What defines a "Muscle Car"

[SirGeo]

Well I've been chatting with a few people trying to decide what defines a muscle car...
I know most Hot Rodders (pre 48'ers) define it as anything after 1948 with a V8 motor.. but does that include the newer V8's? personally I think it can include the new cars.. but then if you accept them you'd be accepting things like a Lexus 2door V8 which to me is definitely not a muscle car...

I think it's anything early V8 with some exceptions of newer cars.. but very few.. I also think that technically Hot Rods can be defined as muscle cars, but I know allot of people will argue that they are in their own class altogether, I don't understand how they picked 1948 as the cut off.. but meh....

So using late 60 and early-mid 70 V8 cars (mustangs, camaro's, dodge's, vette's etc..) are definitely muscle cars.. but what about the rest of them.. do you all consider the new mustangs muscle cars? if you do.. how about the 80's version of the mustangs? (I don't think so...)

So what to you defines a muscle car? just interested to see every one else's perspective...

[BLK747]

i think a muscle car is something thats built strong and fast and no body additions as in body kits etc, and new cars cant be muscle cars like you said steve anything around the 60s 70s is muscle i reckon and a few 50s but anything under that is really hot rod and thats another class

[MrVette]

most cars after 80 and to some extent some late 1970s that fit in your description i would say are defined as modern muscle cars.

[MrVette]

i think a muscle car is something thats built strong and fast and no body additions as in body kits etc, and new cars cant be muscle cars like you said steve anything around the 60s 70s is muscle i reckon and a few 50s but anything under that is really hot rod and thats another class

sorry to come back to this, but a Elanor Mustang by default has a bodykit, yet i would say it is a true Muscle Car

[SirGeo]

Hey MrVette.. welcome.

But i think there is an exception to every rule.. even some trans-ams have what would now be considered a "bodykit", they have the front extensions etc.. I like your idea of "Modern Muscle Car" class though...

[BLK747]

i personally dont like the idea of modern muscle cars, when i think of MUSCLE i think of a car thats just all steel no plastic bumpers or crap on the outside, and i know i said bodykits but eleanor is a movie car the original GT500 didnt really have a kit like the one in the movie, and i know some cars have minor kits like the rear spoiler or front lip but nothing major that makes it look plastic like new cars

[Mozzie71]

how about "built with total disregard for fuel consumption and environmental impact" lol :D

[SirGeo]

how about "built with total disregard for fuel consumption and environmental impact" lol :D


lol.. thats a standard requirement :p

[BillyB]

i personally dont like the idea of modern muscle cars, when i think of MUSCLE i think of a car thats just all steel no plastic bumpers or crap on the outside, and i know i said bodykits but eleanor is a movie car the original GT500 didnt really have a kit like the one in the movie, and i know some cars have minor kits like the rear spoiler or front lip but nothing major that makes it look plastic like new cars

Agree with you BLK747...they're a stripped down, over powered, over steering, petrol guzzling menace…with out no traction control buttons!!!

Seriously though, i dont reckon any modern car comes close to fitting into the muscle car category…these days there are too many regulations for car companies to make cars like that in the past…now all you see are family cars dolled up with ridiculous prices attached…and a list of bullshiet extras to try and justify the price…cammon if it was really a muscle car, would you need a TV in it to keep you amused!!! Or a body kit to look tuff!!!

[EAT-30T]

how about "built with total disregard for fuel consumption and environmental impact" lol :D

Thats gold! :D

If you ask me REAL muscle cars died in the mid 70's!

I'm not sayin late model cars aren't TOUGH. cos we know thats BS there is some insane late model cars out there........... but its the classics with chrome bumpers and gas guzzling V8's that get your heart racing!

[VinnyCadillac]

Mozzie that post is dead on. I may have added a hood scoop also but thats just me.

[SirGeo]

so we've cut it down to late 60's and 70 era cars that have not had fuel efficiency or envireomental impact thought about in the design of the car, lots of chrome (i agree with that) bad to handle when in their pure form and if it were up to Vinny a hood scoop...

Well most cars that come to my mind when i think about "muscle cars" fit in all those.. except the hood scoop :p although if you look closely all the sooped up versions have them as standard ;)