Chandler has a bachelors and masters degree in history as well as a passion for classics and muscle cars. His education and historical knowledge makes him skilled at crafting highly detailed articles about America’s muscle cars and automotive history. His love of muscle cars is undeniable, with him seeking them out at every opportunity during his visits to auto shows and car meets. Chandler’s knowledge and enthusiasm towards automotive history make him a great asset to the Muscle Car Club community.
Spanning 50 years, the Ford Thunderbird is one of the most iconic cars in American history. First introduced for the 1955 model year, Ford marketed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car that featured outstanding performance from big-block V8s. The original run of the Thunderbird lasted for 10 generations from the 1955–1997 model years, before…
The Pontiac Firebird stands out as one of the most iconic pony cars of all time. Pontiac introduced the Firebird in 1967, and kept it around all the way until the new millennium in 2002. The Firebird quickly earned a potent reputation, and the Trans Am and Firehawk performance variants got even more attention. The…
Since its introduction in 1959, the Chrysler 383 Wedge V8 engine has earned a solid reputation as one of the top big blocks ever made by Mopar. Producing a maximum of 335 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from the factory, the 383 Mopar powered many iconic muscle cars throughout the 1960s and very early-1970s….
Forever immortalized in the Beach Boys’ song “Shut Down,” the Chevrolet 327 V8 engine is the stuff of legends. Produced for the 1962–1969 model years, the 327 engine was available in nearly every Chevy model at some point, from trucks to passenger cars, as well as a few exotics, too. By far, the most iconic…
Since the 1950s, few things have been associated as closely with Americana as muscle car culture. Muscle cars have been making their mark in America for roughly seven decades, originally powered by big-block V8 engines sending massive amounts of raw horsepower to only the rear wheel drive. There was an unfortunate lull from the mid-’70s…
How do superchargers work? It’s a question most have asked at least once at some point, usually after seeing a massive blower peeking out the hood of a 1960s muscle car. At first, superchargers – also referred to as blowers – might sound complicated. However, they actually operate under some pretty basic and easy to…
Ford’s longtime 302 V8 engine will undoubtedly go down as one of the top engines in American history. First introduced in the late-’60s in models like the Mustang, Ford’s small-block 302 lasted all the way until 2001. Over its three decade production span, Ford put the 302 into just about anything they could, including coupes,…
Over the years, Ford has produced some incredibly iconic cars and engines. The Model T has long been considered one of the greatest manufacturing feats in modern history, and Ford’s flathead engine transformed V8s for the future. In 1968, Ford released the first versions of their now famed V8 Cobra Jet engines. Ford Cobra Jets…
Since its initial release in 1965, the Chevy 396 big block has been one of the top racing engines available. During its production run, it appeared in Camaros, Chevelles, El Caminos, and even briefly in the Corvette. Known for its thunderous output, stout reliability, and solid design, Chevy’s 396 big block has maintained its status…
For nearly fifty years, Chevy small block V8 engines were some of the top choices available for domestic vehicles. They powered everything from muscle cars, to sports cars, to economy sedans and vans, and even trucks and SUVs. Incredibly, Chevy has manufactured well over 100 million small block engines since 1954. Among the different versions,…
Undoubtedly, Lee Iacocca’s Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic cars in American history. It debuted as the very first Pony Car back in 1965, and it has seen unprecedented success since then. From the small block V6s and V8s of the first generation, through the turbo-fours in the 1980s and all the way…
The small block 350 V8 played an important role for Buick during its 13 year production run from 1968-1980. Buick first put it on the market in their Gran Sport and Skylark models, where it was alternatively known as the “California” option. By 1970, it challenged Buick’s big block 400 and 455 V8s with its…
