There are various genres of automobiles present in the world today. Each one is a different soothing taste of both site and feel. But no matter which one you most adore, the category of Muscle cars is something that is the most bi-polar. You either completely love them or completely hate them, there is no in-between. And while many may argue that muscle cars are way too tame as compared to the beasts of the 60’s, they are still burning rubber in today’s world.
There are hundreds of muscle car manufacturers today that provide a wide range of choices to any potential buyer in the market, but only a few of these actually trace back their roots to the golden era. They may be a lot different, but carry on the legacy of their forefathers with steely determination. Here are five of those most beloved muscle car icons that are still tearing up the streets today.
1. Chevrolet Camaro
There was a time when the American dream consisted of nothing more than being on the road with your Chevy and a pretty girl around your arms. The Camaro was not as superior in the performance department when other muscle cars of its era were talked about, but it delivered the complete package of both the beauty of the looks and the beauty of its drive that made it hold its place. Under the hood sat a 6.5L 396 cubic-inch V8, which the most you could get even at the top model. It produced a shy 375 hp and 563 Nm of torque. It wasn’t until the COPO and the Z/28 that the power crossed the 400 hp mark and it was leaving the Chargers and Mustangs in its tail lights. The handling was pretty good thanks to its stiff and robust chassis. Overall, around 240,000 Camaros left the assembly line till the production halted in 1969.
Today, the Camaro is one of the most sought-after collector’s addition to any classic muscle car enthusiast. Skip three generations, that really didn’t do much except carry on with the flow, and in 2010 the Camaro surprised everyone when it won the World Car Design Award of the Year. The new Camaro SS was a perfect balance between the classic fun and modern comfort. It hosted a 3.6L LS3 V8 that gave out the power of 426 horses. It had the same wide chassis as its great-granddad, but hosted a more stylish look and a better chassis design that made it look and feel good. The yellow version with black racing stripes eventually went down to become an icon in the Transformer movies as Bumblebee. And the Camaro didn’t slow down on the track either, with the 2017 ZL1 version doing a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:16.4. Even today, the 2019 Z/28 Camaro is one of the fastest modern muscle cars at 231 mph, making a bold statement that it is one of those muscle cars charging forth with all the girth, and still as much fun as they were in 1964.
2. Ford Mustang
The most iconic of them all, the image of the Mustang comes to mind whenever you ever hear the words ‘muscle car’. A brainchild of the ingenious Lee Iacocca, the Mustang revolutionized the automobile industry, as it brought the power and performance of any high en sports car to the reliability and affordability of any family sedan. Although the powertrain was mostly similar from the 6.0 L V8, you never found any two cars that were the same. The Mustang was built to be built by you, offering a wide variety of customizations in almost every aspect of the car. Some were even modified to the point of not even being street legal.
The Mustang’s affordability was its main edge of success, as any family saloon buyer could easily adjust a bit more in the budget and go buy it. Even if that was too much, there was the GT350H that was available to rent at $2 a week. The silver Mustang was taken from the Lone Ranger’s Silver Pony, one of Lee’s favourite characters. Any Mustang owner could drop off his wife to work in the weekdays and spend the weekends with his mistress at the drag strip.
Even today, the new generation Mustang carries on the badge of the silver horse proudly. Though it doesn’t need much modification as Ford is generous enough to do their best, it carries a 5.0L V8 churning out 460 bhp. It allows the Mustang a good package of acceleration and top speed, but the wide body and soft suspension hurt its handling. And while it may not be as fast as its competitors, it still holds a place in the poster of every young boy’s room because of how good it feels to drive. The echoes of V8 roaring down a street causing your neck hair to stand, with all the bells and whistles modern technology has to offer is something few other muscle cars can offer.
3. Chevrolet Corvette
Yeah, two Chevys on the list, guilty as charged. But as they say, everything is fair in love and war, and you can easily fall in love with the ‘Vette. Known for its aerodynamic tear drop design that is the main feature of its beauty, the Corvette Stingray first rolled off the assembly line in 1964, and it has been rolling eyeballs ever since. The design was heavily inspired with a tiger shark, the tear drop reflecting the upper part of its tail. A 1968 version was even named the ‘Mako’. During its largely successful period spanning almost 20 years, it established itself as one of the most revered muscle cars of its era. The tear drop was not only a beauty addition, it made the car more aerodynamic, giving it sufficient downforce to effectively cut corners. The engine was also available in a wide range, from a 305 cubic inch all the way up to 454 cubic inch. One reviewer in 1968 said,”The small engine versions were marginally fast and very civilised, while the big engine versions were very fast and marginally civilised.” So you were completely informed as to what you wanted, the the Corvette surely delivered.
Unlike its competitors, the Corvette never really left the muscle car market for a long time or discharged entire assembly lines overnight. It got better and better as each new model rolled out, even after the oil crisis of the 70’s. The 2019 ZR1 version certainly sits at the top, breaking ground into the supercar territory. It has a top speed of 212 mph and reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 2.7 seconds. All that thanks to its carbon-fibre chassis and a 6.2L supercharged DFI(Digital Fuel Injection) V8. It gives the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin a run for their money, producing 755 hp and 713 Nm of torque. And now it has been awarded the Road and Track Performance Car of the Year 2019, its forefathers surely feel proud of the state of their machine today.
4. Dodge Charger/Challenger
Oh, OK. Now, we are really climbing to the top of the food chain. This car, which has appeared as the muscle car icon in many movies, was made famous as Vin Diesel's personal favorite from the Fast and Furious series. It has stood the test of time just like its little brother, the Challenger. And while the Challenger is more tame, there is no manners with this piece of work. It is pure, unbridled and raw power. The 1969 Charger R/T was probably the baddest of the bad. It hosted a 7.0L 440 cubic inch V8. This car was purely built for speed and acceleration. The suspension and chassis were not much help in handling. All of the people who have driven the '69 R/T won't deny that it handled like a school bus. The most surprising thing is that the R/T stands for "Road/Track", I wonder why. Its sole purpose was to win drag races after even more bump in the power, and to provide a safe love place when you took away the drag queen.
After the oil crisis of 1970's, the charger lost a lot of cool. Further models were only serving the purpose of keeping the model's legacy afloat. Eventually, a tsunami happened in 2010, as the seventh generation SRT8 model rolled off the production line. This carried the pedigree of the Charger to a whole new level. New side scoops across the sides, 15% more visibility, aggressive new grille styling and a more aerodynamic body overall gave the Charger a big footprint in the 21st century. While the Pentastar 3.6L V6 lacked the hunk of the V8 of its granddad, it certainly doesn't lack the oomph. Producing 345 bhp thanks to its supercharger, it gives the Charger a fair balance between acceleration and handling. Today, the Charger carries on the mantle of being the king of the drag strip as the SRT Demon. Packing a whopping 717 hp from a 6.2L V8, it has a 0-60 mph time of 2.2 seconds. The body, which looks bloody gorgeous, is designed to give this beast a downforce of 1.8 G's. So, this car is so wild that it needs to be nailed down by atmospheric pressure. Great. That is why it is the hardest launching production car ever, giving you how it feels to take off in an F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Certainly making its granddad proud by winning drag races from the likes of Lamborghini Aventador and the Bugatti Veyron, all the while costing mere USD 100,000.
After the oil crisis of 1970's, the charger lost a lot of cool. Further models were only serving the purpose of keeping the model's legacy afloat. Eventually, a tsunami happened in 2010, as the seventh generation SRT8 model rolled off the production line. This carried the pedigree of the Charger to a whole new level. New side scoops across the sides, 15% more visibility, aggressive new grille styling and a more aerodynamic body overall gave the Charger a big footprint in the 21st century. While the Pentastar 3.6L V6 lacked the hunk of the V8 of its granddad, it certainly doesn't lack the oomph. Producing 345 bhp thanks to its supercharger, it gives the Charger a fair balance between acceleration and handling. Today, the Charger carries on the mantle of being the king of the drag strip as the SRT Demon. Packing a whopping 717 hp from a 6.2L V8, it has a 0-60 mph time of 2.2 seconds. The body, which looks bloody gorgeous, is designed to give this beast a downforce of 1.8 G's. So, this car is so wild that it needs to be nailed down by atmospheric pressure. Great. That is why it is the hardest launching production car ever, giving you how it feels to take off in an F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Certainly making its granddad proud by winning drag races from the likes of Lamborghini Aventador and the Bugatti Veyron, all the while costing mere USD 100,000.
5. Shelby Cobra GT500
The absolute masterpiece in performance and beauty, the GT500 was way ahead of its time. It was basically a Mustang GT350 made even better by the legendary Carol Shelby. Equipped with a 427 cubic-inch V8 modified to produce 380 bhp, this was the best of the best. And the best part was you could modify it to your heart's content. it gave you the best driving experience catering to your preference. no wonder it was dubbed the Eleanor, after a unicorn that simply could not be tamed. You may recognize one from the movie Gone in Sixty Seconds, the one with black racing stripes and the NOS system with the 'Go Baby, Go' button on the steering wheel. This car is one of the few classics still having the same value as it did 50 years ago. The most adorned version was the KR, which true to its nature stands for "King of the Road".
Marking the 50-year anniversary of its inception, the Super Snake was launched in 2017 as part of the latest addition to the ever growing Shelby collection. While still under the wing of Ford, the Shelby Mustangs are in the league of their own to this day. We already talked about the Ford Mustang earlier, which the Super Snake leaves in the dust. It has the Ford's 5.0 L V8 which now produces 800-bhp thanks to a massive Shelby supercharger. This allows it to easily reach 220 mph on any drag strip of your choice. While it upgrades on almost all aspects of its 1967 predecessor, it is surprisingly able to still deliver the great driving experience when driving along Route 66, albeit with all the digital conveniences. There is no doubt, therefore, that it will still be as reputable and valuable for decades to come.
