Muscle cars, these marvelous ‘Clunkers’ on wheels, pure aggressiveness and presence on the road, whose worldwide fame has transcended beyond the United States and the world of cinema has been responsible for popularizing worldwide. Gird your belt and join us in this exciting journey back to the best muscle cars in history, authentic American sportsmanship.

In 2014, It is fulfilled the 50th anniversary one of the iconic cars in the most recent history of the car: the Ford Mustang. The Oval confirmed his arrival in Europe for early 2015, a joy for drivers Old Continent lovers of pure sportsmanship American, the muscle cars in pure state.

Ford Mustang

Just we started our tour of the top five muscle cars history with the Ford Mustang. Born in the The 60s and the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Charger and Pontiac GTO as larger rivals, generation after generation (the latter, sixth, presented in December 2013) Has maintained a natural attraction tremendous that has conquered millions of drivers (as evidence, the more than 9 million units sold over its 50-year history).

Lovers American classics consider the Mustang GT500 1968 the best of all time, thanks to its V8 engine 355 hp throaty sound and overwhelming design, a symbol of masculinity and strength.

In the Ford Mustang history, especially notable are its multiple versions made both variants closed roof and the convertible or exchangeable. variants Shelby with the seal of ‘farmer Texas’, the legendary Carroll Shelby (who died on May 10, 2012) GT, SVT, SV and Cobra They contributed to enriching the successful sporting history galloping horse, the unmistakable emblem that has always distinguished the Mustang, a real star in and out of the road and has worn many palm heart films, between them, Bullit Steve McQueen, 60 seconds Nicolas Cage or the most recent Fast and Furious 6 and Need For Speed.

Today, the sixth generation Ford Mustang It adapting to the times and passed incorporate technology petrol engine EcoBoost, combining efficiency with a more than acceptable performance. In this case, the engine in question is a four-cylinder 2.3 and 309 CV, which will be accompanied by other propellants, such as atmospheric 3.7 V6 303 hp and aspirated V8 5.0 426 hp. The history of the Ford Mustang, detail.

Chevrolet Camaro

Seeing the success that began harvesting Ford with the Mustang, in General Motors They wanted to develop a sport like that would live up. 1967 officially presents the Camaro first generation, that sold only until 1969 variants coupe and convertible, rear-wheel drive and six-cylinder engines online and V8 with potencies could vary between 155 and 375 hp, according versions . For many fans of the brand, Camaro Z / 28 1969 It is considered the best Camaro of all time.

As usual in muscle cars, technical configuration front engine and rear drive Y Mechanical large displacement. In the first generation (1967-1969), six-cylinder engines were used in line with displacements of 3.8 and 4.1 liter V8 engines to several cubic capacities 4.9, 5.0, 5.4, 5.7, 6.5 and even 7.0, according to versions and special orders. In the second generation Camaro (1970-1981), at the beginning of the decade large displacements and the powers that were around and even they exceeded 400 hp is maintained, although the political and social situation in the United States changed radically when ordered officially a significant reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions cars. In fact, General Motors ordered their brands reduce compression engines and other technical changes. The result of these changes, engines and versions as Z / 28 went from 360 to 330 hp (and then to 245 hp) and the power of the Super Sport 350 350 to 300 horsepower, and even longer with the 1973 oil crisis making all its havoc, and 5.7 V8 engines of 350 hp passed just 144-155-165 CV.

The third generation (1982-1992) Camaro is accompanied by many aesthetic changes and ‘very conservative’ engines, offering a wide range of engines V6, V8 engine variants and even 2.4 inline four-cylinder. The fourth generation (1992-2002), the first essence with coupe and convertible body, rear wheel, six- and eight-cylinder and powers they grew very slowly, with electronic injection system replaces and carburization . From 2002 to 2009, production of the Camaro was paralyzed and had to wait for the fifth generation in 2009, with the resurgence of the muscle car in its current fifth generation, with V6 and V8 engines, rear-wheel drive and a stunning design and much ‘muscle’ reminiscent of the first generation and first years of the second. Currently, the range consists of the following mechanical versions: 3.6 V6 328 hp 6.2 V8 405 and 432 hp version Z8 engine 7.0 V8 of 511 hp and ZL1 engine 6.2 V8 supercharged compressor 587 hp.

His popularity has also transpired off the road, being the protagonist of the film fiction transformers, without forgetting the special variants Hot Wheels developed jointly with the renowned toymaker scale. The Chevrolet Camaro, tested

Dodge Charger

He Dodge Charger is another of the ‘big’ in the American sports car segment muscle cars. Somewhat less known in Europe than the Mustang and the Camaro, It has also adapting to market needs generation after generation.

The first of the generations of Dodge Charger only two years was sold (1966-1967) 5.2 V8 engine. The second generation was sold three years (1968-1969 and 1970) And garnered more sales than the first and was based on the Chrysler B platform with the same engine 5.2 V8. Special mention spectacular 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, whose elephantine rear wing did not go unnoticed. The third generation was accompanied by certain cosmetic changes and sold only four years (1971-1974 inclusive). The fourth generation was also in production shortly (1975-1977) And premiered new platform (the Chrysler 300). After five years with production stopped in 1982 he returned Charger with the fifth generation (until 1987), With smaller and even turbocharged engines, as a 2.2 turbo of 149 hp. After 16 years again to stop production, Dodge He rose again the Charger in 2006, with the premiere of the sixth generation, with more own a car engine (in this case, a 3.5 V6, 5.7 V8 Hemi V8 and 6.1) muscle. The current generation, the seventh, opens 2011 and the mechanical range are the following: 3.6 Pentastar 296 hp and a 5.7 Hemi V8 375 hp. The sports division of Chrysler-Jeep in the United States, SRT, also it offers his version of the Charger 476 hp.

Parallel to Charger The other major muscle car Dodge has been and is the Challenger, one of the few vehicles in this segment that currently retains aesthetic forms very similar to the big wild ponies of the 60s and 70s of last century.

Pontiac GTO

For many, the Pontiac GTO was the first vehicle that inaugurated the sports segment muscle cars, appearing shortly before the Ford Mustang. The GTO born at first as the most extreme version with base Pontiac Tempest, but soon he was acquiring its own identity. From Europe, he received various criticisms by adopting the name GTO, like other legendary sports in the Old Continent (the Ferrari 250 GTO, an acronym for the Italian words Gran Turismo Omologato9.

Like the other three mentioned muscle cars (Mustang, Camaro and Charger), the golden age of Pontiac GTO You lie in its early years and generations. From 1964 1967 the first one was sold with a 6.5 V8 engine with high power versions ranging from 329 to 365 hp. The second generation (1968-1973) Adopted the same 6.5 V8 engine and added even more aesthetic to the external load. The powers offered ranged from 355 to 371 hp. It appears a very revered vehicle in 1969 and quoted in the United States of the time: Pontiac GTO The Judge, a name taken from a series of very popular TV show in those years -‘Laugh in’-. In the mid-70s, Pontiac also had to surrender restrictive laws pollutants, lowering compression engines and made many modifications to its V8 mastodon out more decaf. The third generation Pontiac GTO Production was only one year (1974). Thirty years later, the Australian group brand General Motors, Holden, decided to rename GTO stands for a very different sporting the years 60-70, with independent suspension, propeller 5.7 V8 359 hp and six-speed manual transmission (as an option, an automatic four). This modern era GTO only it lasted three years (of the 2004 to the 2006).

Plymouth Barracuda

Two weeks before the official presentation of Ford Mustang, he launched the Plymouth Barracuda. his first generation (1964-1966) towered offers a large rear window (Glassback), which served to convey a lot of strength and dynamism, like the fish with the same name. As engines, two offered: 3.7 six-cylinder 147 hp and 4.5 V8 182 and 233 (Formula S Barracuda version.

Late 1966, It was launched second generation Plymouth Barracuda (In production to 1969) With consequent redesign and changes in the mechanical range: from 2.8 six-cylinder 116 hp, the 3.7 147 hp, up 5.2 V8 and 6.3 V8 with power outputs ranging from 238 hp to 329 hp . The third and last generation This flagship model was in production from 1969 to 1974. Mechanical supply was extensive and included the ‘basic’ 3.2 inline six to giant V8 (HEMI some type). The powers of factory output versions ranging from 127 to 431 hp. The last gasps Barracuda in life were marked by restrictive anti-pollution regulations that led to Chrylser Corporation decide to cease the Plymouth Barracuda.

You may also like

– The history of muscle cars, retail

– The decline of the muscle cars

– 45th anniversary of the Ford Mustang

– Ford Mustang, a car movie