Is the V6 Consisdered a muscle car?

[chuckstacamaro]

Back in the day, I had a 67 GTO Modified (A real Muscle Car) and I won some and lost some races to mid 80.s Buick GN's. GNX's and T Types. Especially when the V-6 Turbos intercoolers were kept cooled after each run.

[VR Baron]

I had a V8 Vega that smoked alot of cars.Well the ones who didn't know what it was, the rest stayed away. Wasn't a muscle car really though.

[KSCamaro]

Originally Posted by CC Performance

No the V6 is not muscle in todays car world but if it were making as much power as it makes now back in 69 then it would have been.

But when you can buy a car with 100+ more HP off the showroom floor then how can you call the V6 a muscle car when it gets out muscled at the drop of a hat.

Using this logic, the Camaro SS isn't a muscle car either.

[2010 SS RS]

First I have to say that the v6 is an awesome car. But for those of us that lived in the 60's and 70's when the term Muscle car and Pony car was coined there is a distinct difference between what is and what is not a Muscle Car.

There is even an official registry of what was a muscle car and what was a pony car. Track speed and mods had nothing to do with it. A vega with a aftermarket big block still was not considered a Muscle car....It was just a crazy fast car.

Perhaps it is time to coin some new term for the super fast class of v6 cars out there...but please dont shove your way into our world and class...There is a difference. I have doubled my HP and Torque but dont think I am in the Super Car Class with the Ferrarri's and GT 40's and ZR1's....Even though I may be able to beat most on the track or road course.
Strict Definition of a Muscle Car:


A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

Examples: Buick GS, Chevrolete Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino/Cobra, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO



Fullsize Muscle Car:


The strict definition only includes intermediate size vehicles. In reality, performance oriented intermediate size vehicles didn't appear until 1964. Before then, manufacturers took existing fullsize vehicles and added extra performance to them. Because of this, the early fullsize performance vehicles are generally considered muscle cars.

Examples: Chevrolet Impala (SS only), Ford Galaxie (with 390 + cid engines only), Dodge Coronet (R/Ts only), etc.



Pony Cars and Compact Cars:


In addition to fullsize and intermediate muscle cars, a number of smaller vehicles started appearing on the automotive performance scene. These new "pony cars" and compact cars are generally considered muscle cars only if they have the top of the line performance engines and options.

Examples: Chevrolet Camaro (SS and Z28 models only), Ford Mustang (GTs and Boss only), Plymouth 'Cudas (no Barracudas), AMC Javelin, etc.



Personal Luxury Cars and Luxury Cars:


Although there were several personal luxury vehicles with performance engines and options, their heavy weight and high sticker prices went against the low cost performance definition of muscle cars. Therefore, they are not considered muscle cars.

Examples: Buick Riviera, Chrysler 300 Letter Cars, Pontiac Grand Prix, etc.



Two Seat Sports Cars:


Two seat sports cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird are not considered muscle cars due to their high price and specialty nature. The only exception is the AMC AMX as it was relatively cheap, and was based on the AMC Javalin pony car.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by 2010 SS RS

First I have to say that the v6 is an awesome car. But for those of us that lived in the 60's and 70's when the term Muscle car and Pony car was coined there is a distinct difference between what is and what is not a Muscle Car.

There is even an official registry of what was a muscle car and what was a pony car. Track speed and mods had nothing to do with it. A vega with a aftermarket big block still was not considered a Muscle car....It was just a crazy fast car.

Perhaps it is time to coin some new term for the super fast class of v6 cars out there...but please dont shove your way into our world and class...There is a difference. I have doubled my HP and Torque but dont think I am in the Super Car Class with the Ferrarri's and GT 40's and ZR1's....Even though I may be able to beat most on the track or road course.
Strict Definition of a Muscle Car:


A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

Examples: Buick GS, Chevrolete Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino/Cobra, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO



Fullsize Muscle Car:


The strict definition only includes intermediate size vehicles. In reality, performance oriented intermediate size vehicles didn't appear until 1964. Before then, manufacturers took existing fullsize vehicles and added extra performance to them. Because of this, the early fullsize performance vehicles are generally considered muscle cars.

Examples: Chevrolet Impala (SS only), Ford Galaxie (with 390 + cid engines only), Dodge Coronet (R/Ts only), etc.



Pony Cars and Compact Cars:


In addition to fullsize and intermediate muscle cars, a number of smaller vehicles started appearing on the automotive performance scene. These new "pony cars" and compact cars are generally considered muscle cars only if they have the top of the line performance engines and options.

Examples: Chevrolet Camaro (SS and Z28 models only), Ford Mustang (GTs and Boss only), Plymouth 'Cudas (no Barracudas), AMC Javelin, etc.



Personal Luxury Cars and Luxury Cars:


Although there were several personal luxury vehicles with performance engines and options, their heavy weight and high sticker prices went against the low cost performance definition of muscle cars. Therefore, they are not considered muscle cars.

Examples: Buick Riviera, Chrysler 300 Letter Cars, Pontiac Grand Prix, etc.



Two Seat Sports Cars:


Two seat sports cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird are not considered muscle cars due to their high price and specialty nature. The only exception is the AMC AMX as it was relatively cheap, and was based on the AMC Javalin pony car.

Exactly! That's why know one makes a muscle car anymore. Let the term die with all the great cars that made the term. Time to invent a new term.

[2010 SS RS]

Originally Posted by motorhead

Exactly! That's why know one makes a muscle car anymore. Let the term die with all the great cars that made the term. Time to invent a new term.

Yep.............It is a new world we live in!

But it will be hard to change Ford, GM and Dodge to classify these cars any different. GM tried with 21st century sports car but that was just dumb.

I vote for Modern Muscle car and Modern Pony Car as this still gives tribute for those from 64 to 72 that truly were the Muscle and Pony cars.

[2FST2LIV2YNG2DY]

its hard to compare because yesterdays 300HP cars are todays 500 HP cars

[2010 SS RS]

Originally Posted by iLLaDeL_LyRiKaL

its hard to compare because yesterdays 300HP cars are todays 500 HP cars

Missing the point entirely...the classification had little to do with HP.
Re read the above definitions....It was related to size, price and performance along with trim level.

[SnowWhite 11]

I dont care what anyone says about my car, yes its a v6 so what, i consider it a sports car rather then a muscle car, along with the v8 cmaro not muscle. Your v8 camaros arnt any different from our v6's other then 2 cylinders and a different hood and wheels. Theres no such thing as a muscle car anymore.

[2010 SS RS]

Originally Posted by SnowWhite 11

I dont care what anyone says about my car, yes its a v6 so what, i consider it a sports car rather then a muscle car, along with the v8 cmaro not muscle. Your v8 camaros arnt any different from our v6's other then 2 cylinders and a different hood and wheels.

brakes, suspension, exhaust, transmissions and gears plus it meets the criteria being a bonafide Muscle car as opposed to Pony car. Other than that they are exactly the same car.

A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by SnowWhite 11

I dont care what anyone says about my car, yes its a v6 so what, i consider it a sports car rather then a muscle car, along with the v8 cmaro not muscle. Your v8 camaros arnt any different from our v6's other then 2 cylinders and a different hood and wheels. Theres no such thing as a muscle car anymore.

I like your front end better then mine ,but not enough to out weigh the 114 extra ponies that goes with that two more cylinders.
Agreed on the muscle car thing though. None of us have one anymore.

If you like it that's all that matters. Call it what you want.

[SnowWhite 11]

Originally Posted by motorhead

I like your front end better then mine ,but not enough to out weigh the 114 extra ponies that goes with that two more cylinders.
Agreed on the muscle car thing though. None of us have one anymore.

If you like it that's all that matters. Call it what you want.

i totally agree motorhead very good point. Call it what you want, really if you think about it muscle cars stopped in early 80's. All you have now are sports cars.

[Tarl]

I guess we can go on and on with this debate. Just watch the 2011 Ford Mustang commercial. They advertise the 2011 V6 Mustang as the first "Muscle car" with 29mpg rating.

So if the V6 Mustang can be called a "Muscle car" than I guess the V6 Camaro can too!!

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Tarl

I guess we can go on and on with this debate. Just watch the 2011 Ford Mustang commercial. They advertise the 2011 V6 Mustang as the first "Muscle car" with 29mpg rating.

So if the V6 Mustang can be called a "Muscle car" than I guess the V6 Camaro can too!!

Especially since the V6 Camaro was the first of its kind this time around.