American Muscle Ford Dodge And Chevy

American Muscle: Ford, Dodge, and Chevy

Summary: America's muscle car era peaked during the s, but a new era may soon be returning thanks to the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Chevy Camaro.

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Article Body: Back during the s through the mid s, Detroit automakers produced several cars that were out and out muscle cars. These types of vehicles shared the same characteristics: they were two door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that period of time. Today, muscle car mania is back, despite even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and wagon models from Dodge, there is new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as one more manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesteryear, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of vehicles produced that at one time or another might have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane and Ford Torino did duty; the Mercury Montego was another model; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Tempest; Olds the ; American Motors had its Javelin; Plymouth had the Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle car along with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.

Interestedly, it took Fords redoing of the Mustang for the model year to stir the current muscle car era craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the s, the current Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating contemporary technology. The result has been that the Mustang currently sells its entire , model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at auto shows across the USA, has been a huge hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V hemi powered model back in . In addition, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the USA auto show circuit.

So, isnt it silly to bring back such gas hogs? Back during the early s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only - miles to the gallon around town and or miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable miles to the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will certainly be lower than many other models, the new group of muscle cars will still better the previous generation cars with fuel mileage % or more above the cars from the s.

Fortunately, we still live in a fairly free country and what the consumer wants, the consumer gets. So, V powered muscle cars mated to speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will likely appeal to many. No, they wont be exact duplicates of yesterdays muscle cars, but they will provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I cant wait!