The muscle car is perhaps one of the most quintessential American cars ever made. Powerful, loud, and good-looking, the muscle car was the perfect companion for Americans in the mid-to-late 20th century.
Arriving in the late 1940s, blossoming in the 1960s and 1970s, and still influencing the automotive industry today, the muscle car has had a pretty unique history.
In this blog, we'll look in detail at the history of the muscle car and how it has evolved over the decades.
We talk about:
Although many believe the muscle car arrived in the early 1960s, it was actually introduced in 1949 with the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. It featured a high-compression overhead valve 5.0-litre V8 engine that produced 135hp and 263Nm of torque.
After the introduction of the Rocket 88, automakers were inspired to create vehicles that could compete on the racetrack, and thus, the muscle car market was born.
It wasn't until the 1960s that the term 'muscle car' originated. It was first used by Pontiac to describe their 1964 GTO.
The phrase became popular and stuck as a term for various tuned-up cars.
Although the phrase can be quite a vague description, cars with the label often meet a few general requirements.
To be classified as a muscle car, it must be American-made, mid-size, and feature a coupe body. A lot of muscle cars use V8 engines, but this isn't always the case across the board.
Late 1940s and 1950s
The 1950s saw the rise in muscle cars as competitors and tried to imitate the Rocket 88's success. Chrysler, Studebaker, and the American Motors Company began to produce muscle cars.
Here are our two favourite muscle cars from this era:
- Rocket 88 - The Rocket 88 of 1949 was the first muscle car ever produced. It had a 5.0-litre V8 engine that returned 135hp. However, this power blew other cars of this era out of the water. The Rocket 88 won 10 out of 19 races during the 1950 NASCAR season, which was a huge success.
- Chrysler CC-300 - in 1955, Chrysler released the C-300. Bigger and more powerful than the Rocket 88, it had a 5.4-litre V8 engine with 300hp that shot from 0-60mph in just 9.8 seconds.
The Golden Age - 1960s and 70s
The 1960s were a great decade for Americans. Music, culture, civil rights, and, of course, the blossoming of the muscle car. Known as the Golden Age of muscle cars, the 60s and 70s produced some amazing cars that took the public by storm.
- 1964 Pontiac GTO - The Pontiac GTO is credited as starting the mass interest in muscle cars. Using a 6.4-litre V8 engine that produced 325hp, it was a powerful old thing that shot from 0-60mph in just over six seconds.
- 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake - Despite looking more like a sports car, the Cobra 427 Super Snake was officially a muscle car. The top version used a V8 engine with a whopping 800hp and a top speed of 200mph, which propelled it from 0-60mph in just three seconds!
1980s and 1990s
From the mid-70s until the 90s, muscle cars took a bit of a dip (see below). They weren't as powerful as their predecessors due to manufacturers adjusting to new regulations and pricing differences. This changed with the arrival of the 1990s, which saw the arrival of quicker and meaner muscle cars.
Here are our two favourites from the 80s and 90s:
- 1987 Buick Grand National GNX - If I were to describe this car in one word, I'd choose 'menacing'. Only available in jet black, the GNX was a fine-looking thing. Under the bonnet, it used a V6 engine that produced 245hp and went from 0-60mph in six seconds.
- 1996 Ford Mustang GT - Although this version might not have had as much power as other muscle cars of its era, it's looks epitomise 90s automotive design. Having a rounded and clean design, the Mustang GT absolutely looked the part. Under the bonnet, it used a V8 engine that produced 215hp and propelled the car from 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds.
2000s to Present
After the millennium, modern technology allowed the muscle car industry to equip their vehicles with performance that equals or exceeds that of the past. The naughties saw the revitalisation of the muscle car, and we certainly enjoyed it.
Here's our two favourites:
- 2004 Cadillac CTS-V - The Cadillac CTS-V features four-doors, however, it's menacing appearance made it blend in with other muscle cars. Powered by a 400hp V8 engine, it went from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds.
- 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang - The 2008 Shelby Mustang was a modern-day version of the classic Shelby Mustang of the 1960s. It certainly had its work cut out, but it passed with flying colours. It was equipped with a V8 engine that produced 500hp and 480Nm.
The muscle car market suffered after 1973. Manufacturers across the board faced challenges from the oil crisis, rising insurance rates, and the Clean Air Act. They were already more expensive than normal cars, so after this, they were costly and unfeasible.
Manufacturers found it particularly difficult to create the same high-compression engines of the past after the Clean Air Act of 1970. They had to tighten their emission controls, which in turn massively reduced the power of their vehicles.
Looking for more motoring content? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts produces regular blogs, such as Interesting Stories Behind Famous Brand Car Names.
We are also one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers, offering a range of leasing deals to suit your every need. For more information, check out our leasing deals or call us on 0345 811 9595.
Originally posted: 14th March 2024
