Austin has been a muscle car enthusiast since an early age with his Dad having a collection including a 1965 Mustang, 1968 Mercury Cougar, and a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 among many others. Austin received a technical writing degree from University of Colorado Denver with the intentions of becoming an automotive journalist. His automotive knowledge, enthusiasm, and hands on experience allow him to craft detailed, accurate, and high-quality articles for the passionate Muscle Car Club audience.
Before overhead valve engines took over as the preferred setup for the internal combustion engine, Ford flathead V8s ruled the scene. It is a common misconception that the Ford flathead V8 was the first V8 engine. In fact, that honor goes to the Antoinette V8, invented in 1904 by Leon Levavasseur. Other European manufacturers were…
The Ford Fox Body Mustang is a strong contender for the Mustang generation that has the most to gain from aftermarket performance modifications. From the factory, it is hard to point to any part of the Fox Body that actually did its job well. 5.0L Windsor 302? Criminally underpowered. Brakes? Nearly non-existent. Suspension? It would…
It truly speaks to Carroll Shelby’s legacy that nearly everyone stateside and abroad can conjur up a mental image as soon as the term “GT500” is brought up. Of course, the GT500 is only a small part of Shelby American’s extensive and decorated history. Fostering a special relationship with eventual Ford president Lee Iacocca, Carroll…
Pontiac is one of the first brands that comes to mind when the topic of muscle cars is brought up. While Pontiac might not receive the same kind of reputation that companies like Chevy or Ford have in the muscle/pony car world, the origins of the muscle car class can largely be traced back to…
If you’ve heard of the De Tomaso Pantera, chances are that you know a thing or two about cars. Since the Pantera didn’t receive the vapid bedroom poster fanfare of the Lamborghini Countach or Ferrari Daytona, the Italian-designed, Ford-powered exotic flew under the radar of almost everyone in the early 1970s. Even today, it takes…
The Ford 289 Small Block played an instrumental role in establishing the Mustang legacy. As a continuation of the Ford Windsor V8 line, the Ford 289 would replace the Ford 260 V8 which was the standard engine for full-size Ford sedans in the 1963 model year. The 289 small block was nearly identical in construction…
The 426 Hemi is a legend, plain and simple. The 7.0L elephant engine is arguably the best engine Mopar has ever produced. It was so dominant in the 1964 NASCAR season that the organization banned the use of race-only engines in 1965. In street trim, the 426 Hemi powered some of the most popular muscle…
The muscle car world is full of a ton of controversial topics. What is the best muscle car ever made? What manufacturer lays at the top of the muscle car heap? Can anything modern compare to the muscle cars of the golden age? Despite what many people will tell you, there isn’t a right or…
Here’s a scene: You’re walking down the street with a few buddies that say they know their way around an engine when a torch red C7 Corvette steamrolls by with a downshift that breaks the rears loose for a second, just for a bit of fanfare. One of your walking partners says, “I love me…
The late 1950s were a time of serious reformation and change for Pontiac. Their image was growing stale by that point and a change in management in 1956 sparked an initiative to get the Pontiac appeal back on track, especially with a younger audience base. The strategic move to promote leading performance V8 specialist Pete…
The second generation of Chevy Big Blocks won’t ever be forgotten. In just 3 short years, the Mark IV Chevy 427 big block cemented its status as the bad boy on the block in the muscle car world. Ranging from the 390 horsepower, low-compression L36 to the 560 horsepower, race-derived L88, the Chevy 427 proved…
The Chevy L88 is a unicorn engine that needs no introduction. If you’ve been in the Chevy sphere for any amount of time at all, you’ll know that the L88 427 is definitely an engine that carries a lot of weight. At surface level, the L88 is just another 427 engine. Looking deeper, the L88…
