|
The idea of installing a powerful engine in a post WWII mid-size car was
introduced in 1957. The American Motors (AMC) Rebel showcased AMC?s new 327 in³ V8
255 hp with a 4 barrel carburetor (fuel injection was to be optional), thus making it the
first American factory hot-rod hardtop sedan. The Rambler Rebel came with a manual or
automatic transmission, and dual exhaust. The Rebel was promoted as the fastest four-door
car in America from 0-60 mph and ran the quarter mile in 17.0 seconds. It was one of the
quickest production automobiles at that time.
The popularity of the muscle car grew in the 1960s. Among these was the
Pontiac Tempest. For 1964 and 1965, the GTO was an option package that included Pontiac's
389 in³ (6.5 L) V8 engine, floor-shifted transmission with Hurst shift linkage, and
special trim. In 1966, the Pontiac GTO was no longer an option, and became its own model.
The project, spearheaded by Pontiac division president John De Lorean, was technically a
violation of General Motors policy limiting its smaller cars to 330 in³ (5.4 L)
displacement, but it proved far more popular than expected, and inspired a host of
imitations, both at GM and its competitors.
This marked a general trend towards factory performance, which reflected
the importance of the youth market. A key appeal of the muscle cars was that they offered
the burgeoning American car culture an array of relatively affordable vehicles with strong
street performance that could also be used for racing. The affordability aspect was
quickly compromised by increases in size, optional equipment, and plushness, forcing the
addition of more and more powerful engines just to keep pace with performance. A backlash
against this cost and weight growth led in 1967 and 1968 to a secondary trend of
"budget muscle" in the form of the Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Super Bee, and
other stripped, lower-cost variants.
Although the sales of true muscle cars were relatively modest by total
Detroit standards, they had considerable value in publicity and bragging rights, serving
to bring young buyers into showrooms. Automakers saw these as halo models and some, such
as the AMC Rebel Machine, were factory upgraded to be turn-key drag racers. The 1970
Machine even came with flamboyant and patriotic red, white, and blue reflective body
graphics for maximum street and racetrack visibility. The fierce competition led to an
escalation in power that peaked in 1970, with some models offering as much as 450 hp (and
others likely producing as much actual power, whatever their rating).
The Dodge Charger, known for its appearance as the villan's vehicle in
the movie BullittAnother related type of car is the car-based pickup. Examples of these
are the Ford Ranchero, GMC Sprint, GMC Caballero, and one of the most famous examples, the
Chevrolet El Camino.
... and more highlight Chrysler's muscle car era. ... between 1960 and 1970. Read this completely ... ... > 1970 Muscle Car ...com/ 1970 Oldsmoblie 442 - Muscle Car History ..1970 Oldsmoblie 442.....car ...
http://www.muscle-car-par ...istory-1960-1970.html
... auction car muscle ] 1970 clean air pollution and willys-overland. 1976 nearly 29.7 vehicles, and chrysler claimed 25% in what had risen to remain in undisputed second leading producer (12.7 thousand ...
http://car.altavisaa.com/ ...on-car-minnesota.html
Garage Master 7000 Car Lift 70' Chevelle DieCast Model Chevy T-Shirt Dream Car Factory Polo 1970 Chevelle SS 396 1970 Chevelle SS 396 Dream Car - Perfect in EVERY way #'s Matching 396/350 h.p. All ...
http://www.thedreamcarfactory.com/70chevelle.htm
... cars, muscle cars, street rods, classic car parts, sale ... 1950 - 1959. 1960 - 1969. 1970 - 1979 ... ... com 1960 to 1970 muscle car classifieds) ... Parts, Accessories, A/C Compressors, Car Engines ...
http://www.usedenginessea ...1960-car-engines.html
1970 muscle car Resources Web 10Cars.com More Information MUSCLE CAR RANCH Muscle Car Stats Muscle Car Swap Meet. Mustang muscle Cars, auto parts, museum, hot rod Chevys, hard to find parts, custom ...
http://www.10cars.com/mor .../1970-muscle-car.html
... their fading, bloated (but stylish) 1970 muscle car line. ... is a three-minute video collecting many of of Cal's ... :BONUS CLIP: Cal Worthington based his ads on ...  http://www.tvparty.com ...
http://clip.carf.biz/
... com 1970 Muscle Car 70s Muscle Car Car Hot Muscle Rod Car Drawing Muscle Fast Muscle Car Die Cast Muscle Car Muscle Car Screensaver Muscle Car Auction .com Car Muscle Car Cartoon Muscle Muscle Car ...
http://auto-loans.affiliatestudios.com/Auto-54.php
... muscle. muscle car screensaver. car garage muscle. 60 70 car muscle. muscle car babe. 70s muscle car. 1970 ... www.legalebiz.com/cars/124 - 11k - Build HuGe SexY Muscles GAIN INCREDIBLE MUSCLE SIZE ...
http://babe1.carz.ws/
... Friend 1 Email : Friend 2 Email : Friend 3 Email : Message : I found this 1970 Chevrolet CST-10 at Texas Muscle Car Ranch Request more information on this 1970 Chevrolet CST-10 Name : Phone 1 ...
http://www.autorevolution ...ww.centraltxautos.com
... Click Here for Movie #3 Here is a documented Red 1970 Olds Cutlas Supreme Convertible, that has a 10 ... ... original Protect-o-Plate and Order sheet with the car. Along with lots of misc. documentation and ...
http://www.455transam.com/70cutlass/
... There is no rhyme or reason as to whom I asked other than I was looking for a variety of the high-impact colors from the 1970s muscle car era. After deciding on what color cars I wanted in the ...
http://www.chicagolandmop ...features/fountain.htm
... Ace Car Rentals & Directory Links 1970 muscle car restoring old car auto car alarm car seats fastest sport cars nissan car car lease quote dallas new cars rover cars online cars buy sports car kit ...
http://www.texascampusgre ...-rental-brisbane.html
... Perkin, who had dreamed of owning a 1970 Chevelle muscle car, worked several years with Larry, the owner of Doctor Larry s Automotive Specialists, to find and eventually complete the 3-year off-frame ...
http://www.kwtowncenterevents.com/springcarshow/
"Feature Muscle Car" 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle "Real 4-Speed Muscle" SOLD! Custom Featured By Spudman Please wait for pix to load! Extra Quality!! It's REALLY Worth it! Click Image Below For More ...
http://www.hotautoweb.com/70ssred.html
... com car muscle car muscle project sale 3 car muscle die cast muscle car fastest muscle car 60s muscle car car classic dealer muscle muscle car gallery 1970 muscle car muscle car classified ads muscle ...
http://www.mia-marketing.com/car/133/index.html
... 1970 Plymouths 'Those Daring Young Men In Their Flying Machines' was Plymouth's slogan for their failed attempt at marketing their fading, bloated (but stylish) 1970 muscle car line. If you're a fan ...
http://www.tvparty.com/vaultcomm.html
17.
http://www.monovex.com/Category-8-25.html
... 1960s Muscle Car 1970 Muscle Car 70s Muscle Car American Muscle Car American Muscle Car For Sale Auto Trader Muscle Car Buy Muscle Car Camaro Car Classic Muscle Sale Camaro Muscle Car Car Classified ...
http://www.classiccarhub.com/classic_car/
... 99 JOHNNY LIGHTING MUSCLE CAR 1970 BOSS 302 FORD MUST MIB $1.99 1970 BOSS 302 MUSTANG JOHNNY LIGHTING MUSCLE CAR MIB $1.99 2005 Hotwheels Real Riders 70 Mustang Boss 302 $4.99 John Force Force field ...
http://www.fhac2004.com/302boss.html
... internet security home user home alarm dialers birth control pills abortion impala police car muscle cars 1970 chevrolet camaro ss 1999 chevrolet suburban ac clutch puller chevy tracker rear door ...
http://body-kits-for-chev ...avalier.pol.jgora.pl/
... Plymouth's slogan for their failed attempt at marketing their fading, bloated (but stylish) 1970 muscle car line. ... here is a three-minute video collecting many of of Cal's greatest ...  http ...
http://video2.carf.biz/
1970's Muscle Car Free Muscle Car Classifieds FAQ / Search / Login Get Started here: Register Place Ad Browse Ads Popular Searches on our site: 1960s Classic Cars 1962-1975 American Muscle Cars 1962 ...
http://www.freeclassified ...month/1970smusclecar/
... 50 The Big Bugattis Car Motorcycle Marque Model by Barrie Price Buick Muscle Cars 1965-1970 Brooklands Muscle Car Series by R. M Clarke Buick Muscle Cars Motorbooks International Muscle Car Color ...
http://carbooks-300-aaa.artoftherace.com/
... 00 Clinton Township, MI 12-14-2005 1971 Dodge Challenger 4 Speed 440 Muscle Car 1970 Dodge - Challenger $29,990.00 Malone, NY 12-15-2005 1970 Dodge Challenger - RT Clone 1970 Dodge - Challenger $20 ...
http://www.oldride.com/dodge_challenger.html
... Image 1 of 18 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Project - Muscle Car 1970 Chevelle SS Project Ok I hear it all the time, ìIím looking for something cheaper that I can finish myselfî or ìI looking for a project ...
http://www.select-motors. ...&sort=yearasc&start=7
... 1954 88 car concept f gm oldsmobile 1954 88 car concept f oldsmobile 1960s car muscle 1969 car muscle sale 1970 car muscle 1970s car muscle sale 1995 car loan rate used Goverment & Police Auction ...
http://www.cheap-car-online.com/cars_a/index.html
<?php
require('ezrss_config.php');
require('ezrss_engine.php');
print RSS_get_results('KEYWORD GOES HERE',2,'exact');
?>
The Death Of The Muscle Car - My First Case
Warren Newson
1091
How could muscle cars, the most powerful affordable cars the world had seen, lose their oomph so quickly? What caused them to disappear? I'm not a private eye, not remotely like one, but this was one case I had to solve. It happened back in the 70's, but the evidence was still there. It was the case of the disappearing horsepower and this is what happened. In the era of the muscle car power was everything. It didn't matter what it was, sports car, family car, pickup; it had the biggest V-8 possible stuffed under the hood. Cubic inches were king and advertised power was astronomical. These cars could kick sand in the windscreens of anything else on the road. But then horsepower seemed to disappear overnight! Take my favourite muscle car, the Ford Mustang. The macho models had V-8s, though meeker models came with an inline six. The biggest six had 200 cubic inches and 155 hp in 1969/70. What did the V-8s punch out? The most powerful 351 gave 300 hp in 1970 and the 427 gave a massive 390 hp in 1968. But by 1973 the most powerful Mustang had a 351 V-8 with just 156 hp. Almost half what it had in 1970, and only one horsepower more than the 200 cu in six of 1970! As for the Mustang II of 1974, we won't even go there. The story was similar with the other manufacturers. What was going on? It just didn't add up. Could I trust the figures? My detective mentor, Agatha Christie, taught me that when you're solving a case you can't trust anyone. Murderers do lie. In this case it wasn't murder though it was the death of the muscle car, and it wasn't so much of an outright lie as not telling the whole truth. And outside forces were at play. I had to dig deeper. I had to find the facts. Why would horsepower virtually halve? It turned out there were a few reasons. Salesmanship was one. Horsepower was everything so why not measure it in a salesman friendly way? Gross SAE horsepower was used. Power was measured at the flywheel with no power-hungry accessories attached. Only the bare essentials were used. In 1972 SAE Net measurements were phased in. Power was still measured at the flywheel but all the accessories were installed including the full exhaust system, emission controls, all pumps and the alternator. SAE Net can't be compared exactly to SAE Gross because there are just too many variations in measuring, but it is down around 80%. So power ratings dropped. In 1973 horsepower ratings went down again as power sapping emission controls were tightened. Gross SAE horsepower had pushed the listed power up. So did the advertised horsepower some car companies used. What's wrong with a little rounding up of the numbers for the brochure? Surely that would help sales too. All this horsepower galloping around got noticed and not just by young guys. Safety legislators noticed, and so did insurance companies who started charging more for insurance. The word on the street is that in 1967 a young guy under 25 with a clean driving record would have paid $700 a year for GTO coverage. Ouch! Some car companies lowered their advertised horsepower ratings. Muscles peaked in 1970, and by 1971 they were starting to get flabbier. Engines were being detuned and within another year bigger engines were being dropped. In 1973 many muscle cars were a shadow of their former selves. And they were finished off by the oil crisis of late '73. Long lines at gas stations and soaring prices were a real shock, and so was a 55 mph national speed limit. Gas guzzlers were irresponsible, expensive and unwanted, it didn't matter how much fun they were. So there you have it. I now knew what had happened to all that brute power. Some exaggeration had pushed listed horsepower up. A fairer, more accurate measuring system brought it down. Emission controls brought it down more, and soaring insurance costs made ground-thumping power too expensive to own. The oil crisis finished the muscle car off. This case was solved.
2c
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?The-Death-Of-The-Muscle-Car---My-First-Case&id=124891
|