Hear me out as I turn the clock back to the inception of a trio of great American-made performance vehicles: Ford's Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Chevy's Camaro. At the moment just the Mustang is being produced, and the Challenger will go back into production by 2009. GM has yet to commit to production of the Camaro, however they are liable to come out on the side of this vehicle and its cousin, the Pontiac Firebird, by summer. Anyways, what exactly distinguishes American performance automobiles from any others? To put it simply, it is muscle.
Do you really think I'd neglect to mention the Chevy Corvette and Dodge Viper in terms of performance automobiles? I sure didn't. Each of these versions is built for performance as well as racing. How a prototypical race car maneuvers, drives, and performs differs from a muscle type vehicle.
Ordinarily, muscle cars were coupe models of the bigger automobiles prevalent on American roadways in the decades of the 60s and 70s. Mustang and Camaro, though, were engineered individually (while they took a page from other car's components) and these 'pony' vehicles were in their own unique class. To put it in perspective, they belong alongside the Dodge Challenger, a performance model of Mopar vehicles of that time. This trio was compared by reviewers in their day, and they will be the subject of comparisons once more when production kicks into gear in the near future.
Ford Mustang -- Turn back the clock and come along with me to April of '64, as America was racing to be the first to the moon, LBJ was in the White House, and GM reigned among car makers. Ford, meanwhile, had been trying to catch up with GM for years, however the collapse of the late '50s Edsel had put a big dent in their business. Yet, it was the age of the NY World's Fair, and Ford capitalized on both the fair and new TV technology to advertise its latest model, the Mustang. A 2+2 version taking a page from the Fairlane and Falcon, the '64 1/2 version was the initial seller and is acknowledged as the all-time top launch of a new car. In fact, with the 2005 debut of the classic Mustang styling, this vehicle has once again garnered attention among muscle car enthusiasts. Indeed, Daimler Chrysler and GM are both working on their own versions.
Dodge Challenger -- Following in the footsteps of older successful muscle vehicles like the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Barracuda was Dodge's Challenger. It debuted in 1970. The vehicle modeled itself to a large extent on the 'Cuda, though its frame differed a bit and the wheelbase was a tad longer. Since the era of muscle cars was waning when it was launched, the Challenger endured through just five years of production prior to suspension. The prototype Challenger, now on exhibit at lots of car shows, is a takeoff on the '70 styling. It is the subject of online buzz across the country. Hemi motors are liable to be the most popular; this vehicle will probably take a page from the present Magnum and Charger midsized versions.
Chevy Camaro -- GM was asleep at the switch when the Mustang first rolled out. The maker took three long years to answer, and the reply came in the form of the Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. While each of these vehicles was a good seller through the years, they couldn't duplicate Mustang's figures. When the final of these models sold in '02, production was down to almost nil. Yet the demise of the Camaro following 35 years has rekindled interest in the brand. Due to the classically styled Mustang's release, the whole muscle car iconography is booming once more. Keep an eye out for a 2010 Camaro to be the first of that model since '02. A ragtop edition is tentatively planned.
Exactly who is the target customer for muscle cars today? Someone like myself who came of age when the original versions were launched. Also, a brand new generation of drivers has been burned out on the generic styling of a lot of compact vehicles on the market. Modern muscle cars are unique from those of days gone by, since they integrate the styling of these old classics with cutting edge technology. Consequently, fuel conservation will be acceptable without being loss of performance. This is a real win-win proposition.
I'm anxious to see my first new Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro all waiting at the same red light. We are ushering in a new era in muscle cars! That thrills me to no end!
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