MUSCLE CARS or just CLASSIC?

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After following this thread, I think of mine as an antique (39 years old), classic (mostly original appearance), hotrod (higher perfromance engine, transmission and rear end), pony car (small, short deck, 2-door, bucket seats, long hood). But NEVER a muscle car. Muscle cars are defined by how they came from the factory and a 140 HP car without peformance options like 4bbl, 4-speed, or limited slip doesn't qualify. In my humble opinion. A 409 HP Chevy with 2 4s, 4-speed and 4.56 (or maybe 4.11) posi is a good example of a muscle car. Even if the term hadn't been invented yet.

 

Agreed.
I dont think of my MAv as a muscle car. Just a real fun,light car that doesnt take a big cube engine or enormous amount of power to make it fun.

 

I have dabled in the antique tractor scene a little and there a tractor needs to be 30 years old to be a antique. That said, I consider a car over 30 years old to be more of a classic when it is admired for it's classic or unique style. A mussel car in my opion was a mid size car with a big block in a 2dr body style that was performance oriented. With all of that being said, I feel the maverick is a nice looking small classic car that can make a fun little hotrod with the right parts and look. Call it what ever works for you and enjoy it.

 

Mines not a classic...not a muscle car, not a hotrod, or a drag car.
Its a old car being made into whatever I want it to be. And right now just a daily driver is good. Long term... who knows.
Like a few said who cares what ANYONE else thinks. Its your car, make it what you want. Call it what you want. Its yours.

 

i think there classic cars... and also fun now my 74 440 magnum big block charger.....thats a muscle car...so much muscle i cant afford the gas.... cant pass by a gas station

 

At least, we can make them into muscle cars. If Ford ever did produce a muscled up version, I probably wouldn't have been able to afford one. Now, I have three.

 

Its a classic car. Perfectly suited to be a hot rod. Factory hot rods are muscle cars.

 

I say both as these are light cars with V8 power. I realize that most would argue, but that is my 2 cents.

 

^ so I guess a Falcon or Ranchero is a muscle car then?

 

The only "muscle car" Falcons in my book (as far as North America goes) were the few 1965 289 hi-pos sold in Canada...and then of course the 70 1/2 429 SCJ Falcons.

 

[SIZE=+1]Strict Definition of a Muscle Car:[/SIZE]

A muscle car, by the strictest definition, is an intermediate sized, performance oriented model, powered by a large V8 engine, at an affordable price. Most of these models were based on "regular" production vehicles. These vehicles are generally not considered muscle cars, even when equipped with large V8s. If there was a high performance version available, it gets the credit, and not the vehicle that it was based on.

Examples: Buick GS, Chevrolete Chevelle SS, Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Torino/Cobra, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO


[SIZE=+1]Fullsize Muscle Car:[/SIZE]

The strict definition only includes intermediate size vehicles. In reality, performance oriented intermediate size vehicles didn't appear until 1964. Before then, manufacturers took existing fullsize vehicles and added extra performance to them. Because of this, the early fullsize performance vehicles are generally considered muscle cars.

Examples: Chevrolet Impala (SS only), Ford Galaxie (with 390 + cid engines only), Dodge Coronet (R/Ts only), etc.


[SIZE=+1]Pony Cars and Compact Cars:[/SIZE]

In addition to fullsize and intermediate muscle cars, a number of smaller vehicles started appearing on the automotive performance scene. These new "pony cars" and compact cars are generally considered muscle cars only if they have the top of the line performance engines and options.

Examples: Chevrolet Camaro (SS and Z28 models only), Ford Mustang (GTs and Boss only), Plymouth 'Cudas (no Barracudas), AMC Javelin, etc.


[SIZE=+1]Personal Luxury Cars and Luxury Cars:[/SIZE]

Although there were several personal luxury vehicles with performance engines and options, their heavy weight and high sticker prices went against the low cost performance definition of muscle cars. Therefore, they are not considered muscle cars.

Examples: Buick Riviera, Chrysler 300 Letter Cars, Pontiac Grand Prix, etc.


[SIZE=+1]Two Seat Sports Cars:[/SIZE]

Two seat sports cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird are not considered muscle cars due to their high price and specialty nature. The only exception is the AMC AMX as it was relatively cheap, and was based on the AMC Javalin pony car.

Examples: AMC AMX, etc.


I got that shoveled down my throat a LOT at a few car shows this year.. one guy even stormed and got the print out and shoved it into my hands... and stormed off.... not sure why... I just asked what they considered muscle cars...lol.

 

Well, according to Wikipedia, the Maverick Grabber is considered a compact muscle car. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_car

This is kind of weird considering I had a Maverick Grabber in high school and it came stock with a 250 straight six. Not exactly what one would call a muscle car engine.

 

^ Me too...

 

Classic with a great deal of potential Muscle!