What Is Your Opinion Of The Meanest Muscle Cars
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No list goes to the Corvette ZR1-1990
so simple math shows 1989 is before 1990.
Here is the popular mechanics link
http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars_trucks/1997/8/showdown_new_muscle_cars/print.phtml
87GN_ponykillr
Buick addict
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IMO I would say the meanest muscle cars are.....
-LS1 powered WS6 Trans Am's
-77' Trans Am 400
-70's Boss 429 Stang
& of course GN's
-LS1 powered WS6 Trans Am's
-77' Trans Am 400
-70's Boss 429 Stang
& of course GN's
Gary Wells
White turbo Buick trailer park trash
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FWIW & IMHO:
I really don't like to rag on other peoples likes, but the Ford Boss 429 Stang on the street couldn't get out of the way of a 6cyl maverick.
Ask any ford boss 429 owner or site. the ports on the heads and intake manifold were just too big to develop any low end torque. Sasme for on the strip, also. Now on the big Talladega oval, it was a different story. Ran something like mid 14s on the 1/4?
I really don't like to rag on other peoples likes, but the Ford Boss 429 Stang on the street couldn't get out of the way of a 6cyl maverick.
Ask any ford boss 429 owner or site. the ports on the heads and intake manifold were just too big to develop any low end torque. Sasme for on the strip, also. Now on the big Talladega oval, it was a different story. Ran something like mid 14s on the 1/4?
The ORIGINAL Muscle Car Review "50 fastest Musclecars" list predates those cars.
Vipers, Corvettes and Cobras shouldn't even be on the list as they don't fit the definition of "muscle car".
On that latest list, these are LOTS of cars left off, including the South Carolina Built BMW M Coupe and M Roadster, both of which ran low 13's.
They are as much a "muscle car" as a ZR1 or a Viper GTS.
I absolutely agree. To me, a true "Muscle Car" was built in the '60's and no later than '72.
While the Vettes, Vipers, Cobras and yes, even the Turbo Buicks have plenty of muscle, they are NOT - in my view - muscle cars. They're just, well, very nice cars with muscle.
If you use the '72 cut off, you lose some pretty quick cars.
a 73 or '74 SD were quicker than almost every 1972 musclecar.
A stock '74 401 Javelin was quicker than a stock Boss 302 or '69 Z28. Only an AMC person would know this however and only a handful were built.
Even after '74, there are cars that fit all the readily accepted "muscle car" criteria.
An '85 Mustang GT was as quick as a Boss 302 in the 1/4 and fits pretty much all the criteria of any "musclecar" definition that includes any small block mustang, other than an arbitrary cut off date.
Well, all this is merely an exercise in opinion after all, right?
In my view, the Muscle Car era ended with the demise of cheap gas, an explosion in insurance rates, and a general drop off in sales. Most of the last muscle cars languished for months on lots waiting to be sold. There are numerous reports of dealers taking the huge wings off of Daytona's and Superbird's just to sell the cars.
So, when the '73's came out, the Muscle Cars were dead as far as I was concerned. Anemic horsepower ratings were in abundance and trim packages (i.e., the screaming chicken on the Trans Ams) were replacing the "Go" factor with "Show" factor.
Sure, there was a S/D here and a Javelin there but the GTO's, Roadrunners, Chevelles, and 4-4-2's of old were no more.
Yes, there have been as quick or quicker cars built since then. But to me - and this is just my opinion - the TRUE Muscle Car Era ended in 1972.
Being a Muscle Car does not mean it is simply fast or quick. AMG's, M5's, ZO6's and the like are in abundance these days. But they are NOT muscle cars - they are cars with muscle.
The 5.0's, the Turbo Buicks, the TTA's, the LS1 and LS2 F-Bodies - all are muscular cars. But, they are not muscle cars.
Muscle Cars roamed the earth with stump pulling torque, running on 104 octane Sunoco, huge displacements (generally), multiple choices of gear ratios and other performance options and had names like "Boss", "Super Sport", "GTO" and such.
There are quick cars and there are fast cars. But they haven't built a true "Muscle Car" in decades.
In my view, the Muscle Car era ended with the demise of cheap gas, an explosion in insurance rates, and a general drop off in sales. Most of the last muscle cars languished for months on lots waiting to be sold. There are numerous reports of dealers taking the huge wings off of Daytona's and Superbird's just to sell the cars.
So, when the '73's came out, the Muscle Cars were dead as far as I was concerned. Anemic horsepower ratings were in abundance and trim packages (i.e., the screaming chicken on the Trans Ams) were replacing the "Go" factor with "Show" factor.
Sure, there was a S/D here and a Javelin there but the GTO's, Roadrunners, Chevelles, and 4-4-2's of old were no more.
Yes, there have been as quick or quicker cars built since then. But to me - and this is just my opinion - the TRUE Muscle Car Era ended in 1972.
Being a Muscle Car does not mean it is simply fast or quick. AMG's, M5's, ZO6's and the like are in abundance these days. But they are NOT muscle cars - they are cars with muscle.
The 5.0's, the Turbo Buicks, the TTA's, the LS1 and LS2 F-Bodies - all are muscular cars. But, they are not muscle cars.
Muscle Cars roamed the earth with stump pulling torque, running on 104 octane Sunoco, huge displacements (generally), multiple choices of gear ratios and other performance options and had names like "Boss", "Super Sport", "GTO" and such.
There are quick cars and there are fast cars. But they haven't built a true "Muscle Car" in decades.
Turbo Indian
worlds quickest 6cyl bird
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not the meanest but the 1st & best. that would be the 64-67 GTO, I would cut my left nut off with a dull rusty knife to own a 67, 4spd,hard top, 389 tri power!!! like I said it's not the meanest but damn in my eyes it's the sweetest automobile to leave Detroit, MI.
Turbo Indian
worlds quickest 6cyl bird
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that's right I was thinking 66's engine sorry
A muscle car is ANY car built with a powerful engine. The time period of 64-72 is generally considered the musclecar era but it all depends on which magazine tells when it was and who tells it.
Some manufacturers such as Chrysler had been building muscle car type vehicles since the 50's with the 300 series, Desoto Adventurers, Plymouth Furys and Dodge D500's. Gradually all the manufacturers started offering bigger and more powerful engines. The 64-72 time period is considered the zenith of this as everyone had some sort of muscle type car. The GTO was not the first muscle car as previously noted, but people made a big deal because Pontiac put the 389 into the intermediate body style which was unheard of at that point as there was initially a 330 cubic inch limit imposed on the A body by GM. They gradually increase it to 400 cubic inches. By 1970 the removed the limitation and allowed the 450+ cubic inch engines in the A body clones.
It funny though because people still make a big deal about many of these "muscle cars' but in reality they are not very impressive by todays stand points. Most of the 389 and 400 GTO's were 14 and 15 second cars. Just like many of the 396 Chevelles were as well. I consider the 80's to be the renaissance of the American muscle cars as Ford, GM and Chrysler all fielded performance models that ran atleast as fast as their 60's-early 70's counter parts while getting great gas mileage and meeting tough emission standards, saftey standards and carrying all sorts of luxury items that were rarely found on the cars of old.
The Mustang 5.0 as much as many people on here hate it started the renaissance with the introduction of the 82 GT. Here was a cheap light weight car that ran low 15's with a 3.08 geared rear and a 4 speed. The car sold like wild fire. GM and Chrysler both took note introducing many performance oriented models over the next few years. Some of these models unfortunately were no better than the mid 70's cars with muscle car names and lack luster performance. I think the introduction of the SEFI Turbo Buicks was GM's best effort next to the Corvette. Chrysler had the 2.2 turbo cars such as the Omni GLH(s) and the Dodge Daytona turbo models. By the late 80's performance was in full swing again and has been going strong ever since.
Some manufacturers such as Chrysler had been building muscle car type vehicles since the 50's with the 300 series, Desoto Adventurers, Plymouth Furys and Dodge D500's. Gradually all the manufacturers started offering bigger and more powerful engines. The 64-72 time period is considered the zenith of this as everyone had some sort of muscle type car. The GTO was not the first muscle car as previously noted, but people made a big deal because Pontiac put the 389 into the intermediate body style which was unheard of at that point as there was initially a 330 cubic inch limit imposed on the A body by GM. They gradually increase it to 400 cubic inches. By 1970 the removed the limitation and allowed the 450+ cubic inch engines in the A body clones.
It funny though because people still make a big deal about many of these "muscle cars' but in reality they are not very impressive by todays stand points. Most of the 389 and 400 GTO's were 14 and 15 second cars. Just like many of the 396 Chevelles were as well. I consider the 80's to be the renaissance of the American muscle cars as Ford, GM and Chrysler all fielded performance models that ran atleast as fast as their 60's-early 70's counter parts while getting great gas mileage and meeting tough emission standards, saftey standards and carrying all sorts of luxury items that were rarely found on the cars of old.
The Mustang 5.0 as much as many people on here hate it started the renaissance with the introduction of the 82 GT. Here was a cheap light weight car that ran low 15's with a 3.08 geared rear and a 4 speed. The car sold like wild fire. GM and Chrysler both took note introducing many performance oriented models over the next few years. Some of these models unfortunately were no better than the mid 70's cars with muscle car names and lack luster performance. I think the introduction of the SEFI Turbo Buicks was GM's best effort next to the Corvette. Chrysler had the 2.2 turbo cars such as the Omni GLH(s) and the Dodge Daytona turbo models. By the late 80's performance was in full swing again and has been going strong ever since.
Little6pack
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This age old question will always be kicked around.
Depends on what you set for guidelines?
Fastest down the 1320
Best handling?
big cube or little cubes..
Which era ? 60's 70's 80' 90's
I would say for General PONY CAR SUPER RARE your GT500KR, HEMI CUDA, AAR CUDA.
For a sedan 60's & 70's 69 JUDGE , GTX, Charger, Chevello Yenko
For 1/4 mile the GSX
For an 80's car a GNX or TTA.
Road course car a 70 TA, Z28,
Depends on what you set for guidelines?
Fastest down the 1320
Best handling?
big cube or little cubes..
Which era ? 60's 70's 80' 90's
I would say for General PONY CAR SUPER RARE your GT500KR, HEMI CUDA, AAR CUDA.
For a sedan 60's & 70's 69 JUDGE , GTX, Charger, Chevello Yenko
For 1/4 mile the GSX
For an 80's car a GNX or TTA.
Road course car a 70 TA, Z28,
chrisgarrett
Registered Member
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There is no need to make a sacred cow out of the term "muscle car". I was a teenager during the muscle car days and I will tell you that any car with a large engine to body weight ratio was a muscle car. The GTO was a muscle car because Pontiac put an 8 cylinder on the traditionally 6 cylinder Tempest. Any car with a big engine which is built to be kickass fast is a muscle car. Today's Mustangs and even the new Chysler 300 are as much muscle cars as the 1967 GTO. Just my .02.
turbobuickman
Member
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- Mar 8, 2002
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- 574
I beg to differ
A true muscle car is a no-frills, stripped down hunk of american steel with a large powerful engine built for "bench racing". A perfect example would be a 69 1/2 superbee or roadrunner (complete with unpainted fiberglass liftoff hood, black steel wheels, bench seat, and a 440+6 or HEMI!
Mustangs are pony cars, 300m is a luxoury car, vipers/ vettes are sportscars, and GNs are GNs.
A true muscle car is a no-frills, stripped down hunk of american steel with a large powerful engine built for "bench racing". A perfect example would be a 69 1/2 superbee or roadrunner (complete with unpainted fiberglass liftoff hood, black steel wheels, bench seat, and a 440+6 or HEMI!
Mustangs are pony cars, 300m is a luxoury car, vipers/ vettes are sportscars, and GNs are GNs.
