New and Improved Dodge Challenger
Back during the 1950s through the mid 1970s, Detroit automakers produced several cars that were out and out “muscle” automobiles. These kinds of cars shared the same characteristics : they were 2 door coupes with souped up engines, responsive transmissions, an aggressive exterior design, and a sporty interior. High fuel prices and changing tastes finally limited sales to the point where only a few models were produced beyond that time period. Today, muscle car mania is back, despite even higher gas prices. Thanks to the Ford Mustang and to a lesser extent to sedan and wagon models from Dodge, there’s new interest in a class long given up. The future is bright for the muscle car segment as another manufacturer, Chevrolet, considers bringing back one of its darlings of yesterday, the Camaro.
Besides the Ford Mustang there were a complete host of autos produced that at a previous time or another could have been considered a muscle car. In addition to the Mustang, the Ford Fairlane 500 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 ; Yankee Motors’ had its Javelin ; Plymouth had the ‘Cuda, and Dodge produced the Challenger and the Charger. Today, only the Mustang and Corvette survives though the Dodge Charger has returned as a four door muscle car along 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 current muscle automobile time craze. Styled after Mustangs built in the 1960s, the present Mustang welcomes a retro look while incorporating contemporary technology. The result has been that the Mustang currently sells its whole 150,000 model capacity without incentives.
The Mustang has been provoking DaimlerChrysler to go ahead with a retro cruiser of its own. The Dodge Challenger concept auto, popping up at car shows across the United States, has been a big 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 automobile show circuit.
So, isn’t it silly to bring back such gas hogs? Back during the early 1970s, the then current crop of muscle cars averaged only 10-12 miles to the gallon in town and 15 or sixteen m.p.g on the highway. Thanks to computer technology and efficiency, even the Corvette returns a very respectable twenty-eight miles to the gallon the road. So, though fuel mileage will certainly be lower than many other models, the new group of muscle autos will still better the prior generation vehicles with fuel mileage eighty percent or more above the cars from the 1970s.
Fortunately, we live in a reasonably free country and what the customer wants, the customer gets. So, V8 powered muscle cars mated to 6 speed manu-matic transmissions, with sport handling, bucket seats, and better fuel economy will possibly appeal to many. 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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