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.

Dodge Magnum Changing Dodge’s Brand Image
Sarah McBride
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One of the brand names of automobiles and light to heavy duty trucks that is marketed by the German yet American-based company DaimlerChrysler AG is the Dodge. The Dodge was purchased by Daimler-Benz along with other Chrysler subsidiaries in 1998, and is now a part of the DaimlerChrysler company. As per last year, the Dodge brand has become popularly known for its production of its trucks which takes up around seventy-eight per cent of its sales.

The Dodge Magnum, as a name, has previously been used on quite a number of various Dodge automobiles. The new Magnum is the first car under the Dodge name to use the new Chrysler LX platform that it shares with the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger. As per last 2004, the Dodge Magnum was revived as a station wagon. It has been made available with three engine options. The SE has the 190 hp, 2.7 liter LH V6. The SXT owns the 270 hp, 3.5 liter V6. And lastly, the RT features the new 5.7 liter Hemi V8. As per last year, it has also been made available with an all wheel drive on its SXT and RT models. One of the things that the new Dodge Magnum and the Dodge brand has to be proud of would be its being included on the Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2005.

This new vehicle has easily won the market's heart compared to its predecessor, the Dodge Intrepid. One of the plans that Dodge has for the Dodge Magnum is for this vehicle to go on sale as a police variant so as to compete against the Ford Crown Victoria. These plans for the vehicle would be only made available to law enforcement, emergency agencies, and also government agencies. It will have the SXT's V6 for its motor and the Hemi as its option. It will also take with it police-specific options like a steering-column mounted shifter, deactivated interior rear windows and locks, and also bulletproof glass that would be mounted between the first and second rows of seats and its cargo area.

The Dodge Magnum's bold shape could redefine the American wagon for the new generation. It carries with it an aggressive signature grill, a broad-shouldered stance, and a cut-down greenhouse. It has an extreme access liftgate at its rear that includes a portion, thus increasing access to any cargo. Its interior, meanwhile, can take in five passengers with easy comfort. The driving position is considered to be excellent, commanding, and comfortable. As per its instrumentation, it is quite legible and arrayed intelligently. It also offers a host of advanced occupant-protection features that includes multi-stage front airbags and available side curtain airbags for its front and rear seats.

Dodge Magnum and Dodge parts can be purchased in the comfort of customers' homes. Dozens of sites offer excellent deals on Dodge Magnum parts and Dodge parts. One of the best sites to have it from is Auto Parts Deal.

Although the new Dodge Magnum is not as spacious as midsize SUVs and has a limit on its cargo space due to its shape, these are quite overcome by its nice 3.5 liter, V6 engines and its Hemi V8s. Also, it has the quiet, composed ride that drivers love and it also is surprisingly agile for its class. Options for this vehicle include a power moonroof, heated seats, front- and rear-seat side curtains airbags, power seats with leather, and power-adjustable pedals.

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