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Ford Fairlane 500 American Muscle
By Performance Guru | August 18, 2009
Back in the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many automobiles that were out and out “muscle” cars. These kinds of cars shared the same traits : they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an assertive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel costs and changing tastes finally limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that period of time. Today, muscle automobile mania is back, despite even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a smaller extent to sedan and lorry models from Dodge, there is new interest in a class long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of times past, the Camaro.
Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of cars produced that at one time or another might have been considered a muscle auto. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 and Ford Torino did duty; the Mercury Montego was another model; Chevrolet produced the Camaro and Corvette; Pontiac the GTO, Firebird, and Storm ; Olds the 442 ; Yankee Motors’ had its Javelin ; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives although the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle automobile with its sibling, the hot Dodge Magnum wagon.
Interestedly, it took Ford’s redoing of the Mustang for the 2005 model year to stir the current muscle automobile age craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the current Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating fresh technology. The result has been that the Mustang currently sells its whole 150,000 model capacity without incentives.
The Mustang has been provoking DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept auto, popping up at automobile shows across the USA, has been a massive hit and Chrysler plans on bringing the V8 hemi powered model back in 2009. Additionally, General Motors is considering giving its blessing on the Camaro, another car also making the rounds of the States car show circuit.
So, isn’t it mad to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle automobiles averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon in town and 15 or 16 miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable 28 miles to the gallon the road. So, though fuel mileage will certainly be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle automobiles will still better the prior generation autos with fuel mileage 80% or more above the cars from the 1970s.
Fortunately, we still live in a fairly free country and what the buyer wants, the consumer gets. So, V8 powered muscle vehicles paired to 6 speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel usage will possibly appeal to several. No, they won’t be exact duplicates of yesterday’s muscle cars, but they will provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.
If you can have any car in the world, what would it be? Visit thesupercars.org for information and specs on the greatest cars in the world, also take a look at pre owned Dodge Charger.
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