Mercury MOntego the Muscle Car
Back during the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced several cars that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These sorts of cars shared the same characteristics : they were two door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel costs and changing tastes eventually limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that period of time. Today, muscle vehicle mania is back, in spite of even higher gas costs. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and lorry models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a class long given up. The future is bright for the muscle automobile segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesterday, the Camaro.
Besides the Ford Mustang there were a whole host of vehicles produced that at a previous time or another might have been considered a muscle auto. As well as 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 Tempest; Olds the 442; American 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 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 current Mustang embraces a retro look while incorporating fresh technology. The result has been the Mustang currently sells its entire 150,000 model capacity without incentives.
The Mustang has been inspiring DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept car, appearing at auto shows across the United 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 vehicle show circuit.
So, isn’t it mad to bring back such gas hogs? Back in the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon around town and fifteen or 16 miles per gallon on the highway. Thanks to PC technology and potency, even the Corvette returns a highly respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the road. So, although fuel mileage will certainly be lower than lots of other models, the new group of muscle cars will still better the previous generation cars with fuel mileage 80% or more above the autos from the 1970s.
Fortunately, we live in a fairly free country and what the consumer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated 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 actual copies of yesterday’s muscle cars, but they’re going to provide the nostalgia and power that motorists seek. I can’t wait!.
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