Power, speed and performance – those are the three major traits of a muscle car. When first produced, muscle cars were just pretty darn amazing because they combined the efficiency of a lightweight, mid-sized body with the performance of a high- power V8 engine and special design features that further increased the cars? acceleration capabilities. Because muscle cars topped all other vehicles in terms of power, speed and performance, they were ideal for racing.

Muscle cars were produced from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s, but the production of such beasts fell drastically due to a number of factors. First was the controversy over whether it was wise and responsible to make such powerful vehicles available to the general public, primarily due to road racing. Because muscle cars were often used irresponsibly, liability relating to them was pretty high which forced insurance companies to increase rates for insuring muscle cars. Emission control requirements intended to curb pollution also played into the picture making it near impossible for automakers to produce muscle cars that met the standards they had to adhere to.

Needless to say, the muscle car industry changed quickly due to these influences. Demand decreased because many ?would-be? buyers of muscle cars couldn?t fathom paying the enormous insurance rates for a high-power vehicle and automakers had to meet the challenges presented by pollution control standards.

Since muscle cars were produced for a limited number of years, they are valuable items for collectors and are still highly desirable to those who enjoy racing or desire a quick, powerful, mid-sized car. Since the decline in the production of muscle cars, some automakers have attempted to bring the muscle car era back to life by producing powerful vehicles that resemble the legendary muscle cars, but in my opinion, they don?t hold a candle to classic muscle cars like the GTO, the Road Runner or the Chevelle SS.

It will be interesting to see how the history of muscle cars plays out. Will present day automakers renew production of true muscle cars that are fast and powerful? Will there be enough demand to make muscle car production worth it to them? Or, will muscle cars continue to be limited to those classic models that were produced in the 60s and 70s?

Classic muscle cars are pretty amazing pieces of machinery. One that is restored and in cherry condition is really worth a lot of money. As time goes on, there are fewer muscle cars available which makes them even more valuable to classic car collectors and muscle car enthusiasts.

Dodge Magnum Changing Dodge’s Brand Image
Sarah McBride
f1d

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.

2c
http://www.ideamarketers.com/./library/article.cfm?articleid=73511