Muscle Cars are fast performance cars manufactured for the most part in Detroit, Michigan from 1964 through 1975. Muscle car manufacturers placed substantial V8 engines in mid-sized vehicles, giving them lofty levels of performance and setting off a strong rivalry between the manufacturers to produce the most powerful and quickest muscle cars on sale throughout those times.

Although auto makers had occasionally experimented with placing the performance based V-8 engines in a lighter mid-size platforms, and full-size cars such as the Ford Galaxie and Chevrolet Impala had high-performance models, Pontiac received most of the credit for starting the muscle car era with its Pontiac GTO. Started by Pontiac a, the GTO was far more trendy than anticipated, and inspired many imitations and an  advance towards performance, both in the true muscle car class of intermediate vehicles as well as smaller muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and AMC AMX, and more luxurious and pricey cars such as the Buick Riviera.

However, a large part of the demand behind muscle cars was that they were mostly reasonably priced models that young drivers could manage to pay for and use them for drag racing. For example, Chevy placed an exceptionally large 396 cubic inch engine in its small Nova body. This would be equivalent to taking Chevrolet Cobalt and putting a  Corvette Z06 engine in it. Mopar also had several low-cost models, such as the Super Bee and Roadrunner.

Between 1964 and 1971, the Detroit corporations were in a competition for the bragging rights to the highest horsepower engine and offer the fastest muscle cars for sale. Horsepower numbers generally hit their peak in 1970, with the Chevelle SS 454 from that year is usually considered to have had the highest output, producing 450 horsepower. By 1971, most muscle cars began to fall out of support with Pontiac's Trans-AM model being the only lingering one by 1975.

While they were fast cars in a straight line, most had poor performing brakes, suspensions and tires which were inadequate to handle the acceleration and speeds the engines made possible. These factors have mostly been addressed by after-market suppliers.

Ford Maverick 1972 Ford Maverick MUSCLE CAR Good Easy Project    US $434.00

Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu coupe Project muscle car    US $1,200.00

Plymouth Duster 72 Plymouth Duster Demon Muscle Car MOPAR NO RESERVE    US $1,499.00

Pontiac Trans Am Pontiac Trans Am Bandit Firebird Muscle NO RESERVE Car    US $1,499.00

AMC Javelin 232 1969 Javelin Project Car Classic Muscle era No Reserve    US $2,500.00

Americans love their muscle cars. This is apparent in the legions of rabid fans dedicated to the Ford Mustang and other hotrods. Decades ago, the muscle car reigned supreme on the roads of the US. However, changes in the industry and in consumer spending resulted in a dramatic change, which saw the supposed demise of most muscle cars. While cars like the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro continued to be manufactured, they seemed pale imitations of previous iterations.

However, the modern world seems ready to embrace the muscle car once more. While this may seem nonsensical when you consider the looming oil crisis and the rising cost of fuel, the reality is indisputable. The rise of the newly redesigned Ford Mustang was proof that Americans wanted their power back.

The Mustang was not the only hotrod to tantalize Americans' need for speed. The Dodge Charger soon became a product vehicle. While the car may have thrown purists for a loop (a 4-door muscle car?), it found a home in the hearts of many consumers. Next, Chevy made everyone in the industry stop and take notice of the new design for the Camaro; though production remained elusive, (2010 is the supposed production year).

Dodge once again upped the ante this year with the release of the Challenger. This car had only two doors and hearkened back to the designs of yesteryear, which suited the purists and everyone else just fine.

The muscle car wars seem ready to heat back up, once more. With the coming redesign of the new Mustang, the release of the Camaro and Dodge's seeming dedication to get there first, there should be a plethora of options for those who feel the need for massive horsepower and roaring engines.
In many ways, the need for American muscle cars stems from the ubiquitous tuner market. This market is largely geared for small import cars. While capable of great speed, they lack the sheer gratuitous power and aggressiveness of past muscle cars. They also lack the style that seemed inherent to American muscle cars.

As the muscle car wars continue to heat up (albeit slowly), there's no telling what the industry might do. What other manufacturers may be influenced to pick up the thrown gauntlet and develop their own offerings for the market? The advent of the new car wars is a sign that Americans are ready to stand defiantly against the low-powered, compact cars that have been fobbed off by the automakers for years.