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.

Honda Dreams
Kenneth Hoffman 

They finally got it right. The first time I saw a Honda was in a hotel parking lot. There in the sun was a miniature car, bright red, gleaming with chrome and polished like a Rolls Royce in drag. I couldn't believe the quality of paint compared to the American equivalent a la Falcon, Chevy II and Plymouth Dusters. A week of dedicated browsing turned up a 1979 Honda Civic Coupe five speed with the celebrated CVCC engine. Zero to sixty in nine seconds and thirty-five miles-per-gallon to boot. The engine purred like a sewing machine and revved to seven thousand RPM. Of course it was RED and it went 100K miles without repair.

I had been considering replacing my eleven-year-old Honda Accord Coupe that boasts of 169K trouble-free miles. The 2000 Honda Civic HX Coupe possessed every feature I could wish for except remote keyless entry, cruise control, and a motor with enough power. I guess the powers-that-be paid attention to the wishes of the public, because all of these features are included in the 2001 Honda Civic HX model including an amazing automatic transmission with an infinite number of gears, 41 MPG on the highway, electric door locks, positionable steering column, power mirrors, high filtration air conditioning, aluminum wheels and an in-dash CD/cassette/radio.

After waiting two months for an HX in Clover Green Pearl, I finally took posession of my new 2001 Honda Civic. The interior is ten per cent larger than last year, raising it into the compact category. The engine is ten per cent more powerful, yet weighs seven pounds less. Many cars are more beautiful like the Acura CL, Porche Boxter, and the VW Passat, but none can claim the luxury of a new, soft, but road holding suspension, ergonomic perfection (everything important is within reach), and with gas going up to three dollars a gallon, economical. I will choose the European flavored leaf green metallic paint with a leather-look beige interior. No other car comes close to the Honda Civic HX in planet-saving features (Ultra low emissions) and low cost (under $16,000). In Octoberthe new Honda Civics are going on sale. I love the new modern design and the Civic Hybrid is amarvel of automotive invention. But I still love my 2001 Civic and I'll keep it until one of us dies.

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