Ford Mustang a Muscle Car

Back during the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many cars that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These sorts of automobiles shared the same traits : 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 couple of models were produced beyond that period of time. Today, muscle automobile mania is back, in spite of even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and van models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a class 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 yesterday, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were an entire host of autos produced that at a previous point or another should have been considered a muscle auto. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane five hundred 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 ; Yankee 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 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 present muscle automobile time craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating fresh technology. The result has been the Mustang now sells its whole 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 United States, has been a big hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. 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, isn’t it silly to bring back such gas hogs? Back during the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle automobiles averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and fifteen or sixteen miles per gallon on the road. Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable 28 miles to the gallon the highway. So, though fuel mileage will certainly be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle automobiles will still better the previous generation cars with fuel mileage 80% or more above the autos from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we still live in a fairly free country and what the consumer wants, the buyer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel usage will probably appeal to several. No, they will not be actual copies of yesterday’s muscle autos, but they are going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.

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