not the Bible, but a readily available reference).

Muscle Car. Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high performance automobiles.[1][2] At its most widely accepted the term refers to American 2-door rear wheel drive mid-size cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s equipped with large, powerful V8s and sold at an affordable price for street use and drag racing, formally and informally.[3][4][5][6]
As such, they are distinct from two-seat sports cars and expensive 2+2 GTs intended for high-speed touring and road racing.

In this category the following cars are listed: AMX, Chevelle, Charger, Torino, Montego, 442, Road Runner, and GTO.

Now ... the Pony Car. Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964.[1] [2] The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image. "It was small by Detroit standards, with sporty styling... [a]nd the rear wheels were driven by an engine — ideally a big V8 — mounted up front..."[3] Pony cars were "relatively small, relatively light and often absurdly powerful.

In this category the following cars are listed: Javelin, Camaro, Challenger, Mustang, Cougar, Barracuda, and Firebird.

I will go ahead and place a blindfold on because I realize the messenger is always shot. Have fun with this.

Now, this I understand!

[Mr. Wyndham]

fwiw, I think the modern Camaro most closely fits the role of Grand Tourer...

It's too well of a performer...too refined to still be considered a pony car....imo.
Maybe for the sake of heritage it can be called that...

[CamaroSpike23]

lol at this thread.

[68 Z/28]

Need I say more

[GrnMchin]

Originally Posted by 68 Z/28

Attachment 134627




Need I say more

That works for me.

[68 Z/28]

Originally Posted by GrnMchin

That works for me.

[Toyaholic]

Originally Posted by 68 Z/28

Attachment 134627




Need I say more

You could have said something like this........

[68 Z/28]

Originally Posted by Toyaholic

You could have said something like this........

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by tjmac49

Wow. After reading all of this debate, I sought clarification; Here are some definitions I unearthed on Wikipedia (not the Bible, but a readily available reference).

Muscle Car. Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high performance automobiles.[1][2] At its most widely accepted the term refers to American 2-door rear wheel drive mid-size cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s equipped with large, powerful V8s and sold at an affordable price for street use and drag racing, formally and informally.[3][4][5][6]
As such, they are distinct from two-seat sports cars and expensive 2+2 GTs intended for high-speed touring and road racing.

In this category the following cars are listed: AMX, Chevelle, Charger, Torino, Montego, 442, Road Runner, and GTO.

Now ... the Pony Car. Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964.[1] [2] The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image. "It was small by Detroit standards, with sporty styling... [a]nd the rear wheels were driven by an engine — ideally a big V8 — mounted up front..."[3] Pony cars were "relatively small, relatively light and often absurdly powerful.

In this category the following cars are listed: Javelin, Camaro, Challenger, Mustang, Cougar, Barracuda, and Firebird.

I will go ahead and place a blindfold on because I realize the messenger is always shot. Have fun with this.

One more example of Wiki being a lil offside...

NO AMX would have been a "mid-size muscle car". The original '68-'70 versions were two seaters, and therefore a "Sports Car". The '71-'74 Javelin-based AMX "package" would therefore be a "Pony Car"...

The AMC vehicle that fully qualifies as a "Muscle Car" is the Machine...

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

fwiw, I think the modern Camaro most closely fits the role of Grand Tourer...

It's too well of a performer...too refined to still be considered a pony car....imo.
Maybe for the sake of heritage it can be called that...

Agreed.

[rez333]

Originally Posted by camaro5

The Camaro is called a "Sporty Coupe". Muscle cars are no longer PC.

"sporty coupe"? You mean like a Honda Accord coupe?

Sporty Coupe is an insult. It's a term for a sedan-ish car with sport ambitions.

[gold5000000]

a muscle car is: an affordable, 2 door car with 2 rows of seats, a powerful v8, and turns heads everywhere it goes. It also has a nice aftermarket of affordable performance upgrades.

or

a car that makes the kind of sounds and can make earthquakes

[Mr. Wyndham]

So...Would the Aston Martin DB9 be a muscle car? Or a BMW M3? Maybe an Audi S5?