Is the Camero a Muscle Car

Back in the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many automobiles that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These kinds of vehicles shared the same traits : they were 2 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 vehicle mania is back, in spite of even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and van models from Dodge, there is new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle automobile segment as one more manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesterday, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a complete host of cars produced that at a previous previous point or another could have been considered a muscle auto. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 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 442; American Motors’ had its Javelin; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives though the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle automobile along with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.

Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the current muscle automobile age craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the current Mustang welcomes a retro look while incorporating recent technology. The result has been that the Mustang currently sells its complete 150,000 model capacity without incentives.

The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept auto, popping up at automobile shows across the USA, has been a huge hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. Additionally, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the States vehicle show circuit.

So, isn’t it mad to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle automobiles averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and fifteen or 16 miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable 28 miles to the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will certainly be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle autos will still better the prior generation autos with fuel mileage 80% or more above the autos from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we continue to live in a reasonably free country and what the buyer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle vehicles paired to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel usage will possibly appeal to many. No, they won’t be actual copies of yesterday’s muscle automobiles, but they will provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.

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