The Ford 5.2 Voodoo is a truly unique muscle car engine. The 5.2L V8 utilizes a flat-plane crankshaft and is able to rev to 8,250rpm; it’s good for 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. That may not sound overly impressive compared to the 760hp GT500 or even the base 5.0 Coyote with its 480…
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Introduction: The Acura Integra was launched, along with the Legend, in March of 1986 as part of the brand new Acura division, the upscale division of Honda. Based on the lowly Honda Civic, the Acura Integra instantly became a sales success as it combined a sporty nature with lightweight and high revving engines. 1991 Acura…
When the Oldsmobile Toronado was released in 1966, it represented a dramatic push toward new and innovative ideas for one of America’s oldest brands. By the 1990s, the Toronado was still kicking, but its ethos had shifted so enormously that it came to represent a failing brand whose heyday lay firmly in the past. With…
Corvette History First Generation 1953-1962 The Chevrolet Corvette first appeared in 1953 as a unique American entry into the sports car market dominated by European makes. Although not a muscle car by definition, the Corvette used muscle car powertrains and has represented American performance for almost fifty years. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Comments: The first Corvette…
Galaxie History 1959-1972 A predecessor to the muscle car era, the Galaxie was Ford’s full-size competitor. Although it outpowered the similar Chevy Impala at first, it never sold as well due to its uninspired styling, poor aerodynamics, and heavyweight. Ford kept trying though and continued to install larger and larger engines, reaching a pinnacle with…
When it comes to muscle cars that defined the 1960s, it is impossible to leave out the Mopar “Wing Cars.” Prior to 1969, aerodynamics in racing series like NASCAR wasn’t considered to be a make-or-break aspect of car design. Form over function dictated the design of most muscle cars at the time. All of that…
Super Bee History1968-1971 Introduction: During the late 1960s, it is no secret that MOPAR was under a lot of pressure from the competition. Cars like the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Pontiac GTO were tearing up the strip. While their full-size muscle cars, like the Plymouth GTX, were selling well, they wanted to target a…
Dodge Charger History1966-1974 The Dodge Charger was a response to the fastback fad started by the Mustang and the Barracuda, but on a much larger scale. Based on the midsize Dodge Coronet model, the Charger was launched in 1966 and quickly became a sales hit with its dramatic fuselage styling of 1968. From the beginning,…
Impala SS History 1958-1969 Introduction: The Chevrolet Impala is often credited with starting the muscle car era. Born as Chevrolet’s top of the line model, the Impala quickly became the symbol for performance in the early sixties and introduced Chevrolet’s signature “SS” brand of performance. Although it would later be eclipsed by smaller, lighter automobiles,…
Riviera History 1963-1975 Introduction: The Buick Riviera was not a muscle car, per se, but it had a tremendous impact on the American automotive scene. The Riviera represented one of the most successful American attempts at capturing European styling and performance in a large automobile. Positioned at the top of Buick’s coupe line up, the…
There is an unquestionable short list of unique American cars. That list would start with the Corvette and end with the Ford Raptor. Tucked somewhere near the top is the Chevrolet El Camino. The funny thing is that the Chevy El Camino wasn’t an American idea, despite it becoming a cultural icon. In fact, the…
