Mercury MOntego the Muscle Car

Back in the 1950s thru the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced many automobiles that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These types of vehicles shared the same traits : they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes finally limited sales to the point where only a couple of models were produced beyond that period. Today, muscle automobile mania is back, notwithstanding even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and truck models from Dodge, there is new interest in a category long given up. The future is bright for the muscle automobile segment as one more manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of times past, the Camaro.

Besides the Ford Mustang there were a complete host of cars produced that at one previous point or another might have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane five hundred 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 4 door muscle vehicle together 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 present muscle automobile age craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating fresh technology. The result has been the Mustang now sells its complete 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 car, appearing at automobile shows across the States, 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 automobile 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 around town and fifteen or sixteen miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a very respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the highway. So, although fuel mileage will definitely be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle automobiles will still better the previous generation vehicles with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the autos from the 1970s.

Fortunately, we continue to live in a fairly free country and what the customer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle vehicles paired to six speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will probably appeal to several. No, they won’t be exact duplicates of yesterday’s muscle autos, but they are going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.