Definition of a muscle car...

[Gstick]

I have always considered a 4 door car with a high performance drive train a "sleeper car".

[CoveyZL1]

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by rontammy0

Unless the Imp 4dr came in the SS ....then yep. If it did then I apologize. ....

It did. The SS could be ordered in any of the Impala bodies including the station-wagon. Also the RPO package L72 could be ordered with 427-425HP.

[CamaroFred]

Pull your Camaro up next to a Miata and tell me which is a sports car and which is a muscle car.

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

It did. The SS could be ordered in any of the Impala bodies including the station-wagon. Also the RPO package L72 could be ordered with 427-425HP.

Only in 1961 could you get an SS in a wagon or 4dr....after that zero SS cars had 4drs.....so considering the facts I guess you sir are right....its just that 1961 wasn't really the muscle car era ....but regardless.

[crazydave]

Originally Posted by 808NHBK

IMO these new Mustangs and Camaros are just sport cars now. They're lighter, have four cylinder options and are designed to look like lean sports cars. There is a reason why you here often that the Challenger is the last "true" muscle car still left, because it's the only one that still adheres to the tradition of a big burly vehicle hence the "muscle" name nomenclature. Yes, we all make fun of the challenger for being a fat "overweight" hog especially the hellcat, but that's the reason why many people love them. To me it'a all nostalgia. The Camaro to me is almost the same size as a Corvette now except with "back seats" if you even want to call them that because you're not putting a full size adult in that back seat.

Agree 100%! To me a muscle car used to be an affordable basic car with a larger than needed engine, minimalistic suspension, but boy did they go when you pointed them straight. My opinion, the Camaro and Mustang are no longer muscle cars.

[CamaroFred]

Originally Posted by rontammy0

Only in 1961 could you get an SS in a wagon or 4dr....after that zero SS cars had 4drs.....so considering the facts I guess you sir are right....its just that 1961 wasn't really the muscle car era ....but regardless.

It started with the GTO from Pontiac in 1967. And somewhere along the line some 401s (12 over, different block) were stuck in when it was supposed to be a 389. But only with the 3 speed stick (three on the tree). The 4.11 posi showed the 383 Road Runners it's taillights. Only the 426 Hemi's could compete.

Chevy's with a 396 or even a 454 were just dust.

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

Basically what we've resolved here is...NOTHING..


Everyone's definition of a muscle car is different, there's no rule book, there's no encyclopedia of "Muscle cars".

[leemozoid]

Originally Posted by Sven59

The 1949 Oldsmobile 88 is widely considered the first muscle car.

I think the 1962 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 with the tripower topped 421 HO was the progenitor of the 60s and 70s muscle car revolution.

[leemozoid]

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

It started with the GTO from Pontiac in 1967. And somewhere along the line some 401s (12 over, different block) were stuck in when it was supposed to be a 389. But only with the 3 speed stick (three on the tree). The 4.11 posi showed the 383 Road Runners it's taillights. Only the 426 Hemi's could compete.

Chevy's with a 396 or even a 454 were just dust.

The GTO started production in 1964. Officially 1966 was the last year for the 389 but I had an early production 1967 convertible that had one with the 2nd generation, three Rochester 2GC carb tripower that opened center first and the front/rear next. The roar of those three carbs at WOT was unparalleled, even by dual four bbls or the MOPAR six pack. The GTO never had a three speed transmission. All manuals were four speeds. Any three speeds were just a faux rebadged Tempest or LeMans. My next GTO was a 1967 automatic coupe, followed by a 1968 automatic coupe and finally a 1969 Ram Air III Judge. It was an automatic with air, power windows and lighted vanity mirrors. The RA hood was fully functional and it was one of less than 400 produced in that configuration. Oh, it was also Carousel Red. It had 1968 Ram Air II round port exhaust heads and was a beast. I miss it the most.

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

It started with the GTO from Pontiac in 1967. And somewhere along the line some 401s (12 over, different block) were stuck in when it was supposed to be a 389. But only with the 3 speed stick (three on the tree). The 4.11 posi showed the 383 Road Runners it's taillights. Only the 426 Hemi's could compete.

Chevy's with a 396 or even a 454 were just dust.

This is true

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by Can'tHave2MuchHP

Basically what we've resolved here is...NOTHING..


Everyone's definition of a muscle car is different, there's no rule book, there's no encyclopedia of "Muscle cars".

This is also true....the link I posted was for the World Wide Muscle Car Registry.
http://www.musclecarclub.com/muscle-car-definition/
its about as close to a rule book as your gonna get.

[camguynj]

Here's my spin on the above "A 2 door, intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a V8 engine that produces enough torque when the accelerator is depressed to produce that undescribable holy shit feeling as the front of the car lunges upwards and your body is g-forced to the back of your seat.... while the rear of the car starts going this way and that way "

It's kind of like the Supreme Court definition of pornography "you know it when you see it"

[STUNNAH]

+1 to post #41...