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What is a Muscle Car Anyway? |
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Written by Muscle Car Tech
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Thursday, 20 December 2007 |
There are some cars that can unquestionably be given the classic “muscle car” label. The 1967 Pontiac GTO: now that's a muscle car. Other late-mid twentieth century American classics like the Dodge Fury and the Chevrolet Chevelle, those are undeniably muscle cars too.
There are some cars that can unquestionably be given the classic “muscle car” label. The 1967 Pontiac GTO: now that's a muscle car. Other late-mid twentieth century American classics like the Dodge Fury and the Chevrolet Chevelle, those are undeniably muscle cars too.
B what about the new Pontiac GTO? What about an 80's-model Mustang? What about an Aston Martin? What about a thousand other cars that some people call muscle cars and some people call junk? Sure, some people call the new GTO a “muscle car” without a second thought—but others would call that pure blasphemy. So that brings us back to our original question... what is a muscle car in the first place?
All (or almost all) muscle cars share a few common technical attributes. Muscle cars ar 2-door vehicles. Muscle cars are rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Muscle cars have large, high performance engines (almost always a V8.) Muscle cars are built to achieve maximum torque (i.e., for drag racing.)
But there are some who argue with even those basic criteria, saying that the term “muscle car” can also apply to full-size cars built for all-around high performance (not just high torque.) In some people's minds, the Mustang is not a “real” muscle car. In other people's opinions, the Mustang is practically synonymous with the term.
Aside from technical criteria, many car enthusiasts strictly limit their consideration of “real” muscle cars to those vehicles coming from a particular country of origin. This country, not surprisingly, is usually the United States. But there are many others who believe certain Australian cars must be classified as muscle cars as well. Still others consider certain cars from the United Kingdom and South Africa to be muscle cars too.
Then there are those who, when asked, “what is a muscle car?”, will give an answer relative to a certain time frame. Many believe that only cars built in the 60's and early 70's are eligible for consideration as muscle cars. This particular viewpoint is disputed by people who look to 80's and 90's Trans Ams and Mustangs—or even modern-day high-performance cars—as examples of muscle cars.
So what is a muscle car? Like most hard-to-define things, perhaps the term “muscle car” can be best defined as an attitude instead of a particular car. It's not a country, a time, or a certain set of technical criteria. It's about being fast, being tough, and being an individual. It's definitely an American concept, though not necessarily an American car.
What is a muscle car? Maybe a muscle car is like rock and roll, like love, like freedom, or like happiness. Maybe everyone needs to accept the fact that “muscle car” means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Because maybe that—that individuality, that sense of freedom—is what the muscle car was always about in the first place. Maybe a muscle car isn't a car at all, but a state of mind.
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