| America's muscle car era peaked during the 1960s, but | | | | incorporating contemporary technology. The result has |
| a new era may soon be returning thanks to the Ford | | | | been that the Mustang currently sells its entire 150,000 |
| Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Chevy Camaro. | | | | model capacity without incentives. |
| Back during the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit | | | | The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go |
| automakers produced several cars that were out and | | | | ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge |
| out "muscle" cars. These types of vehicles shared the | | | | Challenger concept car, appearing at auto shows |
| same characteristics: they were two door coupes with | | | | across the USA, has been a huge hit and Chrysler |
| souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an | | | | plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in |
| aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High | | | | 2009. In addition, General Motors is considering giving its |
| fuel prices and changing tastes eventually limited sales | | | | blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the |
| to the point where only a few models were produced | | | | rounds of the USA auto show circuit. |
| beyond that period of time. Today, muscle car mania is | | | | So, isn't it silly to bring back such gas hogs? Back |
| back, despite even higher gas prices. Thanks to the | | | | during the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle |
| Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and | | | | cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around |
| wagon models from Dodge, there is new interest in a | | | | town and 15 or 16 miles per gallon on the highway. |
| category long given up. The future is bright for the | | | | Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even |
| muscle car segment as one more manufacturer, | | | | the Corvette returns a highly respectable 28 miles to |
| Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of | | | | the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will |
| yesteryear, the Camaro. | | | | certainly be lower than many other models, the new |
| Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of | | | | group of muscle cars will still better the previous |
| vehicles produced that at one time or another might | | | | generation cars with fuel mileage 80% or more above |
| have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the | | | | the cars from the 1970s. |
| Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 and Ford Torino did | | | | Fortunately, we still live in a fairly free country and |
| duty; the Mercury Montego was another model; | | | | what the consumer wants, the consumer gets. So, V8 |
| Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; | | | | powered muscle cars mated to 6 speed manu-matic |
| Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Tempest; Olds the 442; | | | | transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and |
| American Motors' had its Javelin; Plymouth had the | | | | better fuel economy will likely appeal to many. No, they |
| 'Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the | | | | won't be exact duplicates of yesterday's muscle cars, |
| Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette | | | | but they will provide the nostalgia and power that |
| survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as | | | | motorists seek. I can't wait! |
| a four door muscle car along with its sibling, the hot | | | | Copyright 2006 - Matthew C. Keegan is a full time |
| Dodge Magnum wagon. | | | | freelance writer covering the new cars as well as the |
| Interestedly, it took Ford's redoing of the Mustang for | | | | classics. Get the most out of your performance car by |
| the 2005 model year to stir the current muscle car era | | | | installing Gibson Exhaust parts including a Gibson |
| craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the | | | | Performance Exhaust system or quality Gibson |
| current Mustang embraces a retro look while | | | | Headers. |