Pony cars are very sporty, and garner lots of attention. They are often compared to muscle cars for their flashiness. However, they tend to be more compact than muscle cars. The term “pony car” is derived from the equestrian image of a Mustang, because the Ford Mustang was the first car released of this type. 

They are fun and classic, and although they had their heyday in the 60s and 70s, they’ve made a few comebacks. So don’t count out the pony car. 

They definitely have evolved over time, however. So we’ll take a look at the best ones, and compare their original days to their current models. 

Pontiac Firebird 

Photo from Pexels

For the Pontiac Firebird, it all started in 1967 as a response to the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro. People instantly took to it because the Firebird was very powerful and more luxurious than the Camaro. It was flashy and came with a fiery decal. And it was immediately a legend.

Unfortunately, in 2008, General Motors cut out the brand in order to simplify its market. However, that has not deterred its enthusiasts from keeping the Firebird presence alive. In fact, there are many options when it comes to Pontiac Firebird insurance, even though it is no longer manufactured. 

Ford Mustang 

The Ford Mustang is definitely the most popular pony car. The Mustang is sleek, aerodynamic, and rides close to the ground. 

It first went on sale in 1964 and appealed to a wide variety of customers, including both men and women of all ages. Ford planned for 100,000 sales in the first year, but dealers had already sold 22,000 on the first day. And many people even now purchase first-generation Mustangs. 

The original engine lineup included a 170-cid straight-six, 4.3-liter V-8, and the 289-cid V-8 that went up to 271 horsepower. It had elegant contours and a bold look.

The modern Mustang includes a 300-hp V-6, a 435-hp V-8, and a 310-hp, 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It is sharp in aesthetic and a powerful ride.

Chevrolet Camaro

Ford held the monopoly on the pony car market for several years, but in 1966 Chevrolet introduced the Camaro, and the monopoly ended.  The Camaro almost identically matched the dimensions of the Mustang, and the Camaro came close to matching the Mustang’s option list as well.

The original Camaro had a very fluid, smooth shape, in contrast to the more muscular Mustang. The modern Camaro has a dark front-end treatment. Its aesthetic is less smooth and fluid, more robust and intense. 

While the Camaro started out as a response to the Ford Mustang, it definitely has held its own, standing the test of time.

Dodge Challenger 

The Dodge Challenger came a little later in the game than the rest. Dodge released the Challenger in 1970, and it did not outsell the Camaro or Mustang. It did, however, secure itself a name on the list of the wildly popular pony cars. The Challenger is considered to be the last of the pony cars.

The Challenger had a complete line of nine available engines. These ranged from the Slant Six to 426 cubic inch Hemi. The Hemi was in effect a race engine that was re-adapted for the street. It had a vibrant appearance and vibe.

The modern Challenger is powerful, fast, and can hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. It, too, has stood the test of time, though it has evolved over its course.

Iconic and Powerful

Pony cars have remained popular over the decades, in varying degrees. For some, the appeal is the classic look. For some, it’s the sporty, compact, aerodynamic ride. Whatever the reason they have stuck around, they truly are iconic and make for a great joy ride. 

Dorothea Hudson writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, QuoteInspector.com. She is passionate about many types of cars and enjoys educating her readers on the topic.

The post The Best Pony Cars Then and Now appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Dodge has been promising/threatening to reveal the concepts of their next generation of electric muscle cars for some time. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis discussed how future plans will be announced in the latter part of 2021, with a possible concept vehicle being revealed in 2022. The timing also coincides with the launch of a plug-in hybrid from Dodge, along the lines of the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact crossover. A possible nametag for this crossover could be the Hornet. (The Hornet name was originally from the Hudson and Nash Hudson Hornet, then morphing into the AMC Hornet of the 1970s)

Other juicy nuggets which emerged from the interview include the potential for future Dodge vehicles to pump out 1200hp. However, the initial run of cars will probably have less output to make them more affordable to the average user. Around $40,000 to $50,000, the probable pricing sweet spot, as muscle cars have traditionally been more affordable than their supercar counterparts. This isn’t going to stop Dodge from producing ICE vehicles past 2024, most likely to see how the winds of change progress over the next decade.

‘The new platform comes in 2024, we didn’t say that the current cars are going to die in 2024.’ ‘There might be a little overlap, but you’re not going to have years and years and years of the classic and the new one at the same time.’

Possible Electric Platforms

Dodge now has access to the full range of EV platforms from its parent company Stellantis. These include the STLA small, medium, large, and frame for different sized vehicles. Each of these platforms can be used for front, rear and all-wheel drive setups along with hybrids. Most likely, the STLA setup will be used for a muscle car design.

Future electric muscle cars won’t have the same soundtrack as a beloved V8 engine. But instant, full-on torque from an EV should at least swing some of the initial muscle car votes.

An Uphill Battle for Dodge…

When an all-new version of any car is announced, most fans have excited, eager anticipation of its release. In the case of Dodge releasing its first EV muscle car, everyone’s a critic is a huge understatement. Decades of illustrious V8 enjoyment will now be replaced with the whirring sound of an electric motor. It’s a bit like owning a huge sound system for decades for listening to your tunes, then being made to only use a smart speaker. The latter may be smaller, just as powerful, but it’s just not the same thing.

However, change is inevitable in the car industry. It’s just that with muscle cars, the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ template has been enjoyed for longer than most. Therefore, Dodge has to really impress and be the first out of the blocks with the first and best EV muscle car. Not an easy challenge when you’re full fan base is currently sitting on the sidelines, chin-scratching.

Up to this point, biofuels, hydrogen, and anything else that could keep the V8 going would have been a more popular option. However, the world is going electric, rightly or wrongly, with Dodge and the other muscle car makers having to swing with times.

At the very least, for the first time ever, eco. friendly websites are starting to talk about muscle cars(obviously only in electric form and still mostly in a dissenting tone.) But the release of electric muscle cars will also quash the usual negatives thrown at the breed.

In years to come, muscle cars will be as environmentally friendly as any other electric vehicle (obviously ignoring where all the electricity and precious metals come from…ahem). Muscle cars will have the same or better levels of instant torque, instant traction, also with heaping’s of raw, reckless abandon as they should. Hopefully, with not as much of the digital and clinical persona of the way things are going.

We hope that future electric muscle cars will allow their owners to have their cake and eat it. The same levels of power and emotion that we currently enjoy, while also pleasing the eco. brigade. Could a future V8 stand for 8 million volts? Recharge your Challenger and watch the city’s lights go out? I hope so.

The post Dodge Will Reveal EV Muscle Cars By 2022 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The American Motors Corporation or AMC, may not be front of mind when it comes to priced muscle cars. But in the golden age of high displacement vehicles, AMC made some outstanding vehicles like this AMC 1969 AMX California 500 Special.

For a bit of back history, AMC was born in 1954 from the Nash and Hudson company. The merger joined the other big 3 carmakers, Chrysler, Ford and GM, pumping out general roadgoing vehicles like the Nash Metropolitan and Rambler American. It wasn’t until the mid to late 1960s that the most commonly known muscle car variations were produced. These included the likes of the AMC Marlin, AMX, 390, Javelin, The Machine, Javelin AMX 401, and the Hornet SC 360. Renault took over the reins of the company in 1979, and eventually merged into the Chrysler brand in 1990.

The AMX popped into existence in 1968, scrapping it out in the pony car market with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. At the time it was the only US produced 2 seater sports car, along with the Chevrolet Corvette. The AMX(American Motors eXperimental) stood out for its short wheelbase at 97 inches, and cost less than a Corvette at $3,250.

Under the Hood

The AMX California 500 Special was sold through the Southern California American Motors Dealer Association to acknowledge the 1969 Riverside International Raceway. As the pace car that season was a Big Bad Green AMX with a 390 ci V8, the roadgoing versions were given the same treatment, with a saddle leather interior, and an engine producing 315 hp and 425 ft lbs of torque.

Only 23 of the 283 Big Bad Green AMX models became California 500 Specials. As this example is in such pristine condition, it’s expected to fetch between $100,000 – $120,000 USD at RM Sothebys at the end of April.

The post AMC 1969 AMX California 500 Special Auction appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Mike Hall is the owner of a 340 vintage car collection currently up for sale, which also includes a 900-square-foot restoration shop, 5 acres of land with plenty of vintage muscle cars thrown into the mix. The listing is for the full collection at around $1.45 million and is said to be ‘Zoned ALR but grandfathered for auto wrecking business.’ There is also a 1,200-square-foot steel building and enough materials to build another ‘8,000 square feet of covered space.’

Mike sells the cars online individually, but now the whole lot is going at once. The collection on the current property started 40 years ago after his wife protested at the amount of Dodge and Fords building up. Like any keen car collector, it gets the point where there are too many vehicles to possibly restore, so some eventually have to go.

There is clearly a bit of everything here especially in classic muscle car territory, ranging from total wrecks to almost restored vehicles. There are plenty of images to wade through via the official listing link below, but to get a better of idea of what’s available it’s better to jump over to his website, where he lists for sale many of the vehicles you see in the images. There are complete and partial restorations, Dodge, Ford, GM, AMCs, loads of trucks and plenty of parts and plenty of ‘others’ in the mix.

It looks like individual cars and parts are still available for sale on their website, along with the total sale of the yard. If you fancy relocating up to Tappen, Canada, amongst acres of vintage cars, this could be the listing for you.

Find out more here about the yard listing.
Rust Bros website – http://www.rustbrosrestos.com

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Five Acres Of Muscle Cars For Sale in Canada appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The ideal field find of cars scenario would be be one with enough vehicles so you can spend all day hunting around, in great weather and always finding diamonds in the rough wherever you went. This is not too far from what Rocky Mountain relics have to offer in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Nearly all the vehicles here span from the 1920s to the 1960s and not exactly muscle cars per se, but there are so many vehicles here that could be brought back to life and turned into anything from a Rat Rod to a Hotrod classic, that it’s hard to ignore for any car enthusiast. Its like the ideal play ground for the likes of Vegas Hotrods .

The great thing about this treaure trove is its accompanying website which gives a great breakdown of the majority of the vehicles or at least gives you a substantial taster of the variety of vehicles and parts. There’s plenty of Chevys, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Plymouths, Buick, Chryler, Buick, Desoto, Pontiac, Hudson, Studbaker to name but a few. The website isn’t a complete list, but it will at least give you a taster of what’s available. Some of the vehicles listed on the website do have additional pictures, but it seems you’ll have to contact them directly for any individual prices.

Find out more here – http://www.rockymountainrelics.net/

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Rocky Mountain Relics Junk Yard Dreams appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

It’s the sign of the times, but encroaching housing development an increasing costs has put McBride’s Auto Wrecking, Grantsville, Utah in the position of having to shut up shop in June after being open since the 1930s. Dennis McBride, 73 who has worked at the yard all his life is now bringing it to a close, due to new regulations for scrapyards and nearby housing developments, making the yard now financially un-viable. Basically, the guy has been cornered into such high insurance and overheads he has no choice but to close.

The yard was one of the first to be licensed in the state of Utah and as they kept more stuff than they got rid of, there are truly some gems lurking in the great expanse of this yard. There are Packards, Hudsons, Model T’s, Studebakers and mainly vehicles and parts from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s. The Studebaker parts inventory itself is vast, with enough sheetmetal here to rival a modern car assembly line on full tilt. The online reports don’t give any details of any specific muscle cars per se apart from what Dennis has put together in his own collection, but you can bet that there are at least a few gems and plenty of parts within the whole mix from every classic decade.

When you talk about scrap yards like this one, the words ‘treasure trove,’ and ‘gems’ comes to mind because it’s the nearest modern equivalent you can get to treasure hunting on this scale and really finding those rare parts that you can’t get anywhere else.

The yard doesn’t have a website or advertise, but the whole inventory needs to be basically cleared by June, which means if you have the means, grab a trailer, some friends and get down there as this classic yard won’t be around for much longer.

Find out more here – contact Dennis, Grantsville, 435-830-0069, 410 South Centre Street.
Google maps view.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Utah’s Last Classic Salvage Yard Now Closing appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Jon Whitehead

The Goodguys 25th East Coast Nationals is set to hit Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck from Friday to Sunday June 9 – 11 2017 with over 1500 hot rods, customs muscle cars, all built before 1972.

The event always proves to be a great hangout for the weekend from this fantastic classic vehicles, which also include this year a new area for vintage Chevy’s from the mid-50s, 50th anniversary celebration for the Camaro, the pinstripers brush bash for all the artists out there plenty of stuff for modern vehicles if that is your thing.

There are also plenty of stalls for any vintage parts, you may want to buy the day and then an award ceremony on Sunday for the best of the best.

You want to find out more, check out their website here.

For all muscle car parts – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-parts/

The post Goodguys 25th East Coast Nationals At Hudson Valley appeared first on Muscle Car.

We have a fine collection of muscle cars for you today. Check them out below.

Over 300 muscle cars!

It’s not often you find such a wealth of vehicles in one place, but this is the case with Mike Hall and his fine collection.
Essentially this is a vast array of muscle cars which is for sale as part of a real estate transaction which includes, ‘property zoned for auto salvage, a renovated house, a 900-square-foot restoration shop, a 1,200-square-foot steel building and enough steel beams and rafters to build 8,000 square feet of covered space.’ All this can be yours for $1.45 million.

You may not want to take on the responsibility of the whole business, but it may also be worth noting the address as these cars will surely be for sale in the near future.

Check out the full listing details here.

1969 AMC Hurst S/C Rambler – Two Cars!

390 engine
Mileage: 60,000
Price: $29,995.00

Here we have a sale for not one but two 1969 Hurst S/C Ramblers.
The first car is in reasonable shape with an engine that needs fitting into the vehicle. It will still need a restoration to bring up to scratch, but does look in good order. The second vehicle could be restored or used for parts.
For any AMC Hurst fans out there, this could be a very interesting find.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

1973 Dodge Charger SE

318 engine
Transmission: 3 Speed Automatic
Mileage: 43,149
Top Banana paint.
Price: $15,000.00

Early 70s muscle cars are slowly increasing in price, outside of the standard classic years.
This example has a rebuilt 318 engine and it seems that the only defect is some surface rust on the floor of the trunk. Check out the full listing at the link below.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

1979 Pontiac Trans Am

Engine: 6.6 Liter/403 cu.
Transmission: Automatic
Mileage: 155,000
Price: $19,500.00

This is an excellent example of a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, Mayan Red on Carmine Red. A lot of car for your money.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

For all muscle car parts – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-parts/

The post Muscle Car Finds Of The Day appeared first on Muscle Car.

When I first compiled this list, it was really for my own benefit so I could have a quick reference to all the major American muscle cars produced between the mid-60s and mid-70s. Basically, the most popular makes and years for that golden age of high displacement muscle machines. Now it’s time to pass it on to you good folks, so you have a quick reference to see the most popular muscle cars at a glance.
Now, I know there will be a few exceptions here and there missing, so if you see any that are not included, please comment below so that we can add them and make the best list on the Internet of all things muscle car. For the Ultimate list of muscle cars go here.

A
AMC muscle cars
1965–1966: Rambler/AMC Marlin
1965-1967  AMC Rambler Marlin
1968–1970  AMC AMX
1968/69    AMX 390
1968–1974  AMC Javelin
1969       AMC SC/Rambler
1970–1978: AMC Gremlin (..i know!)
1970–1971  AMC Rebel
1970       AMC rebel the machine
1970–1971  AMC Matador
1971       AMC Javelin AMX 401
1971       AMC Hornet SC 360

B
Buick muscle cars
1962–1970 Buick Wildcat
1963–1993 Buick Riviera
1965–1969 Buick Skylark Gran Sport
1965–1975 Buick Riviera Gran Sport
1966-1969 Buick GS 400 (stage 1)
1968–1974 Buick Gran Sport and GTX
1968–1969 Buick Gran Sport
1970–1974 Buick GSX
1970      Buick GS 455 Stage 1
1972–1975 Riviera GS Stage 1
1974      Buick Apollo GSX
1984-87   Grand National
1987      Buick GNX

C
Chevrolet/GM Motors muscle cars
1961–1970 Chevrolet Impala
1965–1973 Chevrolet Chevelle
1965–1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
1964-1973 Chevrolet El Camino
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454
1967–2002 Chevrolet Camaro
1967–2002 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
1967–2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS
1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS
1967-69 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
1953- Chevrolet Corvette
1962–1976 Chevrolet Nova
1973 Chevrolet Nova SS
1966–1967 Chevrolet II Nova
1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 369
1961–1976 Chevrolet Impala SS
1968 Chevrolet Impala SS 427
1958–1975 Chevrolet Bel Air
1965–1976 Chevrolet Caprice
1967 Chevrolet Corvette stingray
1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 454
1966 Chevrolet II SS
1966 Chevrolet II SS modified
1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Pace car
1968 Chevrolet Camaro pro Street
1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
1968 Chevrolet Chevelle pro Street
Chevrolet Corvair
1967 – 1969 Chevrolet Yenko/COPO Chevelle

Corvette BP racer
1954- Chevrolet Corvette

Chrysler muscle cars
1965–1974 Chrysler Newport
1955–1965 Chrysler 300 (B 372 engine)
1959–1971 Chrysler Town and Country (B 372 engine)
1963 Chrysler turbine

D
Dodge muscle cars
1969-1970 Dodge Daytona
1962–1965 Dodge Dart
1962–1965 Dodge Dart GT
1962–1965 Dodge Dart GTS
1962–1965 Dodge Dart Swinger
1962–1965 Dodge Dart Demon
1968 Dodge Hurst hemi Dart
1963-1965 Dodge Custom 880
1968–1979, 1965–1966 Dodge Coronet
1970 Dodge Coronet R/T
1966–1974 Dodge Charger
1968 Dodge Charger 440
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
1969 Dodge Charger 500
1971 Dodge Charger R/T
1968–1971 Dodge Super Bee
1970–1974 Dodge Challenger
1966 Dodge Charger modified
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
1960–1973 Dodge Polara
1971-1972 Dodge Demon

DeSoto
1964–1971

F
Ford muscle cars
1964–1965 Ford Thunderbolt 427
1959–1969 Ford Galaxie
1968 Ford Galaxy 500
1966 Ford Galaxy 500 L
1963 Ford Galaxy 500 XL
1966–1969 Ford Fairlane
1968–1974 Ford Torino
1968–1974 Ford Torino (GT, Cobra, and Talladega, Cobra Jet Ram Air 429, Drag Pack )
1972 Ford Grand Torino Sport
1969 Ford Torino Talladega
1965–2004 Ford Mustang
1971-1973 Ford Mustang 302
1971-1973 Ford Mustang 351
1967–1971 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
1969–1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1
1969–1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
1969      Ford Mustang Boss 429
1971      Ford Mustang Boss 351
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
1965 Ford Mustang GT
1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS
1966–1969 Ford Fairlane GT
1966–1969 Ford Fairlane GTA
1966–1969 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt
1964      Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
1967 Ford fairline 427
1966–1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra
1964–1969 Ford Falcon
1963 Ford Falcon GT racer
1963 Ford Falcon racer
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero
1967–1979 Ford Ranchero Truck
1964-1969 Ford GT40

G
GMC muscle cars
1971–1977 GMC Sprint
1978–1987 GMC Caballero

H
Hudson muscle cars

J
Jensen muscle cars
1962-1966 Jensen CV8

M
Mercury muscle cars
1966–1972 Mercury Cyclone
1969–1970 Mercury Cougar
1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E
1969–1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
1962–1967 Mercury S-55 (1964-1965 Marauder)
1959–1974 Mercury Monterey
1970–1971 Mercury Montego
1964–1977 Mercury Comet
1970 Mercury Cyclone spoiler

Mopars (parts, service and customer care within Chrysler Group.)(Dodge, Chrysler (any), Plymouth, Imperial, or DeSoto)

O
Oldsmobile muscle cars
1968–1971 Oldsmobile 442
1968 Oldsmobile 442 modified
1968 Oldsmobile 442 W-30
Oldsmobile Hurst
1961–1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass “Ram-Rod” 350
1969–1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31
1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350
1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350
1974 Oldsmobile Omega S
1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2
1963 Oldsmobile Starfire
1966 Oldsmobile Tornado (maybe)
1972 Oldsmobile Vista cruiser

P
Plymouth muscle cars
1962–1965  Plymouth Fury 413,
1962–1965  Plymouth Fury 426 Max Wedge
1962–1965  Plymouth Fury 426 Hemi
1963–1976 Plymouth Belvedere
1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX
1962–1971 Plymouth Sport Fury
1967–1971 Plymouth GTX
1967 Plymouth GTX 426 hemi
1968–1974 Plymouth Road Runner
1968 Plymouth Road Runner 446 BBL
1964–1974 Plymouth Barracuda
1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda
1971 Plymouth cuda 383
1970 Plymouth Superbird
1970–1976 Plymouth Duster
1971 Plymouth Duster 340

Pontiac muscle cars
1961 – 1991 Pontiac Tempest
1962 – 1981 Pontiac Le Mans
1964 – 1974 Pontiac GTO
1964 Pontiac GTO Tri-Power
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge
1967 – 2002 Pontiac Firebird
1967 – 2002  Trans Am
1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2
1968 Pontiac Firebird H.O.
1973 Pontiac Formula 400
1972 Pontiac GP Hurst SSJ
1967 Pontiac Grand Prix
1978 Pontiac Trans Am
1979 Pontiac Trans Am anniversary
1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD455

S
Shelby muscle cars
1968 Shelby GT 350
1963 Shelby/Cooper King Cobra
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang GT350
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang GT350H
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang GT350R
1965–1970 Shelby Mustang GT500
1965 Shelby AC Cobra

The post The Quick List Of American Muscle Cars appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Mark Weisseg

Whether it is a Corvette club or a Hudson car event I am happy. Some of you cannot stand a Corvette while others dream of owning one. I owned one and it was not my cup of tea, but that’s just me.

It’s my fault as I bought it from a friend with very low miles on it. The car was just sitting so I got a good deal on it. It was an alright car but nothing to rave about. Just recently I sat in a friends ’63 as I love those mid year Vettes. But, being six foot three and two hundred and eighty pounds did not work. My head hit the roof and I had a hard time getting in and out of it. I was really ticked off for a few days as I really wanted to buy one. In fact, I would have done so already.

Now, I am turning my attention elsewhere for a while. I will at some point go sit in a 2015 or 16 and see how that works. But the point of my article is simple. No car in our history in my humble opinion gets so much press as the Corvette.
Will it have a mid engine soon? Does it handle like a race car? Why is the price so low compared to super cars from across the pond? That new Corvette for the money is a hands down a winner.

Now, I love all cars. I would buy a Peel, or a Messerschmitt in a heart beat just because they are different. But, Vette people stick together like Harley Davidson or Triumph motorcycle folks. I am biased toward the American hot rod but I love just about anything on four wheels.
I have lived through the Pinto, Vega, Monza, Mustang II And plenty more lemons. The Vette is an unique car from day one. I guess I could buy a mid year and try to place the seat further back and get a smaller steering wheel but I like them pure.

I saw a red on red convertible Vette the other day which was tempting. The lady that owned it said she thought I could fit in the new 2016 but never offered me a chance to try. So for now I have my collection without the Corvette but it’s always on my mind. Not that my life will change but I do like history and this car has it.

Ironically I like the styling of the 78 to 82 models but let’s be honest, the engines were dogs. Emission laws choked them off and they became awful. As I look at this picture I am drawn to the red one in the photo. It just is a bad ass looking car. But, in life you don’t always get want you want according to the Rolling Stones song.

For now if I want a horsepower nudge, I fire up my Shelby Cobra and I am as happy as can be. Someday, I will sit in a newer Vette and see if I can drive it without pain. But I want to wait a bit until they get a few years behind them. But that red on red convertible really sucked me in that evening. But with me that can change in an instant. Call me nuts for wanting a Peel or other micro car and I am ok with it. I owned a Nash Metropolitan for a while and that car was a people magnet. Everyone loved that little car and I felt like it was a clown car when I got out of it. My hope for a Peel may come from someone across the pond that has better access than I. Heck, I even like the old Vespa scooters! When you are in our lifestyle please do not limit yourself to loving one kind of car. The list is endless for the odd, the small, the big or the unusual. Buying a 57 Corvette is exciting but open your eyes and ears and you might be surprised that the love for our cars runs in many directions. Get it? Good, now get out there and find your dream.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post The Classic Corvette appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Mark Weisseg

We all know the family that loves a certain type of car and sticks with it forever. They are the type that no matter what they are they are loyal. Even to the point of craziness.

We all know of at least one family that cannot wait for the next model year to come out. If anyone would suggest they switch brands they look at you like you were the crazy one.
Hey, I get it. I know a guy that is a Mustang nut. He rattles off statistics as well as facts and figures that boggle the mind. You cannot even tell if he’s lying because he can rattle the stuff off so fast. He would never consider buying another brand. That would be outlandish. I would offer a suggestion that for those who are stuck with one brand to at least try something else. It’s a hard sell though. The other issue what does the loyal family do if the car is no longer made? It happens and it’s not pretty when you were a Plymouth or a Oldsmobile lover.
Do you throw the towel in and tie yourself to the railroad tracks? Or, do you switch to another brand? Heck no! You just keep rebuilding the cars you have. The NEVER give up attitude gets put to all the tests at this point.

Here is a true story from the 1970’s that you should enjoy. We were church going people. Ma was the church organist for over 50 years and Pa served in all roles for the same amount of time. There was a family who arrived every Sunday in a Hudson Hornet. There were five kids and the old man. No wife present but the six of them rolled in every single week in a Hudson Hornet. It was the talk of the church and when asked about how much longer the old Hornet would go the owner would say longer than he would.
Well, I moved away right after school so I lost track of the family and the old Hudson Hornet. My Dad says they had been driving that Hudson for as long as he could recall. Now, that’s love.
It was a huge car by any standards. When most people were driving vanilla run of the mill cars this family settled on something way off the radar. So, I do wish I knew whatever happened to that car. But that was now 40 plus years ago now so I would imagine the bone yard swallowed it up.

It does not need to be expensive to earn loyalty points. No, just brand love. What do you do if you fell in love with a Pinto and then they stop making them after a short amount of time. You either need to switch your love or buy up parts for the future. Including body panels cuz folks they rusted. I was one of those guys who spent part of his career rustproofing cars and no matter what we did, certain cars rusted no matter what. It’s just a fact of life. In the mean time if you know of a family or a person who is loyal to the end please share that story with us.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Muscle Car Talk: A Mopar family appeared first on Muscle Car.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that they would remove any indication that they previously put in place for banning the modification of certified emissions equipment on road vehicles that were converted into race cars.

The big fear was that the ruling may have stopped many people in the motor industry converting road vehicles into modified cars. However, the ruling was never intended to do this, but to stop companies selling products that deliberately disable pollution controls for vehicles on public highways.
“The proposed language in the July 2015 proposal was never intended to represent any change in the law or in EPA’s policies or practices towards dedicated competition vehicles. Since our attempt to clarify led to confusion, EPA has decided to eliminate the proposed language from the final rule.”

The initial clause in the 600 page ruling would have affected medium and heavy duty vehicle emission rules that would outlaw the conversion of emissions certified vehicles converted to race cars. this obviously would have affected many areas in the auto industry with a knock-on effects to the economy.
Luckily, the weight of such organizations as SEMA helped to turn around things.

On April 12, 2016, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (MI), Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (KY), and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC) submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, stating, “In the 46 years since the enactment of the 1970 Clean Air Act, EPA took no enforcement action with regard to EPA-certified vehicles modified solely for racing, and it was widely accepted that these vehicles were exempted from statue’s anti-tampering provisions.”

The RPM act still needs constant help, so visit their website for your support .

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By Mark Weisseg

Hudson, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Packard. AMC, Mercury, Saturn, Hummer and many more.

Some of these car makers had huge hits on there dockets. You know the names: Roadrunner, Superbird, 442, Hornet, GTO, and so on. So what the heck happened?

Well, by now every writer has written why they died off. Foreign competition, poor quality, pricing not right, dealership mistakes, and so on.
Most are true but I need to tell you as a car guy it bothers me. I know the cream rises to the top and not everyone can be a winner but how does a car company like Oldsmobile that built great cars let alone the 442 screw up so badly that GM pulled the plug?
Yes, GM has had some winners and currently have a rash of award winning trucks. But if anyone over age fifty stops and thinks about what has gone the list is very long.

When I worked for a large Diesel engine company, the Government decided to change the rules on how much pollution came out of the exhaust starting in 2002.
We knew the new rules and changed our processes and engines at a high cost. Then, as we finally started feeling good again Uncle Sam said more laws would be in place for 2004.
That was a big kick in the teeth and caused another major player to panic and build a bridge engine to get them up to speed because we all knew 2007 was another hurdle.
Sure as the sun rises and 2007 rolled in, we were ready. The costs to us was out of this world with training, development, and other associated costs. The new laws were really hurting us and the others but we were told we had to keep cleaning up the engines.
We also knew that 2010 was yet another point of concern as the engines at that stage had to be almost perfectly clean. In some cases the exhaust coming out may be cleaner than what was being drawn in. That law forced a big competitor to finally say enough is enough and they decided to buy an engine from another competitor.
Well, that competitor was using a lot of EPA credits and a system that nobody thought would really work day in and day out.
In the meantime our engines were purring along as we prepared and trained for this moment in time. Anyone using DEF fluid and the SCR systems passed the government testing. The competitor that the other guys went to were struggling so they sued the government and eventually lost the cases as they could not prove there system would work over a long period. To the disgust of the customers, they had a lot of breakdowns and warranty claims worth near a billion dollars. This company was in deep trouble and the buzzards were circling.

The solution for them was to buy engines from us because all of our engines were EPA compliant. They still buy engines from my former company but now have switched gears per se and build there own engines using the SCR way. Currently, it is the only system that meets the EPA’s regulations. No more Cat engines, no more Mercedes engines either.

Now, let’s go to the automobile. For years the car makers such as BMW, Mercedes, and other Diesel engine car makers were using DEF. That is diesel exhaust fluid.
You have a separate tank for the fluid and you do not need very much for an automobile. We found some BMW drivers had a 7-10 gallon tank for the fluid and might fill up every six months. Maybe. The driver has a gauge on the dash and could add this colorless, odorless, no harmful solution himself or wait for a dealer to do it at service time. The light pick up truck market used this design as well so the guy that had the dump truck delivering your mulch was using DEF. All to ensure quality air. No more black soot pouring out the tailpipes polluting everything in sight.

It all made perfect sense except the costs to change everything was out in the universe. My former employer understood the governments stand and embraced the change. No way we’re gonna cheat or not do what we were told to do.
The costs to us was out of this world and the public for the most part had no clue. It raised the price of a class 8 , that is a large diesel truck 8-15 thousand dollars per truck. And the dealer networks spent untold thousands training the technicians to work on these components.

Now, unless you have had your head under a rock you know about the VW Diesel engine mess.
If I got my facts correct a team at WVU of all places, discovered that when the VW engine was being tested it was performing within all the laws.

I hope now you have a different understand regarding my first few paragraphs on why some companies folded up the tent in the face of troubling waters while others forged ahead and to this day are successful enterprises.

Some just couldn’t adjust while other car companies tried to adjust but it was too late. Packard is such a story.
Before World War II a Packard was one of the best cars on the planet and if you had one you were special.
They invented several items we still use today. But, after the war they lost there footing and by the fifties they were destined to join forces with the dying Studebaker company to stay afloat.
Then Studebaker joined AMC to keep themselves from going under. Then, Chrysler with the push from the government bought AMC really for the rights to the Jeep line. But, it was over for Packard and Studebaker by then.
The two large, well respected companies would only be a memory. AMC would breath no more under Chrysler and we know what happened years later.
Fiat, once a bicycle company that turned into an auto maker bought them out and renamed themselves FCA. To this very day Fiat sales in the United States are horrible. In Italy they are fair.
If it were not for getting our government to basically push this deal Fiat and Chrysler may be gone by now. The saga continues as the head of FCA said he would like to merge FCA with GM. I am sure GM once they stopped laughing sent them a no thank you letter.

Concluding, what seem like a removal of certain cars from the market is due to simple factors like low sales, is usually behind the scenes a very complicated affair, with more subplots than the best arthouse cinema.

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By Mark Weisseg

Here is a car that for all its coolness just does not get much attention. There seems to be no reason why we cannot show a little more love to this beauty. Just look at the hideaway headlights, the long swooping body, the…. Wait, maybe that is it?

That long back end is cool as it can be. The car is big, I mean big. Sure you could have had Dodge plant a big 440 under the big long hood but it seems many just cannot feel the love for this car.

Other cars like this would be a Ford Torino, the AMC Matador ( yes, what’s a Matador) and possibly the old but proven Hudson Hornet. It seems consumers prefer shorter back ends like the 67 Mustang, 66 Corvette, or the 69 Cougar.

All the cars I mention are great looking cars with the Hudson coming to mind as a family from church would drive it every Sunday to say there prayers.

The bigger cars have so much to offer such as comfort, looks, cool features and power. The smaller of the fast backs offer all the same except they can fit in the garage easier and of course are easier to park. I mean we all dig the 59 Caddy with those giant fins but it’s hard to find a garage it will fit in anymore. And, if you think the Charger is too big its really not that big. Not when you compare it to the Cadillacs and Mercury’s of the day. The Charger just has the right stance, hideaway headlights, and one very interesting dash board. Most of us just don’t see many of these Chargers on the road so you don’t see many at the shows. It is a car I’d like to own for sure. With all the windows down on a nice summer night you could put about 6 kids in the back seat alone. Regardless of my attempt at humor you will turn heads and have a smooth ride, lots of power for your right foot, and the pleasure of knowing you are driving a very unique car.

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AMC may not be the first make you think of when it comes to muscle cars, but at the height of the muscle car years, they were producing vehicles as good as anybody else.

AMC started from a merger of the Nash and Hudson brands in 1954.
Their first successes were with the Marlin and Rambler, but as the late 60s rolled on people wanted an affordable vehicle with great power and performance, so the AMX (American Motors eXperimental) was born in 1968.

The line brought in innovations and awards a-plenty, but the public loved the car for its smaller size and decent power.

The AMC AMX only lived for a few short years, but in that time it managed to clock up many awards, various rare option packages and a legacy that has lasted over 40 years.

Check out the video below to get an excellent rundown of the AMC AMX.

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As I sit here with the temperatures dropping and the wind racing through the hair, I began to reflect on this past years car shows.

I am lucky in that one of the biggest car shows in my area is every Friday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The show starts at 5 pm and ceases at 9pm. This past car show season was a good one with favorable weather most of the year. The crowds were good and the car participation was very good. Now, here is why some might or should throw you out of a car show. Rowdy behavior? Drinking too much? Illegal drugs? Loud music? Nope. It is your car.

Well, that ought to get your attention. This past car season I took a walk. Normally several of us will walk around and gawk at the cars and trucks whose owners brought them to be cherished. I decided to take a walk by myself because for a long time I have been hearing” we are the biggest car show on the east coast”. Really? That seems quite the statement. So, I decided to break away from the guys and gals for a moment to sniff around and here is what I found.

I arrived in my 69 RoadRunner, numbers matching, near perfect car. My buddies who parked next to me have a numbers matching 67 Corvette, a 65 Shelby, a special code 06 Shelby, and so on. We look pretty darn cool with all our special cars and the pricy tabs that come along with owning them. So, I began my journey. Walking up and down rows and rows of cars. Some folks looking at me like I was a crazed loner, others not bothering to notice me as they sit in there semi circles of friends. But, I was taking mental notes along the way. Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, pick up trucks, Hudsons, Packards, an Army Jeep or two, Ford Fairlane, Nova’s and so on. Geez, there are a lot of cars and trucks here. Also, a big section set aside for Motorcycles and scooters. You want vendors? We have them. They all do. Corn dogs, Weiners, Burgers, greasy fries, soft drinks, popcorn, and so on. It’s a regular carnival atmosphere and everyone is having a great time. But now it’s time to throw you out of the car show. What? Let me explain.

If I backed out all the newer Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, Motorcycles, and trucks we would reduce the car show to about half. As I walked around I noticed dozens of Challengers from 09 to present. Who cares? There are just as many on Craigslist everyday. Corvettes. My gosh I counted dozens from 2004 to present. What is the attraction of viewing that car that I can see on the street every day. Same with the Mustang and Camaro crowd. Why should anyone stop and gawk at a 2013 Camaro that I can see everyday on the road? Mustangs, heck a dime a dozen. Ram trucks with big tires. Yawn. A 2013 BMW motorcycle. So what? My point is the “car show” has become a social club. Now I like social clubs but take a moment and think back. I mean use the way back machine in your head.

My late Father every once in a while when I was a child would take me to a car show. The time frame here is the late 60’s and early 70’s and when we would go we would see Model A’s, 39 Chevys, a 47 Plymouth, maybe a 56 Corvette, and if we were lucky an old Cadillac. The shows took him back to a better day for him and for me it was time with Dad without the women around. Fast forward to the summer of 2015 and I look around and see a 2015 Corvette, or a 2014 Camaro and yes the foreign cars now show up. What could be better than seeing a 2004 Mazda, or 2013 VW Passat that some earring kid “souped up”. I’d rather have a root canal.

This is why the organizers should throw you out or never let you in. Man, am I going to hurt some feelings here. But, I brought a high quality classic car and you brought a Passat? The only reason they cannot draw a line in the sand on this hot topic is that the state of the Union will not allow it. The outrage would be horrifying if one pulled up to the entrance and the car show police said they were sorry but you cannot come in the car show with your average ho hum 2011 Challenger with a 6.2 Hemi.

Oh, the disgrace! Call the real police, call the media, call Mommy, but raise holy heck. I submit to all of you that we all love our cars and trucks, but as we proceed down this path together, you will see I own more than one classic car. I just wish we were all not driven by the correctness police. Not that many years ago the average person could sense where they were not welcomed or belonged possibly.
A young boy would not apply to the Girl Scouts and a girl would not try to join the men’s choir. But today , anything goes. Marry your dog, don’t you dare tell a dirty joke amongst a crowd, no smoking in public parks, if you walk your dog you better carry the infamous plastic bag. Fly the flag? Sounds like the right thing to do unless you live in a homeowners association. They might tell you to take it down or fine you tons of money because someone might be offended.

So, for the sake of humanity please consider leaving your every day car at home on Friday night or Saturday morning and bring something of value that few have seen.

by Mark Weisseg

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Here we have a rundown of some of the best muscle cars adorned in the mighty American flag or given that American touch to make it stand out from the rest.

Some love flag adorned cars, some don’t. Either way, the color scheme of the red, white and blue could not be more distinctive on a vehicle and what could be more American than a muscle car with this colour scheme.

Here are some of the most American paint jobs we have found up to now.

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Finnish drivers are almost born to drift and race and as you can see from the video, they can do in whatever vehicle they like.

From the Freak Race, Luumaki, 6.14.2014 by Ford-Freak Club, Finland, proving it’s not the age of the car, it’s what you have under the hood and whose’s driving.

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‘That is just crazy, right?’
Sort of sums up this whole car in general.

Just check out the specs of this Hot Rod below. when it comes to sheer power to the floor muscle, you really can’t get much better than this ride.

Features
2 x 502 Chevy big block engines with a combined 1400 hp.
2 x 871 GMC Blowers.
4 x 600 Holley carburetors.
Separate CS R radiators for each engine. One from pushing and one from pulling.
Custom frame

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1971 Plymouth Supercharged Vipercuda Convertible

Engine: Roe Racing supercharged Viper V10 488, 547 hp, 623 lb./ft. of torque.
Transmission: Borg Warner T56 6-speed manual.
Dana 44 limited slip differential, 3.55 gears.
Dual inlet Flowmaster muffler.
Underneath its surface, a 1995 Dodge Viper Phase II by Time Machine’s Hudson, Florida. 5-passenger muscle to 2-passenger sport car.
Track-ready suspension, with double A-arm suspension, revised geometry.
1971-exclusive ‘Cuda grille.

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RARE on account of the War Effort, there wasn’t very many made.
Engine: LT-1
9″ Ford rear end with Air, Cruse, Tilt Custom Wheel.
Mustang II Heights front end.

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Engine: 472 Cadillac.
400 Turbo Automatic transmission.
Camaro front clip, Ford 9” rear end, 4 wheel power disc brakes, Air Bags.
dubbed the “step-down” Hudson’s.
These were 6 to 7 inches lower than the 1949 Chrysler and Buick.

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