| − | A '''muscle car''' is a type of high-performance, mid or full-size [[automobile]] popular in the [[United States]] between 1964 and 1976, typically large with two doors, but sometimes having four. Examples of such cars were the Pontiac GTO or Firebird Trans Am, Chevrolet Chevelle or Nova, Plymouth Roadrunner, Dodge Challenger or Charger, Plymouth Road Runner, Ford Torino, and Oldsmobile 4-4-2. They had large gas tanks, powerful engines (V8), and low miles-per-gallon. Smaller high-performance cars of the time were typically referred to as "pony cars," having better power-to-weight ratio than their larger cousins and exemplified by the Ford Mustang. A common opinion amongst car enthusiasts and collectors in the United States is that the American muscle cars of the 1960s and early 1970s represent the height of automotive design and style. | + | A '''muscle car''' is a type of high-performance, mid or full-size [[automobile]] popular in the [[United States]] between 1964 and 1976, typically large with two doors, but sometimes having four. Examples of such cars were the Pontiac GTO or Firebird Trans Am, Chevrolet Chevelle or Nova, Plymouth Roadrunner, Dodge Challenger or Charger, Plymouth Road Runner, Ford Torino, and Oldsmobile 4-4-2. They had large gas tanks, powerful engines (V8), low miles-per-gallon, and open rather than pop-up headlights. Smaller high-performance cars of the time were typically referred to as "pony cars," having better power-to-weight ratio than their larger cousins and exemplified by the Ford Mustang. A common opinion amongst car enthusiasts and collectors in the United States is that the American muscle cars of the 1960s and early 1970s represent the height of automotive design and style. |
| − | Some car enthusiasts cite the '57 [[Rambler Rebel]] or even the '49 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and '55 Chrysler C300 as very early muscle cars, but the Rambler had four rather than two doors and lacked a sleek or "cool" design. | + | Some car enthusiasts cite the '57 [[Rambler Rebel]] or even the '49 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and '55 Chrysler C300 as very early muscle cars, but the Rambler had four rather than two doors and lacked a sleek or "cool" design. |
| | These cars fell out of favor due to environmental restrictions and oil and gas shortages in the 1970s, but more recently, there has been a renewed interest in the production of muscle cars in the [[United States]]. Environmentalists caused the end of the muscle car era by castrating these amazing vehicles and led the way to a series of limp-wristed imitations that paled in comparison with their competitors and led to a take over of Japanese and European vehicles, proving that government should stay out of automobile design. | | These cars fell out of favor due to environmental restrictions and oil and gas shortages in the 1970s, but more recently, there has been a renewed interest in the production of muscle cars in the [[United States]]. Environmentalists caused the end of the muscle car era by castrating these amazing vehicles and led the way to a series of limp-wristed imitations that paled in comparison with their competitors and led to a take over of Japanese and European vehicles, proving that government should stay out of automobile design. |