The Chevrolet Camaro is wrapping up its production in December 2023, making 2024 the finale for this iconic pony car. Chevy are ending the era with the introduction of two limited-edition models: the Collectors Edition package and the NASCAR-inspired Garage 56 Edition. Both models will be limited editions with power levels to rival anything from the past.

Specialty Vehicles Engineering has also taken the challenge of making the most powerful Camaro yet in the form of a 6th generation Stage III Yenko/SC, paying homage to the Central Office Production Order (COPO) Camaros of the past from the likes of Don Yenko. Mr. Yenko was renowned for making full use of the COPO system, dropping the best powertrains and upgrades into the Camaros, Chevelles and Novas of the day. These vehicles now being considered some of the rarest and fastest of the breed.

2024 SVE Yenko SC Stage III Camaro Specs

Chevy let everyone know in advance that 2024 would be the final year for the Camaro, so there are plenty of options for every pocket. The Camaro ZL1 has an impressive power output with 650 HP and 650 lb.ft. of torque, with a special edition package being limited 350 vehicles. The Garage 56 Edition is set to take part in this year’s Le Mans endurance race is limited to a run of 56 cars.

The special treatment goes to the Yenko/SC Stage I with 1,150HP, the stage II with 1,200HP, and the stage III with a 7.0-liter(427c.i.) supercharged V8 producing 1,500HP. The stage III power levels essentially convert to a 0-60 time of 1.1. seconds, a quarter mile time of 7.45 seconds and a top speed of 261 mph.
To give an idea of the power levels, the next fastest Camaro of all time is the 2019 Hennesy Exorcist Camaro ZL1 doing 217 mph, then the 2017 Camaro ZL1 hitting 198 mph.

The Stage III is also loaded with enhancements such as magnetic ride control, electronic slip diff., Race-tuned suspension, heavy-duty cooling, and dual outboard radiators.

The vehicles will be available through GM dealers throughout America and Canada in 2024, with only 50 being available for the Stage I and II, with a total of a 100 versions of the Stage III being made available. There is no talk of a 2024 Camaro Z/28, but we can’t have everything.

The post 2024 SVE Yenko SC Stage III Camaro: Fastest of All Time appeared first on Muscle Car.

It’s been 57 years since the first Chevrolet Camaro, and to mark the occasion, Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) is introducing a powerhouse of a Camaro called the 2024 SVE Chevrolet Camaro Yenko/SE. Limited to only 50 models, this special edition muscle car can crank up the horsepower up to an incredible 1,500 hp – and it won’t come cheap starting at just under $90k plus the cost of a customer-supplied Camaro ZL1 donor car.

The Chevrolet Camaro Yenko/SE trademark has only been used a handful of times over the past fifty-seven years, making the 2024 model a rarity. It’s a special chance for those looking to take their muscle car dreams to the next level, and it’s sure to become a collector’s item for those looking to own a piece of the historic Camaro legacy.

2024 SVE Chevy Camaro Yenko

The 2024 Camaro Yenko/SE results from a collaboration between Chevrolet and Specialty Vehicle Engineering. The Yenko/SE features many upgrades, from a supercharged 7L V8 based on the GM 6.6-liter bored and stroked iron block engine, larger intercoolers and fuel injectors, a twin-disc clutch system and an upgraded six-speed manual transmission or stock 10-speed automatic. Even with these upgrades the 1,500 hp engine and up to 1000-lb-ft of torque, the Yenko/SE can zip past a quarter mile in 11.60 seconds.

The performance of the Yenko/SE doesn’t come without a price. The Stage I package costs $87,995, the Stage II – $89,995, and Stage III – $129,995. With only 57 cars available, it’s sure to be a hot commodity and the race to purchase one of them will be fierce.

Despite its limited availability and high price tag, the Yenko/SE is sure to make waves in the world of high-performance cars. The 1,500 hp engine, unique styling, and low production number will surely attract attention from even the most casual enthusiasts. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of these 57 models, you have a piece of automotive history in your garage.

The 2024 SVE Chevrolet Camaro Yenko/SE is an exciting new addition to the world of high-performance vehicles. With limited availability and a unique set of upgrades, it’s sure to be a sought-after vehicle. Whether you want to buy one for yourself or watch it tear up the track, the Yenko/SE is sure to leave a lasting impression. It’s a fitting farewell to the long-running Camaro line.

The post 2024 SVE Chevy Camaro Yenko/SE 1,500HP, Sixth-Gen appeared first on Muscle Car.

For many car enthusiasts, the question of what was the first muscle car ever created divides opinion, and it is often argued that it was the 1964 Pontiac GTO that truly kicked off the era. However, two years prior to this, the 1962 Plymouth Fury Max Wedge had already been built, with a larger engine, higher horsepower and a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission – so why does the answer for the era’s starting point rarely seem to include this car?

The styling for the 1962 Plymouth Fury Max Wedge looked to be a transitional step between the 1950s designs and the later 1960s models, and Elwood Engel’s efforts can be seen all over the car. The infamous Pontiac GTO of 1964 had a base price of around $2,491 – the Plymouth Fury Max Wedge in contrast cost $3,308. Despite the power and quality of the Max Wedge, just 298 cars were built (all models) in comparison to Pontiac’s 32,540 – over 100 times more. As such, it seems that the popularity of the GTO gave it an far bigger spotlight to be seen as the original template.

The Max Wedge formula actually began back in 1958, when Chrysler’s powertrain planning team developed the lightweight “B” series V8 big-block with a wedge-shaped combustion chamber, used in engine sizes of both 350 and 361 cubic inches. This provided the necessary quench area for improved performance, and the ‘RB’ version was released in 1959, with the 413ci RB-series engine eventually finding its way into the original Max Wedge cars. With its specification of a 410/420 horsepower engine, these cars were only available for use in competitions, and many argue that this is why the GTO has been widely considered as the first muscle car.

It is also worth noting that the Max Wedge included a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, which offered flawless shifting. GM would not get the TH400 until 1965, and Ford would not get its own three-speed automatic until 1966 – highlighting that Chrysler had a complete transmission dominance for three years. The development of the Max Wedge continued in 1964 with the 426ci engine, but it was suspended when the Hemi engine began production.

The platforms for chassis and engine combinations like the Max Wedge and GTO began on body-on-frame designs from Chrysler (Plymouth and Dodge) and Ford (Fairlane). And though the availability time period was different, the fundamental idea of putting large-displacement engines into lightweight production vehicles remained the same. This gave rise to performance-grade road cars where drivers could feel the power of the engine, and the chases we now associate with muscle cars began.

The Max Wedge continued to be a successful platform in 1964. Although the 426ci engine was discontinued in mid-1964, the Max Wedge still remained incredibly powerful. In fact, the Max Wedge engine held the record for power output from an American production engine until the introduction of the legendary 426 Hemi in 1966.

The Max Wedge was also a pioneer in terms of race-spec performance parts. Chrysler offered lightweight aluminium parts for their stock Max Wedge cars, including special valve covers, intake and exhaust manifolds. These parts, combined with the high-compression heads and dual four-barrel carburettors, helped to make the Max Wedge one of the most powerful production cars at the time.

The debate about the importance of the Pontiac GTO or the Max Wedge will probably never end. But it should be noted that the Max Wedge’s influence is still widely felt today in the higher valuations and the nostalgia that goes along with it. So while the Pontiac might have been a commercial success, the heavily-modified Max Wedge cars stand as a testament to the beginnings of the muscle car era. Tune in to MotorTrend TV and MotorTrend+ to find out more about Max Wedge and other classic vehicles.

The post The Debate Continues: Was the Max Wedge or the GTO the First Muscle Car? appeared first on Muscle Car.

by Dave Ashton

Summary:
– The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird is a rare and highly sought-after vehicle designed for NASCAR
– Only 135 were sold new with a Hemi engine
– The car has a unique aerodynamic design with a nose and wing designed for high speed tracks
– It was unpopular with the public at the time but successful in NASCAR, especially with Richard Petty and Pete Hamilton
– This particular example sold for $1,650,000 at auction.

Never mind modern supercars, the Plymouth Hemi Superbird was hitting 200mph over 50 years ago. This example is 1 of 135 with a few unique features. The car has a special rear window filler panel and a large rear wing, plus a rubber strip at the front was added but only in a few states where it was absolutely required.

This example includes a 426ci HEMI V8 engine with a TorqueFlite 727 automatic transmission in high-impact Tor red. Other notable features include a Chrysler 8 ¾-inch with a 3.55 ratio sure grip axle, Hemi suspension, J45 hood pins, black interior, factory tachometer, AM radio, 3-spoke steering wheel, and 15-inch Rallye wheels with Goodyear Polyglas raised white-letter tires. The car has also been included in the MMC Detroit Global Vehicle Registry.

The post 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird Hits $1.6 million appeared first on Muscle Car.

Chevrolet has announced they are stopping production of the Camaro. This leaves the Ford Mustang as the only production V8 muscle/pony car with no signs of stopping production.
The current 6th generation model of the Camaro will continue to be produced until January 2024 at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan, although no further plans for future editions have yet been revealed by GM.

GM is in the process of transitioning to an all-electric lineup by 2035, investing heavily in both vehicles and autonomous technology. This shift has left less room for traditional gas and gasoline-powered models, leading to their scaling back in favor of electric alternatives.
For GM, this is part of a longer history, dating all the way back to 1966 when the Camaro first entered the market as a rival to Ford’s Mustang. The Camaro has seen five generations since then, though it was briefly discontinued in 2002 before being reintroduced in 2010.
In recent years, the Camaro’s sales have trailed behind those of the more popular Challenger and Mustang models, with GM reporting just under 25,000 sales in 2022 compared to nearly 50,000 Mustangs sold by Ford and 55,000 Challengers from Dodge – though all three automakers have been increasingly directing their focus towards SUVs and trucks.

Ford unveiled a new design for the Mustang last September at the Detroit Auto Show, set for release in summer 2024. This seventh-generation Mustang will be solely powered by gasoline and marks the 58th straight year of production for the model, standing out as one of the last remaining car models amongst the three major automakers.

Ultimately, the decision by GM to stop production of the Camaro marks an interesting shift for the industry as a whole, as it looks to become increasingly electric and autonomous over the coming years.

This news has not been well-received amongst the Camaro’s large and loyal fanbase, who had held out hope for another generation of the beloved vehicle. Many of its supporters had continued to buy the new and updated iterations of the model in recent years, with some even opting to customize their own vehicles with additions, such as souped-up engines or custom body kits.
There are some dissenting opinions on the matter, with some believing the discontinuation of the Camaro will open up more opportunities for the Mustang in the future. Without the presence of the Camaro to rival it, Ford could have an edge in the market and can focus on creating a unique model tailored to the needs of its customers.

It remains to be seen how GM’s decision to move away from traditional muscle cars will impact the industry in the long run, although an apparent side effect is a need for competitors to rely on unique designs to stand out. This may be true not just for the Mustang, but for any potential new muscle car models that may enter the market in its wake: they need to have something that sets them apart from the crowd, making them desirable to drivers both old and new.

Still, the Mustang has evolved over the years, with everything from hybrid technology to 10-speed automatic transmissions being added since it was first introduced in 1964. For now, the Mustang will remain the muscle car icon, but the winds of change may be beginning to blow in the auto world.

The Mustang and Challenger, police in the short term, will now carry the torch for traditional cars in the US. Tesla’s recent announcement of the Model S Plaid hints at a future full of electric muscle cars, with obviously the Demon 170 and the new electric muscle cars coming from Dodge.
As time goes on, we will see which companies decide to make the leap into electric muscle cars, as the industry continues to change and evolve. In the meantime, the Mustang stands tall as the preeminent leader in the classic American muscle car scene, with the hope of a resurgence in the future.

With Chevrolet’s departure from the muscle car market, other companies have a chance to make their mark. Companies such as Hyundai and Dodge have already expressed interest in entering the arena with new muscle car models that could rival the Mustang in power and aesthetics.
These contenders could use their existing technology to create models that are more efficient and powerful than ever before. As the race against time continues, we will soon find out if these up-and-coming automakers are able to create cars that can live up to the legacy of the Camaro and Mustang.
The Camaro’s departure is undoubtedly a challenging moment, but with new automotive technologies emerging every day, there is still hope for the future of the muscle car genre.

If history is anything to go by, changes in regulations and the social climate impacting muscle cars can be traced back to the golden age of the early 1970s. Muscle cars changed dramatically from 1970-75, and while the V8s were the engine of choice, they were a shadow of their former selves. It basically took quite a few years for everything to get back on track. In other words, we are now seeing a similarly dramatic shift where the old templates need to be revised.

This is not to say muscle cars cannot coexist. Just like the classic muscle cars of the late 1960s-1970s are still around and enjoyed by many. High-performance V8 muscle cars will become a more niche pastime, but they will never go away as proven over the last 50 years.

The post The Final Farewell: Chevrolet Discontinues Its Iconic Camaro appeared first on Muscle Car.

by Dave Ashton

The latest instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise ‘Fast X,’ may include the new, upcoming electric Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. The long-standing muscle car movie franchise has always had a close association with Dodge vehicles, which may now be moving into the electric era.

The eagle-eyed, car spotting endeavour was done by Fox News, who spotted the roofline of a Dodge Charger Daytona SRT in one of the movie trailer segments outside Dom Toretto’s Los Angeles residence. If Dodge’s upcoming electric muscle car is featured in the movie or not is one thing. What’s more fascinating is the accompanying video interview with Dodge CEO Timothy Kuniskis. In the interview, Mr. Kuniskis explains the workings of the upcoming exhaust/sound system, and the feel of the new car to make it as muscle car-like as possible.

Up to now, the Charger Daytona SRT will be available in 6 different power levels, going from 455 hp to 570 hp, with a Banshee model expected to hit the horsepower levels of the Challenger Hellcat at 807hp. All well and good, but as Mr Kuniskis states in the video interview, the only way Dodge could respectably enter the electric space is for a vehicle to look like a Dodge, and sound and feel like a Dodge vehicle. The new vehicle also had to be a legitimate muscle car, which he admits the team struggled with the concept of for some time.

Once Dodge had figured out the design and basic principles of an electric muscle car, it was now down to figuring out how to replicate that V8 sound and feel. Dodge has dubbed this, the ‘Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust System’ which basically translates all the different sounds from an ICE engine such as acceleration and deceleration, through piping and out the rear of the vehicle. In other words, the system seems to be using acoustics and natural airflow to recreate the accustomed V8 tones, rather than just pumping it out through speakers in the cabin. Apparently, the new system can hit the dB level of the existing Hellcat at 126Db.

To further experience the feel of a traditional muscle car, Dodge will be implementing a gear-shifting experience. Most electric cars have one single gear, but the new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT will have a mechanical system to replicate the surge of energy between gearshifts. At this point, it sounds like Dodge is doing everything it can to make the new vehicle sound and feel just like a traditional muscle car.

The other tasty takeaway from the interview is that the new car, at least with the top-end model, should be able to provide more power and output than the current supercharged models. Getting the performance out of the new design seemed to be the ‘easy’ bit, according to Mr Kuniskis. The hard part was making it ‘fun’.

Watch this space for further developments.

The post Electric Dodge Muscle Car: Fast X and The Future appeared first on Muscle Car.

by Dave Ashton

Transitional periods are always rocky. During this time fans are gained, while others are lost. It’s going to be the same course of action when Dodge released their first e-muscle car, but what can we expect in the future from the likes of Chevrolet and Ford?

The Build-up

Dodge and their parent company Stellantis have not been shy in announcing their future electrification plans. The Hornet SUV will be the first in BEV form, with the concept Charger Daytona SRT EV giving us a glimpse of a full e-muscle car. 2024 should be the date where we can all rush out and buy one.

Legislation and environmental issues seem to have been the driving force behind going completely electric in the car industry. However, muscle car sales have been slowing at least over the last half-decade, further pushing the change.

According to the website Motrolix.com, sales of the Camaro, Challenger, and Mustang have been dropping since 2014 as seen below.

2014 Camaro sales – total 86,297
2021 Camaro sales – total 21,893

2014 Mustang sales – total 82,635
2021 Mustang sales – total 52,414

2014 Challenger sales – total 22,602 (an increase in 2015 – 66,186, then a drop)
2021 Challenger sales – total 54,314

While these sales figures are not very inspiring, the ‘halo effect’ of these alpha male vehicles produce sales for the rest of the line. But as these models are so iconic and culturally relevant, the impetus to go electric has never been clearer.

What’s next?

Ford motors already have the Mustang Mach-E SUV to give a taste of what’s to come, while General Motors are yet to announce its future muscle car plans. There have been whispers that the Camaro will end production in 2024, but also taking the Mustang proper into electrification is yet to be announced.

2024 seems to be the landmark date at least for Dodge to go fully electric. We will have to wait and see with the other big brands…

Ironically, those eco groups out there who are completely against any type of performance vehicle are not looking forward to electric muscle cars either. The groups that constantly challenged the likes of Dodge for their ‘aggressive advertising campaigns’ and violent vehicles, think e-muscle cars will be even worse.

Electric vehicles are heavier than ICE’s due to the battery packs(16% heavier), and this extra weight could cause more severe road injuries. These new Electric muscle cars can potentially have more power and torque, also adding to the risk. If you want to check out more on this side of the argument, then visit streetblogs.org.

Conclusion

If you’re for, against, or still need convincing on the e-muscle topic, simply hold judgment until we have a roadgoing version.
Up to now, Dodge seems to be doing a good job of pleasing both the classic fan base and potential future buyers. The initial concepts are heading in the right direction, but we still have a few years to wait before the full story unfolds.

The post The Dodge Charger And Challenger Go Electric, But who’s Next? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

GM President Mark Reuss, at first announced on CNBC, then on LinkedIn an ‘electrified’ Corvette arriving in the next few years followed by a fully electric version. This ‘electrified’ Corvette could be with us as soon as 2023, which will also use the Ultium platform, i.e a smart energy recovery system to boost range, charging times, and heat the interior of the vehicle.

Below is the official statement from Mark Reuss,
‘Some time ago we moved the Corvette team into the EV space in Warren, Michigan, and when we revealed the new mid-engine Corvette, I said there would be “more to come.” This morning I sat down with Phil LeBeau of CNBC and finally answered the question I’ve been asked countless times.

Yes, in addition to the amazing new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and other gas-powered variants coming, we will offer an electrified and a fully electric, Ultium-based Corvette in the future. In fact, we will offer an electrified Corvette as early as next year. Details and names to come at a later date.’

GM’s Ultium energy recovery system is a feature set to be incorporated into all future GM vehicles. Best described from the below statement,
‘EV batteries, power electronics, and other propulsion components produce heat.
The Ultium Platform can recover and store this waste heat from the Ultium propulsion system. Further, it can also capture and use humidity from both inside and outside the vehicle, including body heat from passengers. The Ultium Platform can then deploy energy stored through the recovery process to heat the cabin more quickly in cold weather than comparable systems found in vehicles with an internal combustion engine.’

Electrified, not fully Electric

It’s a bit confusing, but ‘electrified’ is not a fully electric vehicle, and we will have to wait for GM to release full details about the technology. GM also plans to have a complete all-electric lineup by 2035. Therefore, this electrified version seems like an interim model to test the waters moving forward.

As with other carmakers, Chevrolet has big plans for its EV lineup. They hope to have 30 new EV models by the mid 2020’s and hope to sell 1 million EVs from that point on.

Fear not on the gasoline-powered side of things, as the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3LZ Convertible will start production later this year.

The General EV Landscape

We are currently living through interesting crossover times between traditional gasoline-powered cars and the next generation of electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle websites are now starting to feature the plans for electrified versions of traditional muscle car-related vehicles and vice versa. Neither looks kindly on each other. The EV brigade inherently seeing the older technology of gas-guzzling, muscle cars as the old, and the muscle car fraternity just seeing EV’s coming along and spoiling the party.

However, no matter where your allegiance lies, traditional muscle car makers have a different set of criteria to fulfill when moving into the EV world. A brand like Tesla has been electric from the start, no gasoline-powered back history.
Turning models which have been around for decades into electric versions is a tricky position of having to please everybody all the time. Pleasing both the old and the new at the same time. This means that the companies that have been building gasoline vehicles for years have to take more tentative steps into the EV world.

One EV related website said that an electrified version by 2023 and a full EV ‘later’ by GM is disappointing. They also say that the Ultium’s battery energy recovery system is just a glorified version of a heat pump. Guess what the comparison was towards? That’s correct, a Tesla.

While Tesla are developing some groundbreaking technology, they also don’t have the worry of having to please existing gasoline car users, both past and present. Muscle car makers have to tread a fine line to produce an EV that has all the positive qualities of a rumbling V8, while also fitting into the new landscape. You can’t please all the people all the time, which traditional carmakers are in the position of being in moving forward.

Therefore, it’s going to be very interesting to see in the next few years the initial offerings from Chevy, Dodge and Ford.

… And lastly, just like EV websites inherently pooh-pooh us muscle cars, let’s have a light-hearted look at a Tesla crashing into a $3 million jet after the owner activates ‘smart summon.’ A fully electric muscle car would never be automatically summoned, as the driving experience matters, …ahem. The only automatic feature we need in an electric muscle car is ‘auto rev up’ at 100 dB to annoy the neighbors.

The post GM Announce 2023 ‘Electrified’ AWD Corvette appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The merest thought of future muscle cars not having a V8 heart of power fills most fans with dread. Electric powertrains seem to be the way forward for everyone, but is there an alternative? While most car manufacturers are fully committed to electric, there are also inroads into keeping the internal combustion engine going for as long as possible. In this case, hydrogen may be the answer.

Ford is currently restructuring to separate out their internal combustion and electric programs. Muscle Cars and Trucks recently discovered a U.S. patent for a hydrogen-fuelled, turbocharged engine created by Ford. In this scenario, hydrogen will be combusted via direct injection in the engine and is said to provide 15% more power than traditional gasoline.

At this stage of the game, the patent is only for the controlling and combusting of hydrogen. All the internals and the engine design are steps in the future. However, if everything goes to plan, a hydrogen-powered engine can make use of a large oversquare bore-to-stroke ratios, as there is no residue like burnt hydrocarbons. In theory, this means that the average engine could be capable of 20,000 rpm.

Other Car Companies Developing Hydrogen Power

Ford isn’t the only company who are hedging their bets with hydrogen technology. Toyota is beavering away with the development of their own hydrogen engine technologies via motorsport.

These engines will emit zero CO2, burn more efficiently than gasoline, and could possibly be adapted to existing ICE engines. For roadgoing vehicles, Toyota already has the Mirai available which is hydrogen-powered. The plus points here are 12% more power, a 9 second 0-62mph time, lighter weight than a car full of batteries, and should have a range of 400 miles.

Ultimately, the Mirai is a testbed, with the technology likely to end up in commercial vehicles. However, the Mirai shows that hydrogen is currently a viable option.

BMW, Land Rover, and Vauxhall all have plans for future hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles of some sort. Then there is the Hyundai Nexo SUV, which is an older design but still shows the viability of hydrogen.

So, if hydrogen technology comes to fruition, it could be the future solution to keeping all V8s running indefinitely. There is also the big elephant in the room of refueling times. A hydrogen-powered car can be refilled in 5 minutes. Electric cars take far longer to fully recharge. While this doesn’t seem to be a problem at present, once every car on the road has turned electric, it’s not hard to imagine huge lengthy queues at recharge points. Hydrogen fuelled cars can offer the same quick fuelling times as we currently enjoy.

The other main hurdle to the main adoption of hydrogen power is the refueling infrastructure. There simply aren’t enough refueling points currently available to make the technology attractive to everyone. Hopefully, this will change in the future.

But what about muscle car manufacturers? Clearly, Ford is looking into the idea, but there doesn’t seem to be any clear public plans from Dodge In the hydrogen department, at least when it comes to muscle cars. Dodge seems to have full focus on an electric muscle car, which may or may not be a version of either the Charger or Challenger. However, it seems Dodge is fully committed to a hydrogen-powered Ram HD pickup truck which debuts after the introduction of their electric variants, probably later this decade. Therefore, don’t rule out a day in the future when we see a hydrogen-powered Dodge muscle car. It could happen…

Chevrolet has the Sequel Hydrogen-powered SUV and the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZH2. GM have also linked up with Honda to produce hydrogen-powered generators for commercial use.

If you want to learn about the nitty-gritty details of current hydrogen engine research, then the science direct website is a good starting point. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hydrogen-engines

The post Could Ford’s New Hydrogen Engine Patent Save The V8? appeared first on Muscle Car.

In a pyramid that starts with sportscars and concludes with high-performance cars, Muscle Cars are the elevated midsection, showcasing more than adequate cars ripping up the circuit and leaving the typical sports car in the wake.

You have a lot of options when it comes to customizing your Muscle Car’s performance, thanks to the fascinating world of aftermarket auto parts. For sportscars or supercars, everything is about a horsepower boost that you can truly feel. A few of our preferred upgrades for supercars can be found in the list below:

1. Forced Induction

If boosting 200+ horsepower to the performance of your Muscle Car seems like the perfect idea for you, it’s impossible to be mistaken with a force induction augmentation.

Mounting a supercharger or turbocharger is a simple approach to increase the power of your engine, along with control arms.

Supercharger: This automotive upgrade works analogous to turbochargers but utilizes a belt-driven expander. Generally, superchargers may provide you additional power in the slower RPM range. When compared to stock modifications, turbochargers boost power as the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM) rise. Supercharger kits probably cost from $4,600 to $8,000.

Turbocharger: The aim is to build a turbo which is then driven by the exhaust vapors. The turbine ultimately drives the compressor that blasts air at high pressure and velocity into the engine. The compressed air would be blasted into the combustion chambers of the engine, which results in higher torque and power.

A turbocharger, designed to boost engine power, can last a long time with regular care. Commitment to routine maintenance ensures a lasting turbocharger life span and a long-lasting performance boost.

This is a large buck makeover that goes around $6,500 until $12,000.

2. Cold Air Intake

This is actually the most simple and most cost-effective auto upgrade you can possibly make. Greater air means more horsepower. The factory air filter can just aid more in boosting more to the power of the engine. Thus, it’s strongly advised that you replace the stock air intake with an elevated cold air intake. Denser air is forced into the engine at a greater velocity by the cold air intake.

As noted, cold air intake is relatively inexpensive and straightforward to install. You may lodge a 5 to 10 horsepower boost without having a tune.

3. Performance Tires

Installing high-performance wheels on your supercar is among the most significant upgrades you can ever make. While this improvement doesn’t precisely boost raw horsepower to the car, its benefits are highly evident.

Increases in vehicle performance are almost impossible, if not impossible, without the appropriate tires. The automobile’s acceleration, braking, cornering, and other driving characteristics are all affected by the tires you choose. In addition, your vehicle’s traction is influenced by the tread pattern of your tires.

Give heed to the speed rating while looking for high-performance tires. The speed rating specifies the highest speed, which the tires can bear. A professional auto shop can assist you in picking tires with the right speed rating.

It’s Time to Improve the Performance of Your Muscle Car!

It’s always a good idea to do some research before making any mods to your vehicle if you want to get the most bang for your buck.

The post Our 3 Favorite Muscle Car Mods appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

When it comes to writing about pertinent muscle car topics, we could talk about how Ford has recently dropped the Bullitt Mustang and GT350 in favor of the Mach 1. There’s also the topic of the C8 Corvette getting a Swiss edition, presumably to boost European sales. However, we prefer to yak on about frivolous topics like the link between superhero movies and muscle cars. In this case the new Bat bloke movie and his muscle car derived Batmobile.

In this latest iteration of the Bat bloke franchise, Mr. Wayne is seen in the first few years of his Bat career donning the black cape. Thus, a more basic, but still tough as nails Batmobile was needed. Production designer James Chinlund and producer Dylan Clark spent a long time refining the car design, while also taking hints from previous Batmobiles, such as the red tail lights and firebreathing exhaust.

As Bat dude is just starting off in his early years, the car had to be more about function, while also being intimidating to baddies. The car we see in the film is custom built from the ground up, with a V8 engine producing 700 HP in four-wheel drive. Thus, what we see in the film is no way computer-generated, but down to the skill of the designers and stunt drivers.

The new Batmobile is more of a custom creation, designed by Mr. Wayne independent of Wayne Enterprises. Therefore, it’s not a stretch to see muscle car influences being used, as a huge chassis was needed, with room for a huge V8 engine, and obviously the American car influences of the day.

I Want a Muscle Car

Isn’t it strange how we see something on screen and then have a yearning for those objects? We suspect the situation will be no different with the new Batman movie.
Even in the early stages of the movie release, talk of the Batmobile and its muscle car influences are going hand-in-hand. The knock-on effect could mean a heightened awareness of the muscle car scene both past and present. As the new Batmobile isn’t any one brand or model, awareness and appreciation could increase for all types of muscle cars.

If we look back at the Transformer movies, GM saw a doubling of sales in the month of the Transformers 2 movie being released. While it’s unlikely all current muscle car manufacturers will see increased sales across the board due to the new Batman film, the heightened awareness is a push in the right direction.

Any TV show or movie that shows a particular vehicle center stage is a great promotional tool. In season 5, episode 4 of ‘Breaking Bad’ Walter Jr. is treated to a Dodge Challenger SRT8. That shifted a few extra cars for Dodge at the time.

The next steps are to see how the likes of Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and independent muscle car makers capitalize on the heightened awareness. Will Dodge bring out a limited edition, blacked-out Hellcat with bat symbols? Maybe something from independent builders like a Hennessey, Roush, or Lingenfelter limited edition model?

Blue sky thinking aside, any movie or TV show that raises the awareness of the muscle car scene is a good thing. We just hope the new Bat movie is a smash, with the main talking point being, ‘ what are these wild and exotic muscle cars and where can I get one??’

The post Will The New Batmobile Increase Muscle Car Sales? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

My vague attempts at creating an alliteration title are overshadowed by the discontinuation of one engine and the release of another. First, it was the supercharged LT5 GM engine that has been discontinued. Now it is the turn of the LS7 and the LS427/570.

The LS7 was the largest naturally aspirated LS engine made by GM. Bred for racing with a 427ci. capacity, the engine was originally built for the 2006 C6 Z06, producing 505 HP, the most oomph from any Corvette engine up to that point. Now, without any fanfare or official farewell, the engine has left the mainstay inventory.

Why was the LS7 important?

The LS7 was a race-ready powerplant with a new for GM, 4-inch stroke, titanium rods, and valves, producing a very underestimated 505 HP. The 427ci/7L V8 offered a dry-sump system, with 12-degree rectangular port heads and 270cc intake ports. Other standout points include titanium intake valves, CNC-ported combustion chambers and sodium-filled exhaust valves. All these bits easily make the LS7 capable of 600 HP.

Other useful stats for the engine include:
Displacement: 427ci (7.0 liters)
Engine Type: LS series small-block V8
Crankshaft (P/N 12611649): forged steel
Pistons: hypereutectic aluminum
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
Maximum rpm: 7,000 rpm

If you want to pick up your own LS7, then there are plenty of 2006-2013 Z06 Corvettes on the second-hand market. There’s also the option of the limited production run, 2014-2015 5th generation Camaro Z/28 that houses the LS7.

What’s next?

Usually, the end of one thing usually means the start of something new. Chevrolet currently has their Performance eCrate engine, dropped into a 1977 K5 Blazer-E back in 2020. Chevy has also been working on their racing eCOPO Camaro, but there is nothing as yet as a direct replacement for the LS7. There is of course the likes of the Chevrolet Volt, which has been around since the end of 2010. But, we are looking at engines with a bit more spice.

However, with most countries now legislating with a firm end date to ICE production, most carmakers are scrambling to get regular electric roadgoing vehicles onto the streets. Electric race engines are probably second in line.

It doesn’t seem too far off now where there is a landscape of electric crate engines. Conversion kits for either old or new classics, with the addition of needing a healthy amount of AA batteries to run the things. Cynicism aside, we are still in the early days of electric motor and battery development. By the time we are all forced to run electric engines, the offerings should be mature and tempting enough to warrant the swap.

For instance, the Swedish hypercar guys Koenigsegg have developed a 63 pounds, 335 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque electric engine, dubbed ‘the Quark.’ The unit is designed to run in conjunction with an ICE in a hybrid vehicle, covering the low-speed range. This is due to the electric engine only able to produce the above power levels for roughly 20 seconds. After which power drops to roughly 134 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. The company is also developing a full EV drive unit from two Quark motors.

In other words, it’s more than likely that smaller and easier-to-fit electric drive units will hit the market in the coming years. Personally, we can’t wait to see what Dodge has in store for 2024, when they plan to release a full-bore electric muscle car.

The post The Chevrolet LS7 and LS427 Engines End, While Electric Accelerates appeared first on Muscle Car.

If you are keen on cars, you definitely cannot ignore the Ford Mustang. The public first got access to this vehicle in the 1960s.

The production of the Mustang was led by Lee Lacocca, who conceived the idea, and was responsible for early development. It started the movement of people using muscle cars.

Moreover, the price was also reasonable. At the same time, it was also the most used muscle car model globally at that time.

However, many people still have different opinions about this product’s name, category, and form. Let’s learn the history and why the Mustang is so successful.

History of Formation And Development

• 1962: Ford designs the concept car. It has a design using a mid-body engine with two seats. However, the designer still has the classic pony car style for this model with a long bonnet. Furthermore, it has a short rear end and distinctive textured side panels.
• 1963: John Najjar designed the Ford Mustang II with four spacious seats. Enterprise launched it in October in New York, a day before the US Grand Prix.
• 1964: The brand debuted its first commercial vehicle at the World’s Fair. At the same time, it appeared in the James Bond film, Goldfinger.
• 1967: The Mustang had the most drastic change with a long nose, and a larger and more efficient radiator.
• Major brands that competed with the Mustang – include GM, AMC, and Chrysler.
• 1975: The modern version of the Ford II is born. Some argue that it is no longer as powerful as the old design.
• 1979: The 3rd design. The car has four seats and is distinguished by unique headlights.
• 1984: Despite the decline in sales, the company introduces the SVO Ford Mustang.
• 1993: Ford’s change in tactics brought mixed opinions to this year’s design.
• 1994: The 4th generation of the car was released.
• 2000: The company launched newer car models, facing solid competitors in the market.
• 2005: The nostalgic version of this model appeared. It is also the 5th generation.
• 2013: The 6th generation officially appeared.
• Over 50 years of development and the many changes in appearance, the business achieved remarkable success. Moreover, in 2014, the 10 millionth car was sold.
• 2017: This model has an automatic transmission version co-developed by Ford and GM.

Origin of the “Mustang”

The designers were passionate about World War II P-51 fighter planes and suggested the name.

In addition, some people defend the view that it comes from wild horses that live in North America, i.e. when Marketing Manager Robert J. Eggert was reading Frank Dobie’s The Mustang.

An interesting point in using the Mustang name in Germany. Krupp is the truck line in this country. At the same time, it is protected.

At this time, the car’s name was Ford T-5 until 1978, it was called Ford Mustang in Germany.

The brand considered several names before coming to a final opinion, including Panther, Torino, even Cougar.

The Mustang has appeared in movies, and TV shows more than 3,300 times.

For example, Goldfinger in 1964. It was the first time the Mustang appeared in the movies. Then came the movie Bullitt.

Furthermore, the 1976 Shelby GT was in the 2000 film Gone in Sixty Seconds. At the same time, it also appeared in many movies, TV shows and numbered 3,300 times.

This Mustang station wagon never got past the clay model stage.

India and Europe get the first-ever right-hand drive variant.

Created for the Indian and UK markets, modified to suit the traffic of these respective countries.

Why is the Ford Mustang the Muscle car of choice? 

Ford has made many improvements in this model’s design, quality, and engine over the years. They listened to the public and constantly improved the design.

More than 50 years of development.

In particular, the brand is constantly upgrading the performance of this product. The 2018 version uses a Coyote V8 engine with 460 horsepower.

The speed is not inferior to some supercars on the market, enough to put many other supercars to shame when wearing ultra-high-performance tires. The product’s design retains the original ethos and purpose as a sports car.

Prices on the market start from $25,000, reasonable for what it offers the customer.

The Ford Mustang is constantly developing and moving with the times.

Conclusion

After more than 50 years, the Ford Mustang is still a prominent sports car, depicting the North American horse. Not only does it represent power, but also a retro look and value for money.

The post Ford Mustang: America’s Famous Muscle Car appeared first on Muscle Car.

by Dave Ashton

Dodge recently announced the reintroduction of its Direct Connection program. Enthusiasts were first treated to this concept by Chrysler in 1974, with the same type of offerings today, everything from powertrains to the nuts and bolts.

The first set of parts are available for Challenger models, as long as your car is not older than a 2015 model. Currently, there are 14 kits available for the Challenger model, and 13 kits for the Mopar Drag Pak dragstrip special. The most potent of these kits is the ‘Stage II kit’ for the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, taking power levels from 807 HP and 717 lb-ft. to 885 HP and 787 lb-ft. of torque via the challenger’s 6.2L supercharged V8.

This kit has all the mod. cons. to exactly dial in the power and performance you need. A digital controller and touchscreen display allows you to tweak power levels, along with a 3.17-inch engine pulley lifted from the Hellephant engine.

Those out there directly interested in crate engines will have available to them the 1,000 HP Hellephant crate engine, along with other Dodge power plants which include the Hellcat Redeye V8, the standard Hellcat 717 HP V8, the 382 Hemi V8, and the 345 Hemi V8.
There’s even a complete car body available, and NHRA Factory Stock approved engines with all the trimmings. It’s good to note that all these upgrades are still within emission regulations, as long as they are fitted via the Dodge Power Brokers dealer network. These dealers and locations will be made available by the Dodge website in 2022.

If you want to whet your appetite with all the goodies available, the Direct Connection catalog can be viewed online here. A hardcopy version should be available in spring 2022.

The Next Generation Please.

Up until the recent past, the next generation of muscle cars meant ever more power and refinement from the internal combustion engine. Now, carmakers have the double problem of not just having to slowly morph into the EV world, but also attracting millennials and the like to the wonderful world of muscle cars.

Ford is acutely aware of this dilemma, with the average age of Mustang owners going up every year. This is why they introduced the ‘Mustang Millennial Club.’ But, what are Chevrolet and Dodge doing to please both the old and the new?

In the next year or two, we are going to hear plenty about Dodge and Chevy’s electric program. Mainly because they have to swim with the times, but also with the plan to snag the interest of the next generation.

Gm are likely to announce their electric crate motor program in 2022, with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering having already dropped a version of the electric crate motor into their ‘eCOPO Camaro drag racer.’ This one first appeared at the 2018 SEMA show, apparently clocking a 9.84 second quarter-mile time. Ford also has an electric crate motor coming called the ‘Eliminator,’ borrowed heavily from the Mustang Mach-E GT.

Dodge has already announced their EV intentions, with fully electric vehicles coming in the next few years. The shift to completely electric will be slow and steady, most likely gaining new fans, but also losing a few along the way. This is inevitable, just like your favorite singer leaving your favorite band. The new guy or girl may be better looking and a better singer, but to some, it’s just not the same.

The post Dodge Push The Hellcat to 885HP Via Direct Connection appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Heading to auction at the beginning of January via Mecum, is this special order, Pink Mist 1968 Pontiac Firebird convertible. The color combo was only available for a few months in the spring of 1968 as a promotional vehicle, pardon the pun.

Before any of the alpha males out there immediately turn their noses up at the color pink, we are in the 2020s man, it’s cool to like the color pink. Plus, you will always be the center of attention at any car show; isn’t that the aim?

This particular Pontiac Firebird comes with a 4-barrel carb 400cu./330 HP V8, and a Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission. It is fully optioned with a code 260 parchment knit and Morrokide deluxe interior(mostly original interior), air con., power windows, lots of nice wood grain, and a T-handle shifter. The car has also been treated to a concierge body-on restoration, making it a shining example of its breed.

Unfortunately, the listing doesn’t state how many 1968 Firebirds were made in Pink Mist. Even after some general sniffing around online, there doesn’t seem to be any information on exact numbers. Maybe the documentation that comes with the car will clarify these details. Otherwise, if anyone knows how many of these were produced, please scribble down your findings in the comments below.

We did find that Nancy Sinatra apparently owned a couple of these back in the late 1960s, but not much more information-wise. We have also documented in the past a few ‘pink’ muscle cars of the period which went to Playboy models. But, production numbers and ultimate value seem to be hard to pin down for this color code.

However, if you want to stand out from the crowd and stray a bit from the norm., there’s no reason why you shouldn’t park this one on your driveway. Plus, it may be the only car you can buy that the wife could agree upon, that’s if she likes the color pink.

Find out more details about the auction here.

The post 1968 Pontiac Firebird Convertible Going To Auction appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

For those who believe there is no replacement for displacement, Chevrolet has a rare treat for y’all. A new crate powerplant packing 1,004 hp and 876 lb-ft of torque, via a 632-cubic-inch/10-liter V8 block.

In the muscle car world, Dodge has held the power crown for some time with the 840 horsepower Demon model. Then Dodge upped the ante with the Hellephant crate engine, producing 1,000 hp. Now it’s the turn of Chevrolet with their new ZZ632/1000 crate engine. It may only have 4 hp more than the Hellephant, but differs tremendously in design. The Chevy engine has opted to go for a free-breathing 10 liters design, rather than Dodge using a 6.2L V8 and a supercharger to make up the power levels. The Chevy incarnation also runs on 93 octane pump gas.

The Chevrolet ZZ632/1000 Gritty Details

As you would expect from this type of engine, it takes a tried and tested formula, with old-school sensibilities, then adds on top modern design techniques. The engine block is hewn from cast iron, with more or less the same mold as the ZZ572 crate engine, just made bigger to fit in the 632 cubic inch capacity. The bore is 0.040 inch larger than the 572-cubic-inch ZZ572 V8, and has a stroke that is 0.375 inch longer.

Power in the ZZ632 crate engine hits its power peak at 6,600 rpm, and tops out at 7,000 rpm. There is no direct injection here, instead, the engine uses eight-port injectors going through high-flow aluminum cylinder heads with symmetrical ports. The port heads have been given a special codename by GM – RS-X, after Ron Sperry who came up with the design after his 50-year stint at General Motors.

For the general specs of the engine, please see the bottom of the page.

The next pertinent question is which unsuspecting car is going to have this beast of an engine dropped into it? Silly sized engines require a certain level of controlled recklessness, with the job of pairing engine to car going to Hoonigan. The car they have chosen or have been thrown their way is a 3rd generation Camaro Z/28, which has apparently been part of Chevy’s development fleet since the 1990s. The task here is to get the car kinda ready in 3 weeks for the 2021 SEMA Show. Check out the video below to see where the guys are up to with the build….

As for this post’s title question of if the ZZ632/1000 is better than the Hellephant is really quite subjective. One thing’s for sure, there will be some sort of drag race in the future between these two crate engines. We just need two parties who are mad enough or brave enough to put a spectacle like that together.

Chevrolet Performance ZZ632/1000 Specs

Displacement: 632 cu in (10,348 cc)
Bore x Stroke: 4.60 x 4.75 in
Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
Power: 1,004 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 876 lb-ft @ 5600 rpm
Maximum Recommended Engine Speed: 7,000 rpm
Block: Tall Deck 632 Bowtie Sportsman, cast iron, four-bolt main caps
Cylinder Heads: RS-X Symmetrical Port, CNC-machined aluminum
Crankshaft: Forged steel
Connecting Rods: Forged steel
Pistons: Forged aluminum
Fuel: Electronic port injection

The post Chevy Release 1,004-HP 10-Liter Engine. Better than The Hellephant? appeared first on Muscle Car.

While we all love muscle cars for their performance, it would be nice if they would catch up to the modern technology on most new cars.  The good news is that more safety systems are being offered by the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and Dodge Challenger this year.  

What does this mean for a muscle car owner?  Well if you’ve got these systems, you are less likely to get into a situation where a crash occurs. You are less likely to scratch or damage your muscle car.  And, you can protect your insurance rates by staying out of fender benders.  

Should you value your trade or wait another year?  Let’s take a look at the new safeguards offered in the three leading Muscle cars.

2021 Ford Mustang

The Mustang has the most standard features of the three.  The pre-collision assist system includes pedestrian detection and a forward collision warning. It has dynamic brake support to assist the driver. Automatic braking is also part of the system just in case. 

The lane-keep assist is a warning with an automatic straightening capability.  The blind spot monitor has no automatic features, but it lets the driver know if there is a car too close for a safe lane change. This system has a rear cross-traffic warning for safer parking maneuvers.  The Pony car even has rain-sensing wipers and automatic high beams as standards.  

Only adaptive cruise control is left as an option.  This desirable system can regulate speed to match traffic. While a Pony car driver tends to love the open road, they will appreciate having this system when they are in slow-and-go traffic situations.

Ford is clearly calculating that those in search of a new sports car may be persuaded to put the Mustang at the top of the list.  The package of technology would be expensive to purchase separately, and it is competitive with more conventional cars. 

2021 Chevy Camaro

The newest Camaro is the only one to offer the rear camera mirror feature. It can switch between a regular mirror and a digital screen that shows a wide rear image. This optional feature is one of many offered on higher trim levels.  Chevy is offering a blind spot monitor and a forward collision alert as options on lower trim levels.  Other options include the rear cross-traffic alert and a GM-product called the Lane Change Alert, which is a more active system as a backup to the blind spot monitor. 

2021 Dodge Challenger

Like the Camaro, the Challenger doesn’t offer its equipment as standard. It is offering a full-speed forward-collision warning with active braking. There is a blind-spot monitor with the usual cross-traffic warning.  There’s also adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams on the menu.

Final Analysis

Ford clearly has taken the lead on crash avoidance systems, making them all standards. It is surprising given that Chevrolet isn’t even offering automatic braking or adaptive cruise control on the Camaro.  The Challenger slots in between the two, offering more like the Ford but keeping everything options like the Chevrolet.  

All three Muscle cars have rear view cameras and the latest stability controls.  The Camaro and Mustang both have two extra airbags. These are airbags for the driver and front passenger.

While safety isn’t nearly as fun as performance, it’s still good to know that the three famous Muscle cars are being modernized in this way.  Now, if self-driving Muscle cars go on sale, you can count me out.

The post Muscle Car Safety: It’s Never Been Better appeared first on Muscle Car.

After 15 months of us all experiencing muscle car content virtually, the 2021 SEMA Show is going ahead at the Las Vegas Convention Center this November.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet has big plans for the event, with the return of their design awards and some tasty examples from Chevrolet performance. The brand will be bringing ‘over a dozen’ vehicles to the event, which should include the 2023 Corvette Z06, and the new COPO Camaro. It’s also more than likely that Chevrolet will gauge feedback with their latest ideas on electrification. The 2018 eCOPO Camaro drag car and eCrate concepts were past musings, but we’re more interested in the proper stuff in the form of V-8 powered Chevrolet Camaros, Corvette, and possible crate engines.

In terms of the Chevy Awards, they will come in the form of the Designer’s Choice, Chevy SEMA Car of the Year, Innovative Use of Technology, and Chevy SEMA Truck of the Year. In order to qualify, each vehicle must be branded up with the pre-requisite bowtie, run from a GM powerplant, and have photo evidence of the build process. All contestants must also register at chevysema.com http://www.chevysema.com/ by October 22.

Ford

The blue oval company will more than likely show off its 2022 GT Heritage edition, which is inspired by the Le Mans-winning 1964 Ford GT40 prototype. These super limited edition vehicles first came to light in 2006 with the Ford GT Gulf Livery Heritage Edition. Subsequent models were released in 2017 and each year thereafter, with the latest version being powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.

The new version will follow the original race livery, in Wimbledon White and Antimatter Blue. Production of these ultra-limited edition models is scheduled for January 2022.

As for the rest of the Ford lineup, there should be a healthy mix of Mustangs, along with variations of that electric SUV thingy that has borrowed the horsey name.

Dodge

Stellantis and Dodge will be on site with their project vehicle program, featuring the likes of the Wagoneer, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, Jeep Gladiator, Ram 1500 TRX, Ram 2500 Mega Cab, Ram 2500 Power Wagon, Ram 3500 Chassis Cab, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. As with the other programs, you have to jump through some hoops to qualify, with all submissions going to submissions@moparbuilds.com.

Dodge also teased this summer possible ideas for their next generation of muscle cars, the ‘we can’t ignore it any more’ EV models. It’s more than likely to be years before we see any type of roadgoing EV Challenger or Charger. But drip-feeding the public with possible ideas will help us acclimatize the change and gauge if they’re going in the right direction. Thus, don’t be surprised if we get to see the conception of future EV muscle cars at this year’s event.

The post 2021 SEMA Show appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Like any long-standing classic car design, the Chevrolet Corvette has inspired creators to come up with a variety of offshoot designs over the years. In this case, it’s turning the two seater classic into a more practical four seater. Well…almost, as the design only got to the fibreglass mockup stage.

By today’s standards, it may seem weird to mess with a classic design, but back in 1962 the ‘Vette was barely a decade old. Therefore, it seemed more acceptable at the time to have more carte blanche with offshoot ideas. Plus, a four seater car was more the norm. back then as a people carrier, rather than our modern day glut of SUVs.

As you can see below, General Motors shared this Instagram post about this long forgotten design.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GM Design (@generalmotorsdesign)

This concept Corvette was put together before the second generation Corvette hit the shelves in 1963. The idea was to keep many of the ‘Vette anaesthetics, such as the split rear window, but also to take on the Ford Thunderbird. The idea originally conceived by Chevrolet head Ed Cole. Chevrolet even got their hands on a four seater Ferrari for inspiration cues.

To cram in the extra two seats, the wheelbase was extended to 104 inches, six inches more than the regular Corvette. The doors were also made longer, with a slightly taller roof.

To my eyes, the design of this four seater ‘Vette is in keeping with the classic, compact versions we know today. Looking at the side view, the design looks just slightly more elongated, but not out of character. Almost like the classic E-type Jag. in length, just with extra roof bits.

But this wasn’t the end of Chevrolet fancying making the Corvette into a four seater. California Custom Coach, Pasadena, were commissioned by Chevrolet to build six four-door Corvettes with T-top styling in 1980. At the time, the cost would have been $35,000, three times the amount of a regular Corvette. One of these prototypes still survives, being sold at auction last year for the princely sum of $100,000.

If you want to find out about more Chevrolet prototypes, check out our other articles matter here.

The post The 4-seat 1962 Chevrolet Corvette That Never Was. appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

This magnificent 1969 Dodge Daytona beast, driven by country music star and NASCAR driver Marty Robbins, will be coming up for auction at Mecum in Orlando this July. The Daytona owns all the attributes of a bona fides race car, with a 426 Race Hemi V8 engine, custom components, plenty of period photos, and documentation.

If you not familiar with Marty Robbins and his achievements, you can check out his Wikipedia page for a full rundown. Suffice to say, Mr. Robbins competed regularly at Talladega and Daytona International Speedway, with plenty of top 10 finishes, along with being a highly successful recording artist. This particular vehicle ran at the National 500, Charlotte in 1970.

Components Of The Dodge Daytona

There’s a good deal of information with this listing on the Mecum website. There are only brief details about the Daytona’s ownership after the Charlotte race in 1970. The Allisons converted the Daytona to a ’68 Charger to get around the 1971 Aero warrior rules of 1971, then sold the car to Butch Nelson. Neil Bonnett drove the car as a re-bodied 1974 Charger, but the car was crashed in late 1973. After which the listing just says, ‘discovered in 2005.’ At this point, full rotisserie restoration was performed on the car by Ray Evernham’s Big Iron Garage, North Carolina.

Standout features of the car include:
– Ray Barton iron 426 Race Hemi V8 with a factory single 4-barrel intake.
– Rare Holley Dominator carburetor.
– A833 4-speed manual transmission.
– Reinforced Chrysler 8 3/4 floating rear end.
– Nichels chassis with GM-based front suspension.
– Vintage Nichels NASCAR wheels.
– Driver-controlled torsion bar adjuster.

The car was also converted from a Charger 500 to a Daytona for the Charlotte event, converted by Bobby and Eddie Allison.

The Daytona’s paint job is finished in Magenta and Chartreuse(yellow for everyone else), with the number ’42’ commonly used by Mr. Robbins.

As for public appearances, the Daytona was shown in 2019, at the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona, Talladega. Along with being exhibited at the 2019 MCACN show.

Irrespective of the car’s back history, a Hemi Dodge Daytona can fetch a good $250k, even on a bad day. Add in the custom components and celebrity status, and this vehicle could fetch a hefty sum. The car looks in great shape, with a stripped-out racing interior and period-correct engine bay.

Find out more about the 1969 Dodge Daytona NASCAR Driven by Country Music Legend Marty Robbins here.

If you want to handle on current Dodge Daytona, classic.com has a good overview of current trends and recent Daytona sales. As of June 2021 the average sale price of a Dodge Daytona is $253,900, with the lowest sale being $165,000 and the highest at $577,500.

The post 1969 Dodge Daytona NASCAR Driven by Country Music Legend Marty Robbins appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Back in 1988 when everybody had hair like a lion’s mane, the Chevrolet Corvette Callaway SledgeHammer could crank out a top speed of 254.76 mph. Traditionally, the 1980s are seen as quiet times for muscle cars, but the Callaway SledgeHammer Project proves car tuners were as busy as ever. Now, you have a chance to get your hands on this mighty beast as it is currently for sale over at bringatrailer.com.

A Bit of Back History

This particular Corvette was originally dealer ordered by Reeves Callaway with option code B2K, then sent to Callaway Engineering for a complete makeover. The idea behind Project Sledgehammer was to produce a production car that could break the top speed record, which was accomplished at the Transportation Research Center. John Lingenfelter was the pilot for the day who hit 254.76 mph round the 7.5 mile oval track.

The car was then stored away in a snug, controlled environment for a few decades until it was acquired in 2004. With only 2k miles on the clock, Callaway Cars gave the car a once over in October 2018, now to be sold with full documentation and a Colorado title.

The Gritty Details

Back in the late 1980s when most performance vehicles were struggling to produce just a few hundred brake horsepower, the Corvette Callaway SledgeHammer was ahead of its time. Power came from a 5.7-Liter V8, with handbuilt Turbonetics T04B twin turbochargers, an intercooler, and a ZF six-speed manual transmission. This equates to 880 horsepower and 772 lb-ft of torque, using a Cosworth crankshaft, dry sump and a Zytek engine management system. Other pertinent points include GM experimental rear half shafts, a custom Centerforce clutch, and a 3.54:1 ratio rear end.

Visually, the Corvette Callaway SledgeHammer could be differentiated from other C4 Corvettes with a more streamlined front fascia. The front of the car included multiple vents, a front fender, and a large Corvette logo. The rear of the car also got changed up with a redesigned rear fascia, spoiler, and quad exhausts. Finally, 17-inch Dymag magnesium wheels were added, wrapped with Goodyear Eagle tires.

This era of Corvette typifies the long, sleek design principles of the times. Most vehicles of the day featured a long flat nose, with a very sweptback look from the side. If you wanted a performance car design template for the late 1980s, you needn’t look any further than the C4 Corvette or a Ferrari Testarossa. Basically, think of a big wedge cutting through the air for the fashion of the times.

Personally, it’s the rear end of the C4 Corvette that appeals. It may look antiquated by today’s standards, but back in the day the dual rear lights integrated into the rear sleek design looked very cool. The rounded rear lights are a simpler statement than today’s Corvettes, which look more like stealth fighter jets.

If you wanted to customize the car, you might want to buy car interior LED lights at Autobarn. You know the ones: they’re blue or purple, or maybe even green or red if you’ve gone wild with the customization options. They come in strips that are designed to fit under the dash or around the sun visors, and they plug right into an accessory outlet (or sometimes even into the cigarette lighter). When you turn them on, they create a whole new mood inside your vehicle—and suddenly it doesn’t feel quite so much like a box anymore

The current price for this eighties classic is $425,476, with 9 days left at the time of writing for final bids.

Find out more details about the listing here.

The post 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway SledgeHammer Could Be Yours appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The American Motors Corporation or AMC, may not be front of mind when it comes to priced muscle cars. But in the golden age of high displacement vehicles, AMC made some outstanding vehicles like this AMC 1969 AMX California 500 Special.

For a bit of back history, AMC was born in 1954 from the Nash and Hudson company. The merger joined the other big 3 carmakers, Chrysler, Ford and GM, pumping out general roadgoing vehicles like the Nash Metropolitan and Rambler American. It wasn’t until the mid to late 1960s that the most commonly known muscle car variations were produced. These included the likes of the AMC Marlin, AMX, 390, Javelin, The Machine, Javelin AMX 401, and the Hornet SC 360. Renault took over the reins of the company in 1979, and eventually merged into the Chrysler brand in 1990.

The AMX popped into existence in 1968, scrapping it out in the pony car market with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. At the time it was the only US produced 2 seater sports car, along with the Chevrolet Corvette. The AMX(American Motors eXperimental) stood out for its short wheelbase at 97 inches, and cost less than a Corvette at $3,250.

Under the Hood

The AMX California 500 Special was sold through the Southern California American Motors Dealer Association to acknowledge the 1969 Riverside International Raceway. As the pace car that season was a Big Bad Green AMX with a 390 ci V8, the roadgoing versions were given the same treatment, with a saddle leather interior, and an engine producing 315 hp and 425 ft lbs of torque.

Only 23 of the 283 Big Bad Green AMX models became California 500 Specials. As this example is in such pristine condition, it’s expected to fetch between $100,000 – $120,000 USD at RM Sothebys at the end of April.

The post AMC 1969 AMX California 500 Special Auction appeared first on Muscle Car.

A few years back Mopar made a big splash when they announced the predecessor to the original Hellephant V8 engine. A huge Hemi 7L/426ci. V8 which could pump out 1000HP and 950 lb. ft. of torque. Only a hundred units were available which sold out in two days. This led to many Mopar fans wondering how and where these mighty engines may end up. One high-profile car order has come from the actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Who now has the engine wrapped around SpeedKore’s ‘Hellraiser’ 1970 Dodge Charger restomod.

Before we dive into the intricacies of the engine and car build, it’s worth mentioning the extra publicity that a Kevin Hart muscle car can bring to the Mopar platform. High-profile names associated with a car bring in lots of general interest. This should trickle down to the latest models, bringing with it extra sales and heightened interest.

The Hellephant V8 Engine

We documented the initial release of the 1,000-HP Hellephant crate engine back when it was announced at SEMA 2018. The core engine block derives from the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak which ran in the 2018 NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category.

An upgraded supercharger and rotor system made sure that the plug and play kit was the most powerful factory crate engine available. The aluminium block is accompanied by forged aluminium pistons, steel connecting rods, a forged steel crank, and an iron camshaft. The compression ratio comes in at 9.5:1, with an intake valve size of 54.3 mm and a peak RPM of 6,200. Premium fuel is also the drink of choice for the engine.

Being a plug and play unit, everything was supplied with the kit. This included the fuel injectors, oil pan, water pump, coil packs, and flywheel. Control modules, wiring, and sensors were also supplied.

For those wondering, the Hellcrate, which is the crate version of the Hellcat engine is a different proposition. This particular engine kit produces 707HP and 650 pound-feet of torque.

The 1970 Charger ‘Hellraiser’ SpeedKore Hellephant

The custom car builders SpeedKore, Wisconsin managed to get their hands on one of the Hellephant engines. Not long after they released footage of the Hellephant engine being tested on the dyno as you can see below. The rear end of the 1970 Dodge Charger in the video gives some indication of its future application.

The Hellephant engine and the custom car build is now presented in all their glory. The engine itself is mated to a ZF 8HP90 8-speed automatic transmission, with a Ford 9 inch rear end, with the dyno tuning performed by Gearhead Fabrications. The fuel type is 91 octane, using a SpeedKore custom fuel tank.

For stopping performance, the front brakes are 6 piston Brembos, with Brembo 4 piston versions at the rear. The front suspension is a GM C6 Corvette type by Detroit Speed, while the rear suspension is a custom unit by SpeedKore, with the shocks been made by Penske Double. The front wheels come in at 19×9-inches, with the rear wheels being 20×12-inches, using Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 245/35-R19 tires up front and 345/30-R20 versions at the rear.

The chassis comes in as a custom SpeedKore frame, wrapped around a 14 point roll cage. The exterior of the car is mostly exposed weave carbon, covered in a clear coat of BASF Glasurit. The sumptuous interior is made by Gabes, featuring Recaro GT Sportster seats, 4-point Simpson Racing seat belts, gauges by SpeedKore, and a modern climate control AC system.

Cost

While we are all salivating over the sumptuous specs., it’s just as intriguing to wonder how much the final thing cost. SpeedKore hasn’t publicly revealed the cost of Kevin Hart’s Hellraiser. Plus, they don’t exactly put prices on their website. Their vehicles fall into the category of – if you’re seriously interested, you don’t need to know the price.

As a rough estimate, the Hellephant engine alone would have cost around $30,000. Other vehicles they have sold have been knocking on the door of $170,000, which means this build could have been $250,000. The question now is this the ultimate classic Dodge Charger?

Find out more about the SpeedKore Hellraiser here.

The post Kevin Hart’s SpeedKore Hellephant 1970 Charger ‘Hellraiser’ Closer Look appeared first on Muscle Car.

GM muscle cars are a popular choice for both collectors and new buyers. Those out there who are partial to a GM muscle car could have the chance to grab a solid classic from the Muscle Car City auction coming at the end of January.

We’re going to take a closer look at the inventory from the muscle car city collection. Plus, for those interested in the development of the mid-engined C8 Corvette, Chevrolet has put together a few videos documenting the design cycle.

No matter if you’re interested in the old or the new from GM, there’s plenty of examples out there to choose from.

Muscle Car City Auction

Rick Treworgy, the owner of Muscle Car City, will be selling off his huge collection of General Motors vehicles on January 22 via Mecum Auctions. The auction will include 80 Corvettes from all generations, including the latest version such as a 2020 Corvette C8. There are also plenty of examples of golden era muscle cars such as classic Chevelles, Camaros, GTOs, and everything in between.

Although Mr. Treworgy had it in the pipeline to retire and sell his car inventory in the next few years, the coronavirus has pushed forward proceedings. Treworgy will still keep some prized examples for his own mini collection which will include 20 1967 Corvettes.

If you’re interested in any of the vehicles in the auction, all the cars are listed on the Mecum website.

Corvette C8 Development

Although a mid-engined Corvette seems like a totally new proposition, GM have been tinkering with the idea for many a decade. The 2019 C7 ZR1 with 755HP and 715 ib. ft. of torque pushed the platform as far as it can go. Executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter and his team matched the new C8 design against other boutique super cars such as the Aston Martin and Ferrari. This was to weigh up the best elements from these models, while also producing a car that was still familiar to Corvette owners.

The initial design process involved creating full-sized and scaled clay models, with input from the Corvette interior and exterior design departments. Test mules were then put through their paces at the Nürburgring with the help of Le Mans champ. Oliver Gavin. The Nürburgring lap times were crucial, as the course has become the public benchmark for all performance cars.

The videos below succinctly chart the development of the C8 Corvette, providing a nice overview from the initial idea to final production.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post GM Cars Old and New: Chevrolet Auction and C8 Development appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

When it comes to receiving sound car advice, the information should come from those who have experience with the vehicle. The person should also be either a long time mechanic or hobbyist with plenty of hours under the hood. When I stumbled across the video, ‘Here’s Why I’ll Die Before I Buy a Shelby GT350’ it basically looks like someone with strong opinions and a definite message.

Reading through the short biog. with the video, it seems Scotty Kilmer has been an auto mechanic for 53 years. So, it’s more than likely that he’s worked on a few Mustangs in his time. Does that mean he has seen the full spectrum of good, bad, and indifferent Mustangs to come to a worthy conclusion? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s worth hearing out why a Shelby GT350 may not be a good fit if that is the case from a long-serving mechanic.

Although the video is only 10 minutes long, it packs in a lot of answers to general car queries. The video is more of a question and answer segment covering lots of cars and problems. The GT350 topic is answered from the top, from someone asking if they should buy a 2017 GT350 for something fun to drive. The basic answer is to buy a Mustang GT that still has a V8 engine and 5 or 6 speed transmission.

The reasoning to go for a basic Mustang GT is that it costs less, lower insurance costs and the standard V8 is a better match for the transmission. Then there’s the regular advice of buying a used racing car. With any performance vehicle, you don’t know how hard it’s been thrashed in the past. The rest of the video then answers questions about other vehicles and problems.

Should you buy a Shelby GT350?

Does this mean you should be entirely put off buying a Shelby GT 350? As with most answers in life, it depends. If you have the funds, it’s your ultimate car and you have had the vehicle thoroughly checked out, then possibly. Used vehicles bring more complications. An independent inspection is worth the money and should be performed with any high-end vehicle.

More than anything, Scotty’s channel is quick soundbites on general good and bad points about individual cars. It’s a bit like asking a long-serving mechanic friend what a car is actually like, no holds barred. It’s worth checking out a bunch of his videos and see if you agree with his approach. There are definitely some tasty tips in the mix, but I don’t think there’s enough discussion to dissuade an enthusiastic GT350 fan from buying their ultimate car. For those just looking for a fun American V8, then the Mustang GT may be a better option.

The post Should You Buy a Shelby GT350? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The first and last vehicle of any kind usually gains interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike. In today’s world, the last vehicle that rolls off an assembly line is photographed, videoed, and documented to the nth degree. But in the early years of muscle cars, meticulous documentation wasn’t always the priority. Which is why the last Hemi ever built it’s not so much of a cut and dry story.

Initially, we thought the process would be straightforward. A quick Google search popped up a well-publicized example of the restoration of the supposedly last Hemi. But on further research, it seems that one or two vehicles are also claiming the title.

In reality, there had to be one vehicle with a 426 Hemi dropped in it which was the last one officially produced. But with differences between scheduled and production dates, VIN numbers, and what was officially documented, leads to a few vehicles claiming the title.

Hemi Background

The 426 Hemi hit the Charger R/T in 1966 coming from NASCAR heritage with cast iron heads instead of the racing aluminum versions, low compression ratios, better valve timings, and upgraded exhaust and intake manifolds to achieve the 425HP and 490 lb. ft. of torque. However, by 1971 federal emissions put a halt to these huge engine types. The Hemi engine name lives on in present-day vehicles, but it’s the original design and configuration which still holds up today.

The ‘White’ 1971 Dodge Charger R/T

The fuss about the white 1971 Dodge Charger R/T seems to start in 2013 when the vehicle was acquired by renowned Charlotte-North Carolina muscle car experts RK Motors. The vehicle had finished an extensive restoration and was to be shown for the first time at the Food Lion AutoFair, Charlotte Motor Speedway that year. According to a Hemmings article, the vehicle was ‘1 of 33’ cars produced in 1971 with the 426 Hemi engine and a TorqueFlite automatic transmission.

The car was originally sold in Ohio with the original owner being told by the people at Glavic Dodge, Wickliffe, Ohio that it was unlikely the car would ever be built. The vehicle was subsequently produced at the Lynch Road plant, Detroit, on June 18, 1971. This apparently was two weeks later than a previously documented vehicle.

In the early 1990s, the R/T was bought by Joe Angelucci who originally spotted the vehicle years earlier. It wasn’t until the original owner fell ill that the car was agreed to be sold to Joe. From which the car was left in its original state until it was restored by RK Motors.

The Last HEMI – Segment 1- The Journey Begins

The ‘Blue’ Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda

Zipping over the description from a 2018 Barrett Jackson auction, this particular Hemi-Cuda was ‘one of 59’ known HEMI Cudas built-in 1971′(contrary to the above 33), which has also had a full restoration and only 23,772 original miles on the clock.

It has an original four-speed manual transmission, Dana 60 rear end, A34-code Super Trak Pak, A34-code Super Trak Pak, and comes with the original broadcast sheet.

Which is the original last Hemi-ever built?

If you care to wade through the comments from the Hemmings article link above, it adds more fuel to the fire rather than a decisive conclusion. Some say up to 60 US-spec Hemis were built for the R/T, not including Canadian built vehicles.

One of the most conclusive articles on this topic is from moparconnectionmagazine.com. Basically, the article wraps around Tim Wellborn and his employment of the ‘Prove It’ firm to track down the originality of the last Hemi vehicle.

The team eventually uncovered the fact that there were four plants producing Hemi vehicles in 1971. As assembly lines regularly produced vehicles beyond their assigned build date, there was no way to accurately date the last Chrysler Hemi assigned car. The report produced by the firm says that the white Charger, therefore, couldn’t be the last Hemi-version.

The ‘yellow’ 1971 Dodge Charger R/T owned by Tim Wellborn as seen below had a scheduled production date of June 11, but rolled out on July 30 (according to the Fender tag and window sticker), which was the last day of production for Chrysler vehicles in 1971.

It would be great to hear comments and feedback about this topic for which vehicle you think is the last Hemi powered vehicle from the golden era of muscle cars.

The post The Last Hemi: Which one is it? appeared first on Muscle Car.

The Pontiac Firebird has been an iconic part of the GM lineup for decades, even though General Motors decided to discontinue the brand in 2010. It might have been the best option at the time, while GM was struggling through some financial problems, but it broke the hearts of Firebird fans everywhere.

This year may have been awful in many respects, but it has given us one positive thing. We may have a new Firebird making its debut in the 2021 model year. Here’s what to know and when we might see them on the road.

It’s Not Coming From General Motors

While it might have the same name, this incarnation of the Pontiac Firebird isn’t coming from GM. It’s the brainchild of a custom carmaker based in Tallahassee, Florida, named Trans Am Depot. Pontiac fans know that Trans Am Depot is just about the best company in the world when you’re looking for someone to restore old Pontiacs.

You’ll Have to Act Fast to Get One

This isn’t going to be like the normal new model debut with hundreds of options to choose from rolling off the assembly line. If you want to get your hands on one of these new Firebirds, you’ll have to act fast. Burt Reynolds drove a Firebird in the 1977 movie “Smokey and the Bandit,” and Trans Am Depot is only building 77 of these new mods in his honor.

It’s Built Around a Chevy Camaro

Trans Am Depot doesn’t have the original Pontiac frame to work with, but that isn’t stopping them from bringing the Firebird back to life. This mod will be built on top of the new Chevy Camaro SS. By the time they’re done, it won’t be recognizable as a Camaro. The team replaces more than 380 parts, from the bumpers to the taillights and everything in between. Carbon fiber panels will give the Firebird its distinctive shape.

It Will Have Incredible Power

Traditionally, you had two options under the hood for a Firebird — a 3.8-liter L-6 engine and a 6.6-liter V-8, the former generating 220 horsepower and the latter 340. While neither is anything to shake a stick at, they can’t hold a candle to the new 2021 Firebird. The tweaked and modified V-8 Camaro engine can generate 840 horsepower and has a top speed of 200 mph.

It Will Be Expensive

This isn’t the kind of budget-friendly Firebird that you could buy during the model’s heyday. This version will set you back $115,000 if you can get your hands on one. This includes the cost of the donor Camaro that will serve as the foundation for your new Firebird. This price may be worth it to Pontiac enthusiasts, but you’ll probably want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a cost-effective option.

Bringing Home a 2021 Firebird

The new Pontiac Firebird won’t be available until 2021, but if you miss the feeling of getting behind the wheel of one, you have the chance to do so again. Stay tuned to see what you’ll need to do to bring home one of these iconic cars.

The post What We Know About a Possible 2021 Pontiac Firebird appeared first on Muscle Car.

When we are in the situation of tasty new muscle cars not being released due to our virus ridden planet, it makes sense for people to start modding their cars. Home deliveries and sealed off garage areas have still been going full tilt, with plenty of engine swaps and upgrades being the order of the day.

Here we have a few examples of how you can get full tilt power from a Mopar, if you’re willing to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.

Hellephant Swapped Challenger SRT Demon Dyno Test

First up is apparently the first recorded Hellephant engine swap into a Mopar. In this case the vehicle in question is a Challenger SRT Demon, which is the new home to the 426 Hellephant Engine V8. For the uninitiated, the ‘Hellephant’ was a limited run of crate engine kits, first revealed at SEMA 2018, producing 1,000 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque.

Unfortunately, the engine isn’t exactly road legal, but that hasn’t stopped the guys over at Demonology dropping it into a Dodge Demon. This is a bold move in itself, considering the Demon can throw out 808hp and 770 lb-ft torque on 91 octane gasoline without trying. But if you have the means, why not pop the most powerful Mopar engine into the highest ranked Dodge mobile.

Which begs the question how much power can the Hellephant produce? If you don’t want to run through the short video below then the answer is 944.82WHP and 877.46 lb-ft torque, running on a mix of E-40 fuel. Maybe with some detailed tweaking and fettling to certain engine components these figures can be increased slightly, but at least it gives a baseline reading for what the Hellephant can achieve in reality.

Don’t Mod Your 392/5.7L Hemi

This little video should be the spark for a whole slew of debate. The takeaway message here is, ‘You shouldn’t buy a car to build the motor.’ In other words, if you want to go as fast as a Hellcat, simply buy a Hellcat.

Ouch, since time immemorial people have been upgrading engines to eke out that extra bit of power. But we do get the point being given here. If its a 392 or an R/T you own, you may end up spending more money on the upgrades than just buying into a Hellcat. This makes sense if its just the power levels you are interested in.

Without getting into the intricacies of the pros and cons, simply watch the video and make up your own mind.

Dodge Challenger ‘Nitrous Nuke’

As a nice counter view to the argument above, what if owned had a Challenger 392, still wanted more power, but you’re not exactly enamored with forced induction? One possible solution is going down the nitrous route.

Along with a very cool body wrap, this Challenger has been treated to an Edelbrock-supplied Victor EFI intake manifold and a 100-shot of nitrous. Exterior features have also been added in the form of a new front splitter, carbon spoiler, universal air springs and an Air Lift Performance 3p digital management.

There doesn’t seem to be any power ratings for this hybrid setup, but if nothing else the body wrap, bagged stance and spoilers make for a very cool looking Mopar machine.

 

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Mopar Monday ?? ??- @ensooo_ #mopar #moparornocar #scatpack #truefiber #americanmuscle #baggedlife #edelbrock #wrappedcars #carporn #underglow #dodge #dodgeofficial #scatty

A post shared by Sergio (@chavez_scat92) on Sep 9, 2019 at 5:22pm PDT

1971 Plymouth GTX With Dodge Viper V10

Variety is the spice of life, so they say. Which means if new muscle cars with new engines or upgrades isn’t your thing, then why not go for a vintage vehicle with something equally as ridiculous under the hood. In this case it’s a 1971 Plymouth GTX with a rather tasty Dodge Viper V10 engine.

The whole project has been put together by Horsepower Northwest, Washington to be a driving machine. This meant upgrading everything along with the engine to Baer brakes, chassis upgrades, an 8.75 rear end, custom front and rear suspension and a wonderfully deep paint job.

 

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Man, it sure helps seeing these cars ahead of time to help the direction of the build. @abimelecdesign is one talented dude. GTX-R coming soon… #mopar #viperswap #plymouth #muscle #v10 #protouring #restomod #stocksucks #f8green #tagme

A post shared by Horsepower Northwest (@horsepower_northwest) on Nov 3, 2019 at 1:43pm PST

There’s clearly a million and one ways to upgrade any vehicle, with the deciding factor usually being how deep are your pockets. If money is never an issue, engines could be swapped out on a daily basis, with upgrades to your hearts content. However, most of us have to be more canny with our money, which means far more research and will our chosen bits provide the end results we expect.

Without thorough research, an endless journey of upgrades can not just hit the wallets, but also time and mental power. This is why a car for sale which has had endless modifications will rarely bring back the money ploughed into the thing. Hopefully, the examples above will give you a few ideas for modding or buying your own vehicle.

The post Muscle Car News: Modding Mopars appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The Chevrolet Camaro first went on sale in the fall of 1966 as a direct competitor to the Ford Mustang and has been scrapping it out ever since. Both muscle cars or more strictly pony cars have healthy V8 powerplants and are aimed at the same market segment, providing a nice balance between sporty performance, comfort and smaller dimensions than other full-sized muscle cars.

It was the Ford Mustang that essentially kicked off the pony car market in 1964 to great success. So much so that Chevrolet had to come up with their own pony car version. The Camaro also sold well, shifting 842,731 units in the first three years of production. Both companies also brought out their own high end versions of their vehicles, from the Ford side being the Shelby GT500 and GT350 and from Chevy the Camaro ZL1 in particular.

As each decade progressed from the 1960’s, the Camaro and the Mustang had their ups and downs like the rest of the muscle car market. With today’s models being more sports car focused, but still with that healthy V8 muscle under the hood. Mustangs have arguably the most global appeal, as they are available in the correct hand drive for many European markets. But, that hasn’t stopped the grassroots rivalry and it will probably always be that for both these vehicles being directly compared above others.

Which brings us to the video below which outlines the standout Camaros and Mustangs from each decade and how they line up against each other. This video is also a nice little overview of what each model provided in each decade, along with their individual features.

We’re not going to tell you which ultimately came out on top, you’ll have to watch the video yourself. But at the least, it will show why both vehicles having lasted for over 50 years, irrespective of which has the competitive edge.

For which car had the best attributes can be argued till the cows come home. And it’s usually the case that if you like a certain model, that’s all there is to it. Which is fine, as personal preferences are allowed. But, if you’re still on the fence for which one will be your next potent ride, then this little history lesson may help you decide. Not just with the new vehicles, but also if you want to buy into one of the older versions.

Either way, both companies have produced some standout motors across their lifespans and that on the whole, should be celebrated.

The post Mustang vs Camaro – Who won each decade? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Unless you have been literally living under a rock for the last few weeks, a worldwide social clampdown is quickly being enforced. The COVID-19 coronavirus spread doesn’t just mean social isolation for individuals, but the usual car shows, meets, socializing and interpersonal sharing of the muscle car hobby has ground to a halt.

As the clampdown has been so quick, there’s an immediate shortage of personal protection equipment. To help get all the needed equipment out as soon as possible, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have started to produce medical equipment.

GM recently announced working with Ventec Life, Seattle to build ventilators, while most of its North American facilities have been suspended. Most likely the equipment will be made at GM’s Kokomo facility. FCA on the other hand, will be donating and producing facemasks in one of their China facilities, as the quickest means to get face masks produced and shipped to the US. The FCA are also working with Siare Engineering International Group, Italy, which is one of the worst hit spots for the virus.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Muscle Car Makers To Make Face Masks appeared first on Muscle Car.

When you own a muscle car, you’ll want other people to know that you own a muscle car. It has become a popular status symbol among American car enthusiasts even with the rise in popularity of hybrid and futuristic electric cars.

Muscle cars are a solid and tangible reminder of our nation’s proud history of car manufacturing.  A 100% privately owned muscle car is surely a sight to see.

Muscle cars do attract the attention of police officers who may suspect that you were speeding or showing off if you are involved in a car accident. If you were injured in a car accident because of the reckless driving of another, seek the help of experienced car accident attorneys like the ones at Tario & Associates.

How to keep your muscle car in top condition

To keep your muscle car in tip top condition, you will need to have a paint job that attracts attention. Not only that, it should also provide sufficient protection against the sun and rain and prevent corrosion of the metal underneath. Most of these muscle cars were popular at the beginning up to the middle of the 20th century, Therefore you should handle them with utmost care.

Here are three tips to help you prepare your muscle car for a paint job.

Wash

Unfortunately, most people tend to forget to wash their vehicles before giving their muscle cars a new paint job. Always wash your car to remove all the dirt and dust that might cause a problem during the repainting process. Small particles that are left on the surface of the car might cause scratches once you attempt to buff the vehicle.

Also, use a soap that is specifically designed for car surfaces. Using dish soap or detergent that is not made for cars might chemically damage the paint.

Another good thing about washing is that it reveals the full extent of the aesthetic issue, if there really is an issue. Maybe the color of your car has not actually faded? Maybe you just did not wash your muscle car in weeks? Hey, even a layer of dust on the windshield can literally cloud your judgment on the road.

Sand down

Sanding is a good way to keep an even and clean finish. If your car has gone through some touch-ups in the past, it might be wise to just leave those areas alone and only sand down the areas that have been exposed to scratches and other discoloration. Following it with a good sealer and a modern catalyzed primer would also be a good step forward. If you see an area with a very noticeable fade or a significant scratch or graze then a rubbing compound could be the best option.

Strip it

If you really want to be thorough or there’s something about the car’s surface that keeps on bothering you, there is only one way to find out: strip it to the bare metal. You might be surprised at what lies underneath that might have caused the damage to the paint in the first place. Also, be wary of using a grinder, and when we say “be wary,” we actually meant don’t. At all. A grinder not only ignores significant places but it also strips away the actual metal so it is wise not to use one.

We understand that you want to have a personal touch in restoring your muscle car’s color; but most of the time, you can get the job done just by simply taking the car to a professional body and paint shop. Sure it will cost a few bucks but the risk of damage to your car is definitely less.

The post Three Ways to Prepare Your Muscle Car for Repainting appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Since the first Chevrolet Camaro was released in 1966 as a straight middle finger to the Ford Mustang, we have seen many variations come and go over the years. These include special edition Camaros, with an added extra something to keep up interest levels or included features you can’t find elsewhere.

The guys over at hotcars.com have put together a nice little run down of 15 of the most impressive looking special edition Camaros. Each with a small description of when they were released, price and other interesting information. Instead of regurgitating the article here, it’s best to check out the original for the full rundown, with some of the best picks we have decided to feature here.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Although the car may look like a plain Jane, all the beauty or at least grunt was under the skin. Only 69 examples of the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 were made, a product of the ‘Central Office Production Order’ system and was strictly an option package. These Camaros started as a 396-ci./375bhp Super Sports, with upgrades all-round, most notably with the ZL1 427ci. V8, possibly good for 500HP. But, as the sticker price was over $7,200, an astronomical amount for the day, only the rich and influential could apply.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Edition

Ok, I admit I am a complete nerd for shortlisting the Transformers Edition Camaro. The standout features mainly consisted of the Bumblebee yellow exterior and a few other aesthetic options, but the Transformers franchise did heaps for bringing the Camaro to the wider consciousness. This cool looking, yellow muscle car, suddenly became the center piece to Hollywood blockbuster movies. Plus, it could turn into a lethal, shooting n’ tootin’ robot…well, at least on-screen.

In the design stakes, the Camaro held its own against all the other mad looking super cars in the movie franchise. Which means the Transformers Edition is up there through influence alone.

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Convertible

When it comes to sheer rarity and exclusivity, you can’t beat the 1 of 1 Z/28 Camaro Convertible. You could argue that it’s not really a special edition as the car was specifically built for Pete Estes, Chevrolet’s General Manager of the time, rather than being a limited bunch of vehicles.

Another product of the Central Office Production Order (COPO) system, this is the only convertible Z/28 in existence and is fully loaded. Standout features are the prototype fibreglass cowl induction hood, dual cross-ram carb., four-wheel disc brakes and powder coated tubular headers. Dressed in Dark Fathom Green, this is one of the most expensive Camaros around.

The post The Best Of Chevrolet Camaro Special Editions appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

After six decades of production, the Chevrolet Impala will have its last dance, with the last models rolling off the production line in the next week or so. First introduced in 1958, there were gaps in production in the 1980’s and 1990’s, but over its life over 16.8 million vehicles were produced.

The reasons for the cherished nameplate going into retirement mainly point to the current popularity of pickups, SUV’s and crossovers. The huge Impalas of the past, eventually turned into regular sized sedans and in today’s climate, the market is swamped with these type of vehicles.

A Sign of Things to Come

The Impalas of the 50’s and 60’s were the ideal platform to ‘pimp my ride,’ being some of the longest and widest vehicles known to man. There is no missing the distinctive squinted eyed rear of a 1959 Impala, but a name plate has to keep up with the times. This was evident when General Motors put the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant on the closure list in late 2018. Impala US sales had also dropped in 2018 by 25.5% to 56,556, falling further to 4,978 in 2019. With the general decline of sedan sales as a whole, other makers have been following suit, such as the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, with Ford also dropping the Taurus, Fiesta, C-Max and Focus.

From the late 1950’s through to the 1960’s the Impala was a huge hit, selling 440,000 in 1959 and more than 1 million in 1965. Affordable and a mark of the spirit of the time, the success was continued until GM discontinued the model 1985, to be brought back in 1994 as an ‘SS’ model.

What’s next?

The popularity of SUVs and such may have ceased production of the Impala as we currently know it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story. With such a well-known name, it’s entirely possible that the name may come back in the future under a different guise. Ford have crow barred the Mustang and Mach name into an electric SUV, so it’s entirely possible that the same could happen with the Impala. As the name is about as American as apple pie, don’t think this is the last you have heard of the legendary Impala….

The post The Chevrolet Impala Ceases Production appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Rumors and whispers have been floating around for years about a possible new/remake/reimagining of the iconic DeLorean. The car was initially made famous for starring in the ‘Back to the Future’ movie trilogy. The three surviving cars from the movie, being owned by Universal Studios and the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Checking out the DeLorean Wikipedia page states that DMC Texas have had the idea since 2007 for a remake, but with legal wranglings and setbacks, it’s only now with regulation changes that a modern interpretation can be made. Quite a gap in time considering the last official versions were produced in 1982.

Interestingly, a limited run of vehicles was expected to be released in 2017, but the Wikipedia page says production is projected to start in 2021. For the life of me, I cannot find any indications of a production date on either of the DeLorean websites(more on that below…)

The new regulations allow low-volume automakers to produce up to 325 vehicles each year that resemble production cars manufactured over 25 years ago. All vehicles must adhere to the Clean Air Act standards as per the year they were produced. In essence, the low volume of vehicles are allowed if engines and emissions equipment are used from another automaker, e.g. GM, Ford.
In a statement to Hagerty, Vice President of DMC Texas, James Espey, stated the company were gearing up to produce the vehicle once again, with a new version of the original design.

The New Design

As for body reworkings, engine specs., flux capacitor designs and such, the official websites don’t give anything away. The only hints to a possible design come from the video below produced at the end of 2016. From which you can see a screenshot at the top of the page. The video shows a flattened car design with gull wing doors and a healthy amount of glass fiber and brushed stainless steel.

If the rendering is anything to go off, the design looks more like a Lamborghini Countach, which themselves are horrendous to see out of the back of, along with being a tight squeeze for anybody who is over a regular size. Which means the rendering can only be taken as a possible interpretation of things to come.

At the time of writing, trawling through the DeLorean website, there is mention of how the new legislation will allow limited production runs of the vehicle, but nothing concrete about a new design – images or specifications. There are sections on the website for buying parts, servicing and restorations, but no sign of the new vehicle.

There also seems to be another DeLorean website, ‘newDeLorean.com‘ which shows a preview video of the old vehicle, with the blog section only mentioning the new regulations. Thus, it’s down to speculation at this point of how the new vehicle will turn out. If the Wikipedia production date is correct, then it may simply be early days before anything solid is released.

If a possible 325 vehicles can be produced by the company each year, they are bound to be fans of the original car and the movie franchise, who will be most interested. As for the purist muscle car fan, the John DeLorean connection is the most fascinating, being one of the originators of the classic Pontiac GTO. The original DMC had more European influences than anything else. A 2.85 L (2,849 cc) V6 engine produced by Peugeot-Renault-Volvo with 130 hp and a five-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission by the same company. With a manual transmission, performance figures came in at 0–60mph in 8.8 seconds, with the automatic transmission taking 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 109mph.

Still, performance figures don’t really count when you’re talking about such an iconic and recognizable vehicle. We just hope that this new DeLorean will be the most advanced and high-tech vehicle around. If it can run off items found in the trash, just like the end of the first movie, all the better.

The post DeLorean Set to Remake the Iconic ‘Back To The Future’ DMC appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Muscle cars from the late 1960’s to early 1970’s are some of the most iconic car shapes ever created. Proven by the hordes of fans who still collect these tried these vehicles on a regular basis. In the world of Restomods(vintage cars with lots of new bits added) those basic designs are tweaked and fettled to make beautiful new creations, along with a sizeable heap of performance parts.

The restomod featured here is a 1968 Pontiac Firebird which will be coming up for auction at Barrett-Jackson, at South Florida Fairgrounds, April 16th-April 18th with no reserve. Richardson’s Custom Auto Body seem to be the originators of this reworked classic, refining and building on the original design, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.

The basic lines and curves of the original design have been kept in place, removing bits such as the chrome outline of the grille, with a simpler, single headlight configuration. In many ways, the original design has been simplified, covered in the deep and thick Viva La Red paintwork, covering everything from the rear bumper to the front air splitter.

According to the Barrett-Jackson description, the car took three years and over 4,500 man hours to complete. Engine wise, it has an LS3 6.2 liter V8 producing over 550hp, with lots of internal grades. The transmission used is a GM 6L90 6-speed automatic, with 3.73:1 gears and a 12-bolt rear end. Ceramic-coated Sanderson headers and  a custom exhaust have also been installed.

Keeping everything tied to the ground, a Detroit Speed coilover suspension has been installed with a QUADRALink setup and tubular front suspension running along the sub frame connectors. Baer brakes are used all-round with 14-inch rotors upfront and 13-inch versions at the back. Finished off with highly polished, 18×10-inch and 19×12-inch Rushforth Concept five-spoke wheels.

Moving to the interior, the bucket seats come from a 2006 Pontiac GTO, dressed in Douglass European leather, keeping the vintage dash and Vintage Air heating.

This example is a fine re-working of a classic and will provide the next custodian with many years of driving pleasure. If you’re at all interested in this vehicle, check out the Barrett-Jackson https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Media/Home/Reader/1968-pontiac-firebird-custom-coupe-for-sale-no-reserve-palm-beach-auction/ website for more details.

The post 1968 Pontiac Firebird Restomod Coming to Barrett-Jackson appeared first on Muscle Car.

Would you pay a million dollars for a 69 ZL1 Camaro? Well, someone did, and others who also paid a lot for the top muscle cars. Read all about them here.

It’s exhilarating! That feeling you get when you cruise around in a powerful muscle car takes your breath away.

If you’re in the market for a muscle car, you should check out the local auto auctions. Surveys show that Americans buy/sell about 9 million cars at auctions every year!

We did some research and found the top muscle cars that sold at an auction in the last few years. Keep reading to get a glimpse at some of the cars you might get a shot to buy at an auto auction.

What Is an Auto Auction and How Do They Work?

Never been to an auto auction? Don’t sweat it! They’re not as intimidating as you think and you get to see some killer cars!

The size and inventory of auto auctions vary from a small event with only a few cars to a massive auction with acres of cars to choose from. But, no matter which auction you go to, buying and selling cars is the goal.

Buyers and sellers meet at the auction on sale day and the auctioneer facilitates the sale at the highest possible profit for the seller. But, if you know what you’re looking for, you can find some pretty sweet deals! Visit this website to see how you can test drive some of the most outrageous muscle cars in the world before you bid at the auction.

Tip: Pre-register before the day of the auction if you can. You might even get a sneak preview of the cars before the auctioning starts!

Top Muscle Cars Sold at Auto Auctions

You never know which cars you might find at an auto auction. These are some of the sweetest muscle cars that sold at auto auctions in the past few years.

1971 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible

This is a rare find as one of only 11 produced in 1971 and pristine condition to boot. At the auction, this beauty sold for $2.2 million, but everyone expected it to fetch a million or two more than that!

The only “flaw” in this beast was that it had a replacement engine instead of the one that the manufacturer installed when they built the car. Even considering that little problem, this buyer got a deal of a lifetime in this muscle car!

1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster CSX

Carroll Shelby of Ford Motor Company wanted to design a muscle car to compete with the Corvette. So, they built a new frame to fit a V8 engine and released the 1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster CSX in September of 1961.

This beautiful piece of machinery has a 4.3-liter lightweight, small block engine that went through tons of testing and tweaking before its release. This Shelby Cobra Roadster sold for almost $1.6 million at Barrett Jackson’s Scottsdale Arizona auction held in 2015.

1967 Corvette L88S Coupe

This stunning specimen is one of the most coveted Corvettes ever built. Chevy only made 20 of these in 1967 and this was the only one with a red-on-red color scheme.

These muscle cars boast a heavy-duty suspension and a 430 horsepower engine. Also, the technicians fine-tuned the transmission for the best performance. This beauty is perfect for a drag racing track!

The downsides to this beast of a muscle car are that it had no radio, no heater, and no air conditioning. So, nothing as far as creature comforts and things you want for long-distance driving.

This beauty sold to at an auction in 2014 for a staggering $3.85 million!

1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept Car

In the early 1950s, GM started marketing to younger demographics and their vehicle designs reflect this new direction. The Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car is one of only two that Pontiac built… ever!

The Pontiac Bonneville Special concept has a low to the ground sports car feel with a lightweight fiberglass body. This Pontiac concept car also had an enclosed cockpit with flip-up side windows to make it feel like a race car and, to top it all off, a beefy V8 engine beneath the hood.

In 2006, at the Barrett-Jackson’s 35th-anniversary auction in Scottsdale, the Pontiac Bonneville Special Concept car sold for $3.08 million!

1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake”

This stunning machine is the rarest Cobra that exists these days and it is one of only two Super Snakes ever built. Since the other one no longer exists, this is the only Cobra out there!

After rigorous testing, this Cobra received the honor of being a full Competition Roadster because it still has its original parts including the aluminum “Super Snake” hood. It’s obvious why this muscle car sold for $5.115 million!

1967 L88 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

This stunner’s beautiful Stingray design has held its value over the years and it is one of only 20 made in 1967. Most of those models were a company secret sold only to racing teams.

Because Life Is More Fun With a Little Muscle

You can find awesome muscle cars at almost every auto auction these days, and they’re popular among the buyers at the auctions also! Knowing which cars are your top muscle cars before auction day gives you a little edge when bidding.

If you play your cards right, you could snag an amazing deal on the muscle car of your dreams at the next auction!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a thing or two about the kinds of muscle cars you’ll see at auto auctions. For more articles about everything related to muscle cars, check out the rest of our blog posts today!

The post Best of the Best: Top Muscle Cars Sold at an Auction appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Most muscle car hunters on the lookout for stashed away gems, may have the mindset of always checking out fields, barns and little stored away garages and units. But as revealed here by Patrick Glenn Nichols, these things can crop up anywhere like in a bunch of tractor-trailers down in Kentucky.

The immediate signs are of a property holding a bunch of old trailers and the like. For example an old Mack firetruck and plenty of other vehicles, but once a few of the trailers are opened up, there is a plethora of vintage muscle cars hidden within. They mostly consist of old GM vehicles, like an old Chevelle, a Camaro Z/28 and a Pontiac Firebird.

Clearly, each of these vehicles will need to be verified for exactly what they are, but there’s definitely a lot of potential tucked away in this little hideaway.

It’s definitely worth checking out the full video to get the full rundown, but if anything, the big takeaway here is that vintage muscle cars can be stowed away in the most unlikely of places. So, next time you’re sailing down a little country road, keep your eyes peeled for tell-tale signs of cars being stored. You never know what you will find.

The post Tractor Trailers Found With Loads Of Vintage Muscle Cars appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

For the individual who wants a high-performance sports car, obviously we’re going to be pushing forward the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 as the top of the heap. But, in the real world car buyers can push their money in any direction they like. Thus, group comparison tests are always a nice measure to see how each vehicle stacks up against the rest.

In this case its the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 which is going up against a 2020 Toyota Supra, BMW M2 and a Porsche 718 Cayman as documented over at caranddriver.com. Its not just a chance to check out four modern, potent sports cars, but also in the setting of the Sequoia National Park of all locations.

On the surface, the slugfest could be seen as America muscle versus Japanese and German engineering. However, it’s not old school muscle car engineering from the late 1960s. This is up-to-date pony car tech. on the GT350, proven by how well these things are selling in Europe, compared to the other three.

The GT350 sports a flat-plane-crank 5.2L. V8, making 526BHP, through a six speed manual transmission, with added bonuses via the Handling package. This adds a rear spoiler Gurney flap for more downforce and adjustable camber plates topping the front struts.

So, now it’s down to running these cars down the winding roads of a national Park and seeing which one comes out on top. Obviously, as a muscle car website we wouldn’t be talking about this unless the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 came out on top. But, the review is cementing why the GT350 is proving its worth against the competition. It’s a good idea to read the full article over at car and driver.com to get all the details, but the last sentence kind of sums everything up nicely, ‘none is as raw or as alive as the Shelby GT350.’

This is exactly why the GT350 and the Mustang GT are selling so well, especially in Europe. They are basically a welcome change from the usual crop of performance sports cars. Sticking to those old muscle car principles while heaping on modern driving specifications has brought the old and new principles together exactly as it should be.

If you’re in the market for a potent, modern sports car, then it might be worth checking out the GT350.

The post Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 vs. 2020 Toyota Supra, BMW M2 And Porsche 718 Cayman appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Some people seem to have all the luck. The Barn Find Hunters from Hagerty seems to be one such bunch when they stumbled across this large clutch of desirable muscle cars outside of Lubbock, Texas. A wide expanse of land with loads of vintage vehicles baking away in the heat, with one car standing out in particular, a Pontiac GTO Judge.

At first glance, the Judges looks like it was parked recently and has just let the sun do its usual oxidizing on the paintwork. From the video commentary this is a Carousel Red Judge the paint being original, with a white interior, 400ci V8 4 barrel Ram Air III and a four speed. The odometer also reads 00002.4. Although they cannot pop the hood, the owner says he has driven the car, but doesn’t go into detail for when and for how long. In other words, this is a prime, classic muscle car, begging to be restored.

As for value, the on the spot appraisal was condition 4, which is fair, but above the condition of this car $38,900. Good $56,000 and in concours condition $127,000. unfortunately, the car is not for sale, bah. Rick doesn’t say in the video. If he has any plans for the Judge. he clearly doesn’t want to sell, but will it eventually be restored?

There’s plenty of other vehicles dotted around the land, which could possibly be for sale. But, if Rick ever parts with the Pontiac is another question. In any case, it’s worth watching the video in its entirety as there are loads of vehicles they inspect which are all very interesting in their own rights.

The post Pontiac GTO Judge Field Find appeared first on Muscle Car.

Credit: Versace

By Dave Ashton

What happens when the ultra-fashion conscious, who are also Ford fans(not needed), want some extra bling in their life? The answer is a Versace hoodie of course. But not just a hoodie, the high-end fashion house have also released Ford branded T-shirts, footwear and some rather smart pantalettes.

The high-end threads were originally shown off at exclusive catwalks earlier in the year, but they clearly missed a trick as there wasn’t a Ford Focus in sight to add to the street-like appeal. Well, that didn’t matter as car hoodies are now the new black and you need to buy one of these exclusive items if you want to stay on trend. Problem is, they’re not that exclusive and you have to stump up $1,872 for the privilege.

‘Versace’s collaboration with motor company Ford was inspired by ‘the excitement of buying your first car’. They utilize the signature Ford logo to reflect emotions of joy and thrill. Made in Italy, this back cotton x Ford logo print hoodie from Versace features a hood with a contrast printed logo in the rear, dropped shoulders, long sleeves, a central printed Ford logo, a kangaroo pocket and a ribbed hem and cuffs,’ say the website FarFetch.

Fancy one of the T-shirts? Well that will cost you $667 and the smart Ford pants will cost you $1,613.
You may already be thinking, why don’t I just buy an official Ford hoodie from Dearborn and be done with it? How dare you….. Versace have superior stitching, it’s made in Italy and has a whopping Versace logo on the head, bigger than the Ford logo itself, just in case you forgot who made it.

Clearly, if you have the disposable income and want the extra street cred., why not buy one, but for the rest of us it’s a bit ‘Emperor’s new Clothes’ situation. It’s everyday casual wear dressed up as high-end fashion with a corresponding price tag. Checking out Ford’s own merchandising site you can buy a hoodie for $29.95 with a smart, retro Ford logo. These hoodies have the exclusive features of being stitched by highly skilled, beer drinking Americans and made from tough cotton for wiping down oily hands….

There’s even some smart looking Ford socks going for $11.95 which I might grab a pair of, not because I’m a Ford fan, just because I’m running out…

The other problem for the average guy/gal is should I spend that money on a hoodie that will last me six months or some tasty parts for my car? I think most would have already resolved that answer….

Which brings us to who should be buying these Versace/Ford threads? I think all Ford’s racing teams should be kitted out in such apparel. The next time you watch Formula One, the pit crew should stand around like veritable Derek Zoolanders throwing out ‘Blue Steel’ whenever a camera lens wafts in their vicinity. Pit stops may take a few hours each, but wouldn’t they look fabulous……….

Get the Ford Hoodie from here in the UK and here in the US.

Buy the Ford Versace T-shirt thingy from here.

The post Versace Are Selling Ford Hoodies For $1,872 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Since the dawn of muscle cars, there have been those lucky folks who’ve wandered into a showroom at just the right time and come away with an ultra rarity. This is the case with Gaines Stevens and friend Kamran Osenbaugh who visited Ed Rinke Chevrolet to buy a Chevrolet SS sedan and each came away with street-legal prototype Camaros built by COPO as reported by motorauthority.com.

The stars seem to have aligned perfectly on that day, as Rich Rinke who owned the dealership ordered the two COPO Camaros, purposefully built to be a street legal road course racer named, ‘the Track Day Performance Camaro.’ 100 – 200 were planned to be built, but only two eventually hit the light of day.

According to the rundown over at motorauthority.com, Steven’s white car 001A and Osenbaugh’s blue car 001B were test mule prototypes. The program was apparently scrapped as parts couldn’t all arrive at the same time, such as GM’s Performance Data Recorder (PDR) or Recaro seats. This means that the two Camaros were bought with some of the missing items.

Each of the Camaros has a 6.2-liter V8 producing 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque through a 6-speed manual transmission, with the original sale price being just under $50,000. Chock-full of performance parts, because feature everything you could possibly need for a worthy track day vehicle.

Are these already bona fide, rare classics? I would think so, especially when Osenbaugh says he won’t let his go for less than $100,000.

If you want to find out more details about the two vehicles. Check out the original post over at motorauthority.com.

The post The Only Two 2017 COPO Chevrolet Camaros From Track Day Program appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Just when you thought all the vintage muscle cars in the world have been discovered and snapped up, along comes another bountiful Muscle Car Collection. In this case it’s a huge gathering of old GM muscle cars.

There are quite a few old GM classics in this muscle car collection. Pontiac GTOs, 442 Cutlasses, Hurst Oldsmobiles, a 1970 Buick GS Stage 1…the list goes on. There are also some rarities thrown into the mix like a special order GTO in rare Cardinal Red. Most are non-numbers matching and have been sat for over 15 years. Thankfully, in a temperature controlled environment, which means most of them should have metalwork in good condition. Obviously, that doesn’t take into account the condition they were first brought into the storage environment as some clearly have a few rust holes. There is a varied enough selection here to grab somebody’s interest for their next restoration project.

At this point the video should have whetted your appetite, but where are they, are they for sale, is there an inventory list to choose from, etc.? The bottom line – the collection is for sale and has been documented in the video by Auto Archaeology, who will put interested parties in touch with the owners of the collection. All the vehicles are waiting to be restored and are in a variety of conditions – some with engines, some without.

I can only think that the passing on of interested parties to the seller via email is to cut down on tire kickers. If you’re interested in buying anything that you seen the video or inquiring further, then email the Auto Archaeologist here.

The post Massive Muscle Car Collection In Factory Basement appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The all-new mid-engined 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 has finally been revealed. Lots of hype, lots of controversy, but now a chance for everyone to form their own opinions on if the latest ‘Vette is a worthy successor. Why the initial polarized views? Mainly due to the ‘Vette being front engined for the last 66 years. Now, the engine is placed behind the passenger compartment.

Stylistic changes have also come in, like the long hood and sweeping fenders being replaced by a ‘cab forward’ design with a shorter and flatter front nose. A tapered hatch now opens up a small trunk where the engine now sits, which also has influenced the overall design of the car. In essence, sports car now turns supercar.

As you can see in the video below, the big reveal happened yesterday showing the first glimpses of the preproduction model.

Corvette Mid-engine C8 Corvette Reveal Video

Questions……

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 threw up many questions before release – why change a format that has clearly worked for years? Why change a winning formula when the C7 was so good?

The chief engineering bods over at Chevrolet said they had reached the performance limits of a front engined car. With a mid-engined platform the weight distribution and balance is now more like a race car. Also, in a bid to constantly outperform sports sedans and the ever-growing power of modern muscle cars. The other take is to match up and beat European sports and supercars at their own game. A super car ‘Vette…, that is a new paradigms.

Recent sales have been a factor, with only a smidge under 10,000 being sold in June, but the ‘Vette is a halo car and has always sold in smaller numbers. With a possible starting price of under $60,000, a touch more than the current base price of $55,900, the new price shouldn’t take much convincing for existing Corvette fans. For the extra cash outlay there’s also more zest for your money with an optional ZR1 performance package that will do 0-60mph in under three seconds. A 6.2-liter/376cu. V8 with 490hp(365 kW) should also be the base offering.

Other changes in the C8 will be the addition of two trunks. Apparently large enough to throw in an ‘airline-spec carry-on bag and a laptop computer case’ in the front and a few sets of golf clubs in the back. Engineering wise, the engine can go from eight to four cylinders for fuel saving and be in the ballpark of 30mpg on the freeway. A custom-designed fast-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, will also be installed along with versions being in right-hand-drive for international markets. The last point being a major move, as it’s clearly to take on the European markets just as nicely as the Mustang GT has done over the past few years.

As for high-performance versions or electrics, they should be on their way, but no exact specifications as yet.

If you check out the promo video below, you’ll see that a mid-engined Corvette is not a new idea. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the big daddy originator of the Corvette always had the idea of a mid engined version, but it never got past the concept stage. It’s only now that the idea has come to fruition. The C8 will be larger than its predecessor and also be the first Corvette since the C1 to only offer an automatic transmission when released.

2020 Corvette C8 Promo Video

Which brings us to the question of who will be the direct competitors for the new mid-engined Corvette C8? Aiming at a younger buyer market and now with more high end performance vehicles in its sights, the C8 will likely go up against the likes of the Audi R8, Jaguar F-Type R, Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche 911 Carrera S for starters. The base model C8 will have the largest size engine as a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 with 490HP. The Audi R8 has 562HP and the Jag. 550HP, but their base models cost $171,150 and $102,825, compared to the C8 at $60,000. A significant price saving.

The C8 should will be able to accelerate the fastest compared to the Audi at 3.4 seconds and the Jag. at 3.9 seconds. The C8 will also have options like the Z51 Performance Package, which should up the anti for cranking out the most performance for your money. Higher end C8 models could also be eyeing up suspects like the Ferrari F8 Tributo or McLaren 720S.

This is clearly a very bold move by Chevrolet. It’s still a Corvette, looks like a Corvette, but now with more European sensibilities. It’s still all American sports car at heart, especially with old school pushrods and a V8 to provide the power. An eye on the past, while pushing the platform forward for the next decade.

The post 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Mid Engine Reveal appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The rumour mill has been going into overdrive lately over the future of the Chevrolet Camaro. Firstly, the sixth generation Camaro may not get a replacement at the end of its 2023 life cycle. Then there may be a seventh gen. Camaro in 2025 and lastly, the next version of Camaro may just be a EV only model. Now, the track-focused Z/28 according to some sources, will not see the light of day.

Some reports said that initial work had been started on the sixth-gen. Camaro Z/28 along with the possibility of its own V8 engine the LT3, but work was stopped abruptly from the higher-ups in the company. The reasons? Freeing up cash for long-term progression, future high-tech. programs and electric vehicles. This means the ZL1 1LE stays at the top of the Camaro lineup.

On the surface, crazy decision-making to pull a model that has so much heritage and back history. The problem is these Halo vehicles take up a lot of development time and investment. Which brings it to the age-old battle of the accountancy department battling with the design department thing. But the big takeaway here is the bit about heavy investment into future electric vehicles and their included tech.

EV’s for both daily drivers and performance vehicles are front of mind for all carmakers. Nailing down EV powertrains, electric optimized transmissions, autonomous technology, retooling and new EV platforms builds are all taking investment and focus away from other areas, not just the Camaro and the Z/28. If this means a full or partial Camaro EV will come out in the future is a possibility, but there’s no official word as yet.

Me thinks a fully Electric Camaro is the way forward. The Chevy ECopo concept drag racer gives some indication of what a fully electric Camaro could be like. Based on the 2019 COPO Camaro, the electric motor pumps out the equivalent of 700HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. The development also points to possible Electric crate motors. Essentially, bolt one onto any General Motors transmission and away you go.

All we can say at this point is keep checking back here for regular updates. E-ponies may just be around the corner…..

The post The Next Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Cancelled appeared first on Muscle Car.

In the 1960’s, Ford basically ruled racetracks across the world. But in the streets of muscle car wars, Ford was still playing catch-up even with the Mustang. It wasn’t until Ford’s 1968 428 Cobra Jet, that gave Ford muscle cars were given serious street cred.
If you’re considering a muscle car, or simply want to learn more about these majestic vehicles keep reading. We got you covered with all the information you’d ever want to know about the top Ford muscle cars that defined a generation.

1. One of The Best Ford Muscle Cars: 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E
This is one of the most overlooked performance cars from 1968. The 1968 Cougar GT-E, is one of the rarest cars and is incredibly valuable today, and we can see why.
If the Road Runner was at the top of bare-bones performance, then the Cougar GT-E would represent the other side of the muscle car spectrum with a price that reflects that. You do not want to overlook this powerhouse of a car.
A GT-E package would cost the buyer $1,311 alone, which is almost half of the price of an entire 383-powered Road Runner, when this car debuted in 1967.
When the Cougar debuted in 1967, Motor Trend named it Car of the Year. Which came as a shock, as many would assume that title would go to the more gussied up Mustang. These two cars do have the same engine.

2. 1968 Ford Fairlane Torino GT
It’s no shock that the late 1960’s inspired a rise of budget muscle cars that spread like wildfire. After the Road Runner’s success, every other muscle car manufacturer raced to get their cars on the streets ASAP.
Ford did not want to miss out and redesigned the Fairline Torino in 1968 with a Mustang like fastback that streamlined this car for NASCAR’s speedways. This car’s new shape came in a variety of engine, 289, 302, and also 390.
So Ford built 600 of these hardtops with a 428 Cobra Jet and C6 automatics. 193 of these cars come with a 3.91 rear axle ratio. The car itself doesn’t come with much decoration, simply a badge on its front fender.

3. 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
The turning point for the Ford Mercury Cougar happened in 1969 with the Mercury Cougar Eliminator. This car isn’t totally Mustang’s cousin, as it comes from Ford’s slightly more upscale division that came into its own this year. This car not only has a convertible, but also an Eliminator option giving this Cougar some fangs.
This car is longer, wider, and heavier than the 1968 version. The 1969 car has the same 111-inch wheelbase wit three more inches than the Mustang, which gives the Cougar more legroom.
This vehicle’s body has a different style than the Ford pony, with a sharp crease on the flanks from the nose to each side, This design ends just at the edge of the rear wheel arches, which is not that much different of a design from how the Buick Skylark stood out from the Chevy Chevelle.
Similar to the Mustang, the Mercury Cougar had a redesign in 1969, gaining 3.5 inches in length, and 3 inches of width. The Cougar Eliminator has a stripe down its flanks, sporting the word Eliminator with a sizeable rear wing like Mustangs and a hood scoop

4. 1969 Ford Talladega
This car is on its own mission. Ford was watching the taillights of faster cars like Mopar and GM muscle rivals in the 1960s and early 1970s. This car was named after NASCAR’s newest superspeedway, Talladega.
The 1969 Ford Talladega was Ford’s answer to Dodge’s Charger 500, so Ford built the street version of this car so it could qualify for racing. This car is similar to the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler.
For this car to be eligible to race, NASCAR only required Ford to build 500 units. Instead, Ford built 736 all with a C6 automatic, 428 CJ and a column shifter. To make the Talladega, Ford had to extend the Torino’s front ends by 15.5 inches, also adding a 30-degree slant and a grille that’s flush-mounted.
Ford then modified the rear bumper with a V-shape and mounted it, altering the rocker panels so the car would have an aerodynamic benefit. This design also staggered the rear shocks.
The design has a few emblems of T above the fake gas cap in the center of the tail and door handles. This vehicle comes in three colors, but all have black hoods.

5. 1970 Ford Torino Cobra
The Torino was the follow-up to Ford’s speedway superstars. While the 1968 and 1969 fastback Torino might not have done well on the racetrack, at a Ford dealership, this redesigned car jumped 52 percent in sales. Motor Trend even named this series the “Car of the Year.”
This new model was a little fragmented with a bolder look complete with a dozen various trim levels, many that were considered to be new. However, these resign really grabbed the attention of automotive media, making this car appeal to America’s high-performance set.
The Ford Torino Cobra also has strong mechanical DNA, making it the choice of several 429 big-blocks with Wide Oval tires, four manual gates, Competition Suspension, and a massive air scoop with 429CJ Ram Air.
This car also has a blacked out hood and grille, making this car the very height of in this factory-fast time period. This car also comes in a range of comfort options, giving the driver a level of personalization with this car.
The 1970 Torino is still a fastback, it just has the style and attitude to take on Road Runners and Chevy Chevelles. The Torino Cobra comes with three brand new 429 cubic-inch engines.

6. 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT
Falcons were barely new in Australia in 1975. Since 1960 Ford offered a series of Falcons, with the twin being the Falcon four-door sedans that were sold in America.
Since 1962, there were a few Austrailain market changes in design that were made in 1964. Ford of Australia started building its own signature auto-bodies under the Falcon name.
It was the 1965 Falcon XP that was a make it or break it car for Ford. This car ended paying off when it was put head to head with its nemesis on the Australian market, The Holden.
You might recognize the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT as the car Mad Max drove, and you’d be right. But that’s not why this legendary Australian car is on our list. It’s because of this third-generation Falcon is legendary in performance for many reasons.
Not only does this car look awesome, but it’s also a cross between the 1970 Torino Cobra and the 1973 Mustang Fastback. This car isn’t much different than it’s a generation before, but it does have a new front end and a twin-scoop hood like a Mustang.
This car was made for gearheads, as it has a standard 351 Cleveland with 300 hp and a 380-pound torque. This is because of the lack of emission standards that were around when this car was made. These standards have since killed most performance cars in the United States.
The 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT is four-speed, with a nine-inch rear end that is fitted with tall gears.

7. Shelby Mustangs
The Shelby Mustang is a variant of the Ford Mustang that has higher performance value. This car was built by Shelby American from the years 1965 to 1968. Form 1969 to 1970, this car was then built by Ford.
After the 2005 introduction of the fifth generation Ford Mustang, the Shelby was revived as a newer high-performance model, only this time it was built and designed by Ford.
The famous 1965 Mustang Shelby GT 350, is a serious performance machine. Some buyers felt this car was too serious, so the next year the car replaced features like the fiberglass hood, adjustable Koni shocks, side-exit exhaust, and Detroit Locker rear diff were either removed, replaced, or just made optional.
There was even a Paxton supercharger option in the 1966 design. The GT 350s were ideal for the track. Later the GT 500s were ideal for drag racing, as they were fitted with a 428 big-block.
1967 and 1968 Shelbys were able to go on low 14 second runs of quarter miles. There was also an even faster KR model made as well.

8. 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
The 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lighting, looks a lot different than these other muscle cars mentioned, but don’t let its appearance fool you. This car can be drag raced at 13.62 seconds at 101.16 mph, making this the faster ride of these muscle cars, which is impressive for a 4670-pound two-wheel pick-up truck.
This car is the second generation of the SVT Lightning. You’ll see under its hood that there are hot rod steep sides. There’s also a supercharged 5.4-liter single overhead v-8 cam with a boost of eight pounds and 360 hp factory rating with 440 lb-ft torque.
These trucks use a four-speed automatic transmission, a column shifter, and 18 inches, 295mm wide tires. This truck costs about $30,000, from 1999 to 2004 more than 28,000 of these trucks were made.

Get Your Muscle Car Today
Now that you know the top eight Ford muscle cars, isn’t it time you got in on the action? Find the muscle car that is right for you and your driving needs. For more information about cars, be sure to check out our website.

The post Top 8 Ford Muscle Cars That You Should Know About appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The latest shock news indicates that the current Chevrolet Camaro development has been suspended and the nameplate will most likely discontinue after 2023.

According to a post over at Muscle Cars & Trucks multiple sources within GM say there are multiple factors that have contributed to the decision. Most obviously current trends moving away from car sales and high performance vehicles. The big question now is will this be a hiatus or a shelving of the nameplate for the foreseeable future?

In many ways, this isn’t a new situation. The model was discontinued after the 2002 model year, returning in 2010 with much applause and being one of the bestselling muscle cars up to 2014. The Mustang and Challenger hit back in 2015, taking away sales from the Camaro, which have not bested the levels they once had up to 2014.

Why the decision?
The big picture view says current trends are moving towards electric vehicles and SUV’s. Other carmakers seem to be making plans for cutting back their car lineup, which means dropping the Camaro in this vein should be no surprise. The Cadillac ATS and CTS which share the same platform as the current sixth-generation Camaro have been discontinued, with no plans for the Camaro to transition to the updated A2XX platform.

Sales of the sixth gen. Camaro haven’t hit the rates of the fifth Gen. version. There was a 25% drop in sales for 2018 which were compounded by factors such as the reception of the 2019 Camaro design refresh wasn’t exactly positive. The option of a V8 hybrid also didn’t go down very well.
The focus on electric vehicles for GM has pulled noteworthy characters away from the Camaro design team and a future policy for zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion is at odds with the ethos of what the Camaro has stood for since day one.
Already popping up online is the thought that the next mid-engined C8 Corvette maybe too expensive for some and could drive sales towards the Camaro. Maybe pushing GM to invest back into the Camaro. This could be wishful thinking as car development is usually years into the future, but least at the moment there’s no official announcements.

The irony here is that the sixth gen. Camaro may have some deficits in styling and pricing, but it’s still one of the best handling sports cars. The 1LE package comes with every model and the ZL1 1LE has even given the C7 Corvette a run for its money. Maybe, the upcoming mid-engined C8 will create a bigger separation between the models, but this could also be a little too late.

Just like Ford seem to be throwing everything away in their car lineup apart from the Mustang, you may think GM would have the same thoughts about the Camaro. But the Corvette is looking like it will be their Halo model moving forward, but into the more exclusive supercar territory.

On a positive note, we still have until 2023 to enjoy the current Camaro and with a nameplate that has existed since 1966, with only a brief layoff from 2002-2010, it would seem very strange to not have a Camaro from now on, even if it was some sort of electric or hybrid version. Is something better than nothing?
For instance, what’s Bumblebee from the Transformers movie going to be from now on? A Chevy Bolt?? The Decepticons are just a bunch electric SUV’s? Sad times……..

The post Chevrolet Camaro Discontinued After 2023, WTF?!? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

In many ways, it’s surprising that a feature film hasn’t been made about John DeLorean up to now. To the wider populous, DeLorean is most famous for making the DeLorean time travelling car in the movie ‘Back to the Future’ and his headlines as an Icarus style rise to car fame and fall. For others, DeLorean was one of the key components of the classic muscle car era. Good guy, bad guy, pioneer, nonconformist, jetsetting car company head to tarnished businessman charged with cocaine trafficking. DeLorean’s life sparks interest even if you’re not a car fan.

Now, after years of failed attempts, a movie by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce about DeLorean has emerged with Alec Baldwin playing DeLorean. The film mixes storytelling with vintage clips from key moments from the extraordinary life of the man.
Firstly, there are caveats to such a screening. You can only cram so much life story into 1hr 49mins., while still covering high drama levels to both entertain both car and non-car fans.

Overview of the man
DeLorean is important to remember for a number of reasons. His autobiography documents most of his standout moments, but in a nutshell after graduating from the Chrysler Institute he joined the Chrysler engineering team, then moved to the Packard Motor Company in 1953. In 1956 he moved to GM working most notably on the Pontiac GTO as the first muscle car for launch in 1964.
Then onto heading up GM and Chevrolet, DeLorean celebrated more of the high life than the usual stoic face of car execs. of the time. Always battling the status quo on both the engineering and management fronts, he went on to form the DeLorean Motor Company and the iconic DMC DeLorean. A meteoric constant rise on the surface, but by 1999 DeLorean had declared himself bankrupt, mostly down to the lack of success of the DeLorean Motor Company. A cocaine sting in 1982 from which he was found not guilty didn’t help matters, but by then his reputation had taken an irreversible hit. Pioneering vehicles, rockstar lifestyle and ultimate fall from grace, what’s not to like.

Whats its all about?
Coming from the muscle car perspective, I would have been almost happy with a straightforward documentary as the video at the foot of the page. A little background of the man’s personal life, but the main focus being on the influence DeLorean had on each car company and the groundbreaking vehicles. The problem with that approach is that it really limits the audience to the petrol heads out there.
So, a more general approach is needed. A bit TV drama mixed with just enough factual information to get the point across to appeal to the wider masses. Probably why vintage clips had been included in the movie. Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce are class A documentarians, so a completely dramatized version of DeLorean’s life was unlikely, but on the same note Alec Baldwin is hardly going to recite the full story in a linear fashion as a voice-over. So has the fine line between pure documentary and a dramatized Hollywood movie been met?

Movie Trailer

(note the cool eyebrows….)

On the drama side of things, the anticipation is ramped up with most of the film focusing on his arrest and trial. But the original footage of DeLorean’s arrest brings home the painful reality of how the mighty had fallen. Other cast members like Jason Sudeikis, Lee Pace, Judy Greer and Morena Baccarin prop up the story, but you cannot help but want for either a full documentary or full stage play at points.

You do get some background to the man. His influence on the Pontiac GTO, classic era muscle cars in general, the youngest division head at GM, showboating and shenanigans, a man who wanted it all and more. Glamour and pathos make you want to love and hate the character in equal measures at times, especially from the perspective of people who worked with the man at the time. The ill fated DeLorean car company helped Catholics and Protestants work together in Northern Ireland and interspersed interviews show how decisions to protect the workers came at a cost to the company. Good guy, bad guy. Like us all, a bit of both.

For those unfamiliar with John DeLorean’s story the film is definitely worth a watch, even if it’s just to get an overview of the man and his wild ride. Clearly I have a biased opinion as a muscle car fan as any morsels of information that adds to the story are worth a watch. As a pure muscle car fan aware of the man, you will always be left wanting for more information. It’s the nature of the beast with these type of films. For the non-car fan, the movie is an entertaining overview of the DeLorean story which hopefully will lead to further reading and hopefully some appreciation of those early vehicles and how they pioneered what came next.

It can be easy to criticize the balance of a movie like this one. Is it a drama, is it a documentary? Pleasing all men all of the time is always going to be hard work, so at least give this film a watch. You won’t be disappointed.

The DeLorean Story Documentary

Worthwhile links
IMDB page on the film.
Currently on limited release in theaters.

The post Framing John DeLorean Movie Review: The Highs And Lows Of Muscle Cars appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

It’s common for car manufacturers to produce concept cars or prototypes before deciding on a final model. But it’s not so common for a concept car to be around for decades which influenced the rest, but never saw the light of day. That title can definitely go to the Pontiac Banshee.

From 1964 to 1988 there were four versions of the Banshee. All very futuristic looking, but they never got full priority to hit production. A bit sad for a model that had all the potential, but never quite made it for a number of reasons.

Banshee I
The first Pontiac Banshee, the XP-833 was to take on the Ford Mustang, well before the release of the Camaro. John DeLorean, Pontiac Motor Division head approved funding for the design in 1963, initially being influenced by the Corvair Monza GT show car and it’s rear-mounted transaxle. For an extensive mechanical rundown of the XP-833 check out this article over at Motor Trend.

What it did have was a 1966 released 230ci. overhead-cam six, but with a tame one-barrel carb. As the concept was meant to be an affordable, two seater sports car, there was going to be an extensive option list, which even resulted in a second XP-833 being built with a 326 V8. If the designers got their way, they would have dropped in Pontiac’s top 421ci. V8. However, when the XP-833 was shown to top GM executives, the whole project was stopped. Some say it is because the XP-833 could have trodden on the toes of the Corvette, while others say is because the sports car market of the early 60’s was nowhere near as mature as it should have been. Luckily, both vehicles were tucked away and saved from the crusher and remain now as ultra collectors items.

Banshee II
When you have a good idea about something, it’s hard to let it lie. This was the case with the 1968 Pontiac Banshee II. A fibreglass outer skin sat over Firebird innards, cut down glass, low ground clearance and housed a 400ci. V8 engine. In 1969 it was given a lick of white paint and graphics and the name Firebird Fiero, which was borrowed later on for its own model.
You don’t like this one GM execs.? Okay, back to the drawing board….

Banshee III
In 1974 the third incarnation of the Banshee was put together. It looks like a sort of squished Trans-Ams from the front because it was based on the Pontiac Firebird platform. A very sloping front end and almost ‘Vette like rear, the design was to improve aerodynamics, with a soft face bumper system, quartz halogen headlamps, electric toll window and red leather upholstery. Under the hood was a Pontiac 455ci. Super Duty V8 all finished off in metallic maroon. The car had additional updates in 1976 and 1978.

Looks-wise the Banshee III is like a mash up between a Corvette and a Trans Am.

Banshee IV
The last version of the Banshee came out in 1988. By now the Pontiac designers had probably resigned themselves to the Banshee only being a concept car, so why not build the ultimate one? The Banshee IV looks like a spaceship even in 2019 with a fibreglass body, tubular steel frame, triangular hood, flush mounted glass and doors, no door handles and a futuristic interior. The doors even opened via an infrared wristwatch sized device.

A 4.0L, dual overhead cam V8 with 230HP ran through a five-speed manual transmission. Inside was a head-up display, under which was a virtual image of the analog cluster, steering wheel controls, television monitors for rear view traffic, headrest mounted radio speakers. Other tech. like memory switches, electrically tilting steering column and memory adjustable front seats all added to the futuristic concept.

Ultimately, the Banshee IV influenced much of the fourth generation Firebird and fourth generation Camaro. But the concept car also influence the mainstream. A Banshee IV model was produced by Revell and Hot Wheels, it was in the 1993 movie Demolition Man and also appeared in the 1989 movie Back to the Future II.

So, the Pontiac Banshee was ultimately one of those vehicles which the powers that be didn’t want to go into production, but were quite happy to borrow all the ideas from.
Me hopes a Banshee V will one day come out, with ridiculously futuristic tech., something like Tony Stark would create to go with his Iron Man suit made out of nano tech., but with Pontiac now a name in a draw somewhere, we can only look back at these wonderful creations and what they influenced.

The post Pontiac Banshee: The Muscle Car That Almost Was appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Its a weird time for the makers of modern muscle cars, as the big three makers of Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford could have their parent companies merged together if the rumors are correct. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles who own Dodge, could merge with Renault to create the third-largest carmaker, while the rumors continue with a possible merger between Ford and GM.

Most of the current information about the possible mergers are coming from stock market news, where big mergers decide if stock investors should offload or buy into the new homogenized stocks. On the muscle car fan side of things it’s more emotional, it’s a bit like hearing rumors that your favorite football team is joining forces with the one you hated the most for years. (friendly rivalry, but it still stings…)

Very strange times, but the inter car rivalry is the bottom of the list when big mergers are involved. Firstly, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merging with Groupe Renault would bring together all Renaults vehicles which include stakes in Nissan, Daimler AG, the truck end of things and even rallying, Formula 1 and Formula E. The FCA hold Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, and Ram Trucks. This merger on the surface, doesn’t seem too bad as the European influence on the FCA has been there for years and has had a big influence on the current success of the Dodge Charger and Challenger variations.

Ford and GM as one big company seems a lot more weird. Ford hold the luxury brand Lincoln and bits of Aston Martin, while it seems they are phasing out their North American automobile models and just leaving the Mustang while concentrating on trucks and SUVs. GM on the other hand hold Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Holden as muscle related brands. Since day 1, Ford and GM muscle/pony cars, mostly the Camaro and the Mustang, have had let’s say friendly rivalry.

If you want to read more about the intricacies of these possible mergers from a shares and companies perspective, then financial articles such as this one is the way to go. However, the ins and outs of market share and so on isn’t the focus here, but what it could possibly mean for future muscle cars.

As shown by Ford, limiting its vehicle inventory to only the Mustang shows that pony and muscle cars are ‘halo’ vehicles which drive sales to the rest of the line. It’s unlikely these are going to go away and it’s entirely possible some old names will come back, just like Buick possibly bringing out new models which they could round up with old school muscle car names of the past…well, at least hoping….

Dodge have been part of GM since 1928, so it feels that association has been there forever, along with not so obvious connections like with Mitsubishi since the 1970s. So, seemingly unrelated car companies have always had a hand together. What’s most important is that the latest range of muscle cars and hopefully future versions keep on coming, without the usual boardroom cutting of vehicle lines.

Modern muscle cars are always going to be a small slice of the whole Corporation pie. They have too much embedded and loved history to mess with the formula and it’s proven by the Mustang outselling many other performance vehicles in Europe as they are available in native hand drive, meaning the sector has very positive interest moving forward.

It’s still going to be one weird state of affairs if Ford and GM do merge and it’s highly unlikely on opening the hood on a future Camaro there will be a Ford powerplant. So, muscle and pony cars of today will most likely stay and we can just watch as the rest of the story plays out….

The post Muscle Car Merger Rumors For The Big Three appeared first on Muscle Car.

Buick are currently going through some changes with GM introducing new models to consolidate the brand. Just like other manufacturers who have revived muscle car classics, Buick could dig into their past and revive some classic names, even if they don’t end up being direct descendants of the former.

Could Buick follow the same route as Dodge and revive classics such as the Charger and the Challenger with tons of power and performance? It’s not out of the question as Buick had some mighty beasts back in the day such as the GSX, but it’s more than likely classic names would be fixed to more general use vehicles, but you never know…..

Here are some of the classic Buick muscle cars which could be revived for the modern day. Let’s just wish Buick go out on a limb and produce a modern interpretation of some of their high performance classics.

Buick Riviera
The Riviera has been a long-standing name for Buick, but it’s not seen the light of day since the 1999 version. the second-generation versions from 1966-1970 had some beefy engines with 425ci.(7.0 L) and loads of torque.

Buick Skylark GS
Quite a cute name, but the second generation from 1968 to 1972 had plenty of muscle car DNA. A 455ci. (7.46 L) V8 provided plenty of grunt, with even a four-door station wagon version available.

Buick Gran Sport
If you think about classic muscle cars produced by Buick it’s usually variations of the Gran Sport that come to mind. Buick produced luxury and performance, but they also had the classic looks of the era. The 1970 GS 455 had a Buick 455ci. (7.5 L) V8 with around 360BHP. As the ‘GS’ was in quite a few variations such as the stage I and stage II and a GSX Performance and Handling package, there should be lots of scope for offering performance packages today.

Buick Grand National and GNX
The 1980’s won’t exactly go down in history as producing classic muscle cars, but the Grand National and GNX were definite standouts. The Grand National had that 80s boxy appearance, but it also had plenty of performance. The 1987 GNX ‘Grand National Experimental’ was produced with help from McLaren and housed a turbocharged powerplant producing around 300 bhp. The GNX battered other performance vehicles of its time and nicknamed the ‘Darth Vader’s Car’, this limited edition model would be a great contender to bring back to life.

The post Could Buick Use Muscle Car Names For New Vehicles? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The upcoming Corvette C8 has definitely raised eyebrows, not just for ‘Vette fans, but also for American sports cars, super cars and even muscle car fans. Why….it’s going to mid-engined to join the supercar club, a new platorm for ‘Vette fans and it’s going to bring more of the spotlight to American vehicles, which hopefully should trickle down to muscle cars and the like.

The release of the new ‘Vette is likely to be July 18 2019 at a special event in California, according to recent reports. GM have increase their workforce with 400 jobs at their Bowling Green Assembly Plant, Kentucky to hit the release date. Plus, orders are already being taken, already pulling interest away from the current and most amazing ‘Vette yet, the C7.(more on that later….)

I spy..
So, with more predictions online about the upcoming C8 than a Medieval soothsayer’s diaries, we have the following certain maybes.
The base powertrain could be a version of the Corvette’s 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine with 500HP. Other powertrain variants may follow like a 1,000HP hybrid. Designwise, everything has been shaken up to be very supercar-like with reports saying the exterior looks very Ferrari-like.

All sightings have been up to now of camo. versions, but at least it gives a small indication the final design which looks to also have heaps of C7 influence. Just check out the video clip below.

Power levels
A predicted thousand horsepower hybrid, 8 speed dual clutch transmission and a base model with 500 horses, with a possible middle version producing 800HP. Autoweek have put together some great info-graphics of predicted power to weight for a range of supercars and possibly where the C8 will fit in. The same goes for their other graphic below which shows the dollars per HP value.

The 1,000Hp hybrid C8 beats out the Ferrari 488 Pista and McLaren 720S. While the base version C8 stacks up against the Aston Martin DB11 and Acura NSX. If pricing is correctly predicted, then the new C8 sits on top for value dollars per HP, just like a the rest of the muscle car pack.

Images by Autoweek

Sales
We all want the latest, most shiny things and this has proven to be the same with the C8. The general consensus is that C7 sales have slowed as many people are waiting to buy the C8, rather than the current C7. Even though the C7 ‘Vette is said to not just be the best version ever, it’s also an amazing car in its own right. Even so, having a ‘supercar’ badge rather than top end sports car, will always be the preference. Superman just wouldn’t be the same if he was just called ‘Man.’ ‘Super’ just has a special significance for us all.

‘Vette sales fell around 12 percent in the first quarter of 2019 from 4,457 units than the previous year to 3,943 units this year.
Chevy are even offering $3,000 off any 2019 Corvette model in May 2019 to current Corvette owners or 0% APR on certain models. This is a rare offering by the company, but a definite indication that the C7 is still the center of attention.

According to a Bloomberg article, one Corvette dealer says they have been taking deposits for the C8 Corvette since 2014. ‘People are canceling their orders (on 2019s) and starting to hold back, because they want to wait and see what’s going to come out, ‘ said Sean McCann, floor manager at Stingray Chevrolet near Tampa, Fla.

Win one…
If you want to try and win a 2020 mid engine Corvette C8, then the National Corvette Museum have secured themselves a build slot for one of the C8 cars. The raffle will take place in August with tickets costing $250 each, but there are only 1,500 tickets available.

Trickle-down effect
The C8 Corvette is a Halo car, meaning that its light will shine over the rest of the range. The hope is to attract younger buyers, but also a ligit supercar fom Chevy means focus may also turn to other American vehicles and even the muscle car clan. Basically, those who look at the C8 may also take a passing interest in other American vehicles. ‘Hmmm, whats that Hellcat thing or that GT500…?’ Even if it’s just a passing glance, it’s at least raising awareness that these vehicles exist and provide not just a thrilling ride, but also some of the best HP per dollar value.

So the C8 maybe going up in status, but hopefully it will bring the rest of the league with it. At the least from an awareness point of view, even if it is to just find out about long-standing, carmaker rivalry.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post What the Corvette C8 Means for American vehicles appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

On the surface it seems like the one pony car that hasn’t had as much lime light as the rest in recent months is the Chevrolet Camaro. Hogging the attention has gone to its stable mate the new mid. engined C8 Corvette. On the other side of the fence, all of the Dodge war machines like the Redeye and Ford’s offerings like the Bullitt edition and the upcoming GT500. Both Dodge and Ford have been hammering away in the press and on social media about all their models and just help the individual brands, but also added more spotlight to modern pony and muscle cars in general.

Raving about present and future models is always a good way to whip up interest. Personally, I think the Camaro needs another Transformers movie to give it a boost of promotion, but that doesn’t mean Chevy have been resting on their laurels. The 2020 Camaro has been announced with a host of updates. The 2020 model has had a mild face lift influenced by the Camaro Shock concept with a color bar between the upper and lower grilles and re positioned bowtie logo.

LT1
A more affordable Camaro LT1 is out, sitting between the 1LT and SS for trim levels, with a 6.2L V8 and 455HP. THe LT1 also gets SS hood vents and wheels with all season tires. Green is now the new…err, green, but its now available for 2020, with other options available like a rear spoiler, Recaro performance seats, red seat belts, aluminium pedal caps, dark-tinted tail lamps and colored calipers.

There’s also the option of a 10 speed automatic transmission in the 3.6-liter V6.

HSV Camaro ZL1
Australia have always been lovers of muscle cars, so it’s no surprise Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) are now selling Camaro ZL1’s with the steering wheel on the other side. Most of the news at the moment about the Aussy ZL1 is that it has 10 less horses at 640HP than the US equivalent at 650HP, but torque levels remain the same at 650lb. ft.

Being under the GM monarchy will help with scaling production, but these are also converted vehicles from their native hand drive. But this could also be seen as testing the waters for offering the Camaro in native hand drive in Australian and European territories just like the Mustang. The Mustang has been selling heaps over in Europe, so why shouldn’t the Camaro have a slice of cake.

Electric Formula Drift Camaro
The two words added together which usually brings up a little sick into one’s mouth – electric and pony/muscle car, as talked about in the past, electric is coming in full bore, so the muscle car makers might as well be ahead of the game. An entry into the formula drift by long-standing Chevrolet racers Napoleon Motorsports is showing the power of the pony in electric form.

Power levels for for the car come out at 515hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. With the instant torque power of electric, the car should definitely be a contender this season.

There’s been plenty of talk of the Dodge Challenger outselling the Camaro, with Mustangs selling the most at number one spot, but will this change over the coming year? Hard to say with the current updates, but the Camaro has enough history under its belt to know what it’s doing in the long term. Maybe once the hullabaloo over the C8 Corvette has died down, the Camaro will take centre stage again.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post The Chevrolet Camaro Come Back Swinging for 2019 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Muscle Cars At The Strip, Las Vegas took place this year on April 26-28 and previously a Mopar only event, it now incorporates GM and Ford Enthusiasts. The event is a bit of everything for the muscle car fan, including car shows, drag races, pony car wars, open autocross, swap meets and even concerts to round off the entertainment.

Now in its 17th year, the three-day event is one of the biggest gatherings of all things muscle car and attracts enthusiasts from all around the world. To get an idea of the full proceedings, check out some of the videos below kindly compiled by vegaslugnut.

Muscle Cars at the Strip Part I

Muscle Cars at the Strip Part II

Muscle Cars at the Strip Part III

Muscle Cars at the Strip Part IV

Find out more here or their Facebook page.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Muscle Cars At The Strip, Las Vegas appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

It seems that the wait is finally over. July 18 will be the date to see exactly how the 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette will turn out announced this on Instagram week. Also, GM chairperson and CEO Mary Barra along with Tadge Juechter took a prototype to a charity event in New York after the announcement with the car heavily camouflaged, but giving a glimpse into what’s in store.

 

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Here’s the 411. See our story to find out more. #Corvette #Vette

A post shared by Corvette (@corvette) on Apr 11, 2019 at 3:06pm PDT

There’s been plenty of speculation as to what this mid-engined C8 version will offer. A supercar positioned mid-engine V8, a naturally aspirated version on the entry-level model and a twin turbocharged version on what is currently being called the C8 Z06. Power levels have yet to be announced, but talk has been around 800HP, with a possible hybrid version developing 1,000HP to all four wheels. Engine wise there could be a base level 6.2-liter V8, with the hybrid version possibly aiming at supercar territory power.

There’s also a possibility of a dual clutch automatic transmission, with a possible manual version in the works.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post 2020 C8 Chevrolet Corvette coming July 18 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

On one level, it’s quite amazing that the Chevrolet Camaro has been in production since 1966, with only a brief layoff from 2002-2010. The muscle car(how dare you)/pony car now comes with a 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters developed in association with someone called Ford as a $1,595 option on the SS model above the standard six speed manual.

It’s not just a new fancy transmission that has been included on the latest Camaro. Internally, there is a new infotainment system with 8.0-inch touchscreen, forward collision warning, a new front end, a new hood, redesigned headlights, LED accents and classic quad taillights. The front end has caused some controversy, having gone a bit Darth Vader, but the inclusion of the 10-speed automatic now translates into a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds and a 12.2 second quarter-mile at 118mph, besting the six-speed manual version.

Power
Power comes from a a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT1 OHV 16-valve V8 producing 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque all perched on GM’s Alpha platform. Fuel economy comes in at 16 mpg for city driving and 27 mpg on the highway(16/24 mpg for the manual version). Shifting through the gears in the automatic is smooth up to a reasonable cruising speed and with a small tap of the throttle, gives the required push forward without skipping a beat, helped a lot by Chevy’s lift-foot gear from the Camaro ZL1. Talking of the ZL1, if you need more power you can upgrade to the ZL1 which will give you a supercharged version V8 with 650HP and 650lb. ft. of torque, but also comes with a federal gas guzzler tax of $1,700.

The track is where the Camaro SS is most at home with the GM Alpha platform feeling rocksolid and everything weighing in at 3,739 lb. Everything is kept planted helped along with the sport suspension and 20 inch wheels and summer tires. This means you going to get an extra stiff ride on regular roads, but it’s a small price to pay for such sportsmanship.

The SS immediately shows that it can launch and take on winding roads with ease. Accurate steering with focused suspension keep everything well planted, with nifty features like lift-foot gear-hold mode for staying in the same gear round twisty roads and launch control and line lock for optimizing your launch times. This is a nimble machine that is happy in the daily commute, but really needs a track to show off its best.

Goodies
The standard seats are okay, but the $1,595 option Recaro performance bucket seats as in the 1LE package would have been better. The 2SS model also has standard driver-assist features not found on the 1SS. These include side blind zone alert with lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-vision camera and rear camera mirror and forward collision alert only on the coupe. The 2SS trim also brings things like heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front seats, a head-up display, a Bose audio system and a a heated steering wheel.

The inside isn’t the largest environment in the world. visibility out the back is only average and although there are rear seats, you’ll have to practice a little yoga before folding yourself up into this area. But this is a sports car first and foremost, so reduced space is just a given.

Price
The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS with a 10 speed auto comes in at $44,590. The manual version starts at $42,995. Some of the tasty extras you may go for include the $1695 adaptive magnetorheological dampers, $895 for the performance exhaust, $495 for the Infotainment 3 with satnav and the $1595 for the Recaro sport seats. There’s also the 1LE Track Performance Package at $7,000.

Auto or manual? The automatic is as fast as the manual version, but which you choose will really depend on your regular driving needs. If you regularly drive long distances, I’d go with the automatic.

Is it any good?
Evaluating the latest Camaro is a bit like reviewing a Star Wars movie when you’ve seen the rest of them. You cannot help but compare the past to the present. The exterior tweaks may have raised some eyebrows, but that’s really subjective as the rest of the car provides fantastic driving fun for the money.

The Camaro is as much pony car as it is sports car these days and provides all the V8 niceties you could expect from a modern pony car with the handling and performance. But this also begs the question of how it lines up against the 2019 Mustang GT. The Mustang GT has a similar price range from $36k-$47K with 460-480HP, a 0-60mph time of 3.8-4.6 seconds and an 18-19 combined mpg. There’s also the Bullitt edition with 480HP to contend with hitting positive reviews across the board. There’s also the choice of one of the variation of the Dodge Challengers, which means the Camaro has a narrow focus but can still take on the rest if you buy into its Camaro-esque qualities.

The post 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS Test Drive appeared first on Muscle Car.

Mecum will be hosting a rather special auction this May in Indianapolis featuring the Juliano collection. The Plymouths in question are custom show cars from the Rapid Transit Caravan which were used as part of the marketing for the Rapid Transit System. The collection also includes 4 original Shelby Cobras, a Cheetah race car, a Plymouth Barracuda and a Dodge Dart Swinger concept car.

Juliano amassed the collection over 30 years, which also includes plenty of automotive art. Although a modified ‘Cuda was eventually out of reach to complete the collection and with Steven Juliano battling pancreatic cancer through the 2000s, the vehicles going to auction are still amazingly creative examples of their time.

The Rapid Transit Caravan was conceived to promote the Rapid Transit System at Plymouth, who hired Harry Bradley(GM and Hot Wheels designer) and Bob Larivee to hook up customizers to make the cars more youth inspired. The Rapid Transit Caravan travelled the US visiting Plymouth dealers and car shows, showing the complete package of the Rapid Transit System from high-performance parts, racing information, the cars and accessories.

Once the promotional tour of the caravan had ended, the vehicles used fell into obscurity, mainly because they were not factory correct. However, Juliano after a meeting with Ed Meyer, started to track down and collect these obscure vehicles and slowly over time started to bring back interest into these custom cars. The car is also rarely been shown in public with two out of the three been shown at Carlisle a few years ago and all three at Muscle Cars and Corvette Nationals last year for the first time in public.

The other vehicles in the auction consist of a 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster CSX2416, a 1967 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra Roadster CSX3042, a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster CSX3173, 1965 Shelby Factory Stage III 289 Cobra Dragonsnake CSX2427, a 1963 Cheetah Race Car No. 4 of 11 built, 1969 Plymouth Barracuda Mod Top 340 CI, 1 of 937 produced and a 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger Concept Car.

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Rapid Transit, LOT R254

Job 169 and Serial No. 100016 pilot plant construction
Engine: 383 CI
Transmission: Automatic
Color: Orange Candy-over-Pearl with White Pearl break-line
Built by Chuck Miller of Styline Custom
Known as the as the ‘Chicken Head’ for the Road Runner side marker lights
Front end molded and extended over six inches
Hand-formed rear roll pan with concealed Red, Green and amber tail lenses
Ram Air induction scoops
Molded aerodynamic rear spoiler
Deck lid recessed over 4 inches
Bucket seats and center console
Custom Black pan wheel covers
OEM Interior
Miles: 1,300

1971 Plymouth Hemi Road Runner Rapid Transit, LOT R255

Engine: 426 CI. /425 HP
Transmission: Torqueflite Automatic
Color: Candy Gold with Pearl White roof
Dana 60 4.10 rear axle
150 MPH speedometer
Road Runner horn button on 3-spoke steering wheel
Enlarged air scoops
Flat Black deck lid and hood
Oversized Road Runner birds painted into the body
Rear wheel wells enlarged and flared out 4 inches
Molded rear spoiler
Bucket seats and center console
9 inch square Cibie headlights and plastic honeycomb grille
One-piece tail lens
Shaved handles
Ansen Sprint wheels
Bodywork by Roman’s Chariot Shop in Cleveland, Ohio
Restored by Ken Heckett in 2000
Miles: 1,700

1970 Plymouth Duster Rapid Transit

Engine: LA-series 340 CI. small block/275 HP, 4-barrel carburetor
Transmission: 4-Speed
Color: Green
Interior: White and Black bucket seat interior
Built by Byron Grenfel twice in 1970 and restyled in 1971
Dual exhaust with custom through-bumper exit
Functional brake air intakes
3.90 rear axle
Power brakes with front discs
Stewart Warner tachometer and auxiliary gauges
Solid State radio
Color-keyed mirrors
Dual fuel fillers
American Racing slotted Dragmaster wheels
Upper front-grille Duster psychedelic lettering
Custom headlamp enclosers
Custom OE-lensed tail lamps
green and yellow custom striping
Signed glovebox by Grenfel and RTS Show Promotions Manager Bob Larivee

Find out more here https://www.mecum.com/auctions/indianapolis-2019/collections/steven-juliano-estate-collection/

The post Rapid Transit Caravan Muscle Car Collection Heads For Auction appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Engine: Whipple Charged LSX 350
Transmission: Automatic
Exterior Color: Yellow
Interior Color: Black
Body Type: Coupe
Price: US $125,000.0

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

Here we have a 2018 Chevrolet COPO Camaro. For those who don’t know, COPO stands for GM’s Central Office Production Order system which back in the day was used to special order performance parts by dealers such as Don Yenko. These were fitted to GM vehicles of the day and although they had some of the best performance around, there were also the most expensive and produced in limited numbers. These COPO vehicles are now some of the most collectable vintage muscle cars around.

Only 69 of these vehicles are built every year to commemorate those built in 1969. This one is #51 of the 69 built, and only one of four in yellow.

Being a special edition optimised for racing, you have full tilt power from a LSX 350 and Whipple Super Charger producing 1,000 – 1,200 horsepower. Although weight reduction has been employed, it’s still a beefy beast weighing in at 3,200 pounds. Everything here is NHRA certified and the car is said to be good for mid 8 seconds at 160 MPH.

The car also comes with, ‘a set of Hoosier racing slicks, Strange axles and brake calipers, Trans brake, Wheelie bars and a parachute.’ this Camaro still retains some of its regular street features such as carpeting, dashboard, power windows and full door panels and a factory original steering wheel. , racing from this comes with wheelie bars, ‘trange adjustable coil over shocks and Strange four-wheel disc brakes with slotted rotors. Wheels are Bogart polished aluminum and are wrapped in Hoosier drag tires. The front runners are 28.0×4.5 and 9.0×30 R15s for the rears. The rears are Hoosier’s lightweight radial series. ‘

This is the chance to own a factory built race car with the COPO history attached. It doesn’t come with a title, so it’s a pure racer, but this Camaro will be a sound investment as it will only go up in value over the years.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

The post 2018 Chevrolet Camaro COPO, 1 of 4 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Chevrolet’s eCOPO Camaro drag racer concept vehicle was first unveiled at the 2018 2018 SEMA show. Now the vehicle has publicly made its first dragstrip pass.

The video footage was released on Monday and shows the eCOPO Camaro silently spinning the wheels up to temperature with a quick burnout, approach the line, then set off silently with a huge wheelie. All the engine noise you hear are from nearby vehicles. The eCOPO Camaro in contrast, is as quiet as a church mouse.

This Short dragstrip run highlights some pertinent points about this new electric muscle car, if we can even call them that yet. The quick launch off the line and instant torque is undeniable. 10.14 seconds @ 130mph seems to be announced at the end of the video, with the car running at 80% power. If this is correct, it’s a great starting point to get into the 9s.

The powertrain in the eCOPO Camaro is the equivalent of 700 hp and 600lb. feet of torque, with the real world power being around 780 hp and 780 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain itself is a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motors, which runs through a regular Camaro 3-speed automatic transmission to a solid rear axle. Power comes from four, 200-volt modules which are distributed throughout the car for better weight distribution, which equates to a 44/56 front to rear ratio.

At first I thought I would hate seeing an electric muscle/pony car zip down the drag strip for obvious reasons. But in reality once you see this electric beast is both a Chevrolet, Camaro and muscle/pony car and faster than a bat out of hell, it’s more appealing than you would think. It’s still a home team player, just in a different guise.

Clearly the next video we want to see is this Camaro up against a Tesla. This is going to be inevitable in time and will be really interesting to see the winner of that race.

The post Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro Hits The Dragstrip With Wheelies appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will not just have manual transmission this year. The latest version will come with a 10 speed automatic transmission and paddle shifting. Chevrolet say that this is a big improvement on the previous six speed manual only and will provide quicker lap times. This was proven when a new ZL1 1LE was half a second faster than the manual version around the GM Milford Proving Grounds measuring 2.9 miles. Around longer tracks the time-saving is predicted to be a few seconds.

The Camaro ZL1 1LE is the top of the range model with a 6.2 liter supercharged LT4 V8 providing 650 hp and 650lbs.ft. of torque. The ZL1 1LE has added aerodynamic features along with being 60lbs. lighter than the ZL1.

Clearly, Chevrolet haven’t just swapped out transmissions to produce a faster vehicle. The whole powertrain has been thoroughly calibrated and tweaked to work seamlessly together, along with the electronic limited-slip differential and traction management system. The Multimatic DSSV dampers have been tuned for quicker shifting, a new transmission oil pan and cooling duct fitted for better temperature management.

Prices will also stay the same in 2019 for the ZL1 1LE at $69,995, $7,500 above the ZL1 and the 10 speed automatic option will cost $1,595 on top.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE Now With 10 Speed Auto and Faster Times appeared first on Muscle Car.

Season three of the Grand Tour kicked off on January 18 on Amazon Prime with some rather tasty muscle cars. They came in the form of a Ford Mustang RTR Spec 3, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and the Hennessey Exorcist Camaro.

Hammond, May and Clarkson take the three muscle cars through a drag race, noise test in an old theatre, then find an abandoned car factory which they turn into their own racetrack. The drag race against the Exorcist and the Demon you can find here which we covered yesterday.

All three vehicles are monsters in their own right. the Mustang RTR was tuned up to 700 HP, the Dodge Challenger Demon 840 hp and the Exorcist Camaro built by Texas tuning outfit Hennessey produces an amazing 1,000 HP, marketed exclusively to take on the Demon. The episode is significant not just because it’s featuring American muscle cars, but also because the show attracts a large European audience, which may not be as familiar with muscle cars as the rest of the world. For any ‘petrol head’ the show at least highlights how muscle cars still have a lot to offer and how power and performance are handled in a very American way.

You’ll have to sign up to Amazon Prime to see the full episode, but what you can expect is the usual multi-locations and a very European centric view of these muscle cars. Hammond has always been a fan of muscle cars both old and new, so no convincing there, but it’s what the other two conclude which will be the most interesting. Clarkson has definitely been a fan of the Ford GT40 in the past, so it’s really down to how Captain Slow – James May reviews these offerings.

All three vehicles are the best of the breed when it comes to muscle cars and arguably give you super car power and performance for a fraction of the cost, amongst many other highlights. Love or hate the show, its definitely worth checking out to see these three vehicles go head-to-head with multiple locations and the finest quality footage.

Episodes of the Grand Tour are also predicted to from now on be more about road trips, rather than celebrity guests and segments in the studio. Good news to those who want to see more car action, than fluff or filler.

The post The Grand Tour Features Mustang RTR, Demon and Exorcist Camaro appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Almost 12 months ago the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was announced by Ford. Now its time for the unveiling which you can watch live by following the link at the foot of the page. The coverage starts at 9 AM Eastern time, 6 AM on the West Coast or 2 PM GMT time.

There’s definitely been plenty of rumors and even spy shots of test vehicles, but nothing concrete about the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 until its official unveiling. Many rumors/reports have said that the muscle car will have 700HP+, ultimately lining it up with the Corvette ZR1 and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

One thing is for certain, it will be the first GT500 to have independent suspension. In that regard the GT500 could be more track focused than ever before, positioning itself competing against high-end performance cars, not just as a pony/musclecar.

Livestream starts at 9 AM EST / 6 AM PST.
Watch the live stream here.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Debut Live appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

There’s a definite shift in the automotive force oh Padawan learners, where we are seeing the slow introduction of electric vehicles and many carmakers starting to cull their least efficient models. The Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 have been shelved, Ford are scrapping the Fiesta and Fusion, while GM will drop the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impala amongst others.

An article over at Bloomberg states how the long-standing muscle car will keep on going into the foreseeable future while others fall by the way side, best said by Tim Kuniskis, previous head of the Dodge brand Fiat Chrysler, stating muscle cars ‘have a really well-defined personality and positioning.’

In today’s market muscle car such as the Challenger has roughly sold the same amount this year as it did in 2015, with around 65,000 units. This is respectable compared to large passenger cars which have dropped 21% in 2018. In comparison Mustang sales only dropped 3.6% in the past month. They also keep their value with the average price for a Dodge Challenger being $36,000.

Muscle cars also have a personality and that is proving effective with the next generation of drivers. The Hellcat, Demon and Redeye from Dodge are popular names with young drivers, seeing loads of burnout videos and images on the likes of Instagram goes a long way promoting the breed, along with the odd cameo in movies such as the Fast and the Furious and Transformers franchise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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????The #Demon puts on the best #smoke #show It’s #MoparOrNoCar ?????? @Chop has several #dodgedemon left. #DM us for details??Owner: @srt_mythology #dodge #burnout #srt #hellcat #scatpack #sideshow

 

A post shared by Towbin Automotive (@towbinauto) on Dec 12, 2018 at 7:42am PST

Muscle cars may in the long term become more electrified or even hybrid versions, morphing into the technologies and legislations of the future, but they have no sign of going away. Steve Beahm, head of Fiat Chrysler’s passenger brands says that the likes of the Challenger aren’t going away as they set the tone for the whole Dodge brand. I’m not going to tell you it’s going to grow,” Beahm said. “But it’s going to dramatically buck the trend in regards to where passenger cars have gone lately and where they’re going to go in the next couple of years.”

Muscle cars in general have some unique properties that no other car brands possesses. They may be seen as retro or holding on to past glories, but where they really are is taking the best of the old and new and packaging them up into vehicles which still appeals to a young and older audience. This method seems to work and outlast the more homogenized, aero tunnel dictated designs which we will soon slowly see dropped. It worked for other car makes like the Fiat 500 and the Mini. Mix the best of the old and new to come up with something everyone can relate to.

Muscle cars are very much like heavy rock music. From the outside, they may just seem like a small section of the whole, something the masses cannot relate to, but for those who get it, are fans for life and support the brands like their favorite football team. The solid elements that will help the modern muscle car were born into the next few decades.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Muscle Cars To Outlive Sedans appeared first on Muscle Car.

Ford’s new $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Facility is up and running and AmericanMuscle’s Justin Dugan received the VIP tour! In this episode of AM’s Mustang News, Justin gets up close and personal with Ford’s robots, interviews some of the head honchos, and learns the difference between virtual and augmented reality.

Watch it here: https://www.americanmuscle.com/hotlap-dec2018.html

The post Ford Prints 3D Parts For Mustang Muscle Car appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Today’s roads are mostly clogged with mid-size SUV’s and compacts. Ev’s (sorry for cussing..) are talked about as the way of things to come, but just like a classic rock band, muscle and pony cars are as popular as ever and show no sign of going away. On paper, they shouldn’t be with huge V8 engines, but the whole point of the breed is that raw power and style never goes out of fashion.

Other vehicles on the road may give more practicality, but when it comes to performance for the money and always putting a smile on your face with the raw, unadulterated power, you can’t beat a good old muscle car. The heavyweight makes and models which are still flying the flag include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger.

If you check out the Top eight sports cars on Usnews.com for 2018 the 2019 Ford Mustang sits at number two, the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro at number three and the 2019 Dodge Challenger at number four. Quite impressive considering the amount of other vehicles in the market.

2018 was a good year for the muscle car with some standout models, letting the rest of the car market konw muscle cars are still here and as strong as ever. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was one of the most hotly anticipated muscle cars of recent years, with an absolutely bonkers 6.2-liter V8 808 hp engine. The model was limited to just 3,300 examples.

Those who missed out can now look forward to the equally impressive 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye with 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque, which takes many of the desirable features of the Demon. The Dodge Hellcat itself has proved to be a winning formula, being arguably the most powerful modern muscle car and even being put into the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with 707 hp.

Not to be outdone, GM have the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro Z06/Camaro ZL1 with 650 hp, Ford with the 2018 Ford Mustang Bullitt, 2018 Shelby Super Snake (800hp), 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, a GT500 coming very soon. Evo.co.uk said about the Supersnake ‘Let’s be clear – 800bhp in a muscle car is an extremely silly idea.’ The reply would be, Yep, that’s the idea…’ Being conservative is not the way of things in the muscle car world.

Independent builders such as EQUUS have the Bass 770, and now the 2018 Throwback based around a Corvette, with a ridiculous 1000hp and 822 lb-torque.

The muscle car market may just be a tiny sliver of the whole automotive world, but it is a unapologetic brash and loud, raw fun breed of vehicle which will always give the most fun and even value for money when it comes down to dollars per horsepower. 2018 saw some standout muscle cars, which prove the fact that when it comes to high performance this breed still stands its ground. What’s not to like.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post The Best Muscle Cars in 2018 appeared first on Muscle Car.

These days, pony cars and muscle cars are kind of lumped in together as terms, mainly because there isn’t the variety of the breed these days as there was back in the day. Nevertheless, the Camaro and the Mustang are still compare to each other like there is nothing else on the market. Fox News https://www.hotcars.com/camaro-vs-mustang-facts-about-the-muscle-car-rivalry/ have put together an article giving you 24 facts about both of these pony cars and how they came into existence.

Here’s a quick rundown –
Camaro

• The 1967 Camaro was developed to compete with the Mustang. The Chevrolet Corvair couldn’t cut it, so the Camaro was developed with some standout engine choices taking a good portion of the Mustang sales.
• When the Chevrolet Camaro was launched, GM use the first mass teleconference system across their dealer network to launch the Camaro.
• Like the Mustang below, the mid-70’s fuel crisis totally rocked the boat of the pony muscle car world. Designs totally changed and so did power ratings. New emission standards and even higher insurance prices put the reins on these ponies for quite a few years.
• 1982 saw the birth of the Camaro IROC-Z, which stood out as an iconic 80’s design.
• The fourth generation Camaro housed Corvette engines. First, using an aluminum LT1 and then the LS1 engine found in the C4 and the C5 Corvettes.
• 2002 saw the end for the Camaro until 2010. The late 90’s was the quietest period for the Camaro, with the fashion going towards trucks and SUVs.
• The 2010 Camaro was first featured in the Transformers movie. Just like the Mustang, designs influenced from the past proved a success and stood out, especially being bright bumblebee yellow.

Mustang

• It was the first pony car.
• The Mustang, sold 22,000 models on its first day. A lightweight design and powerful V8 engine were the main draws.
• The first Mustang was sold by accident, planned to be kept for historical purposes.
• The 1974 Mustang was a sales flop. No surprise here, as muscle and pony cars were hit by the mid 70’s fuel crisis and the impact was the same as Grunge killing hair metal and heavy rock in the early 90s. The Mustang II came from the aftermath, which was like every other mid-70’s pony and muscle car, a limp attempt at former glory in design and power.
• 1979, saw the introduction of the SVO supercharged I-4 Fox body Mustang. Maybe not a heavyweight V8, but the Fox body became a cult classic and is an ideal platform today for modification.
• The Pontiac Firebird was a direct competitor to the Mustang, which carved its own niche in the muscle car world.
• 1994 saw a more modern design for the Mustang. Superseding the Fox body, the new Mustang had a luxurious interior and more performance like exterior and new V8 powerplant.
• In 2005 Ford made the bold step of retro theming the Mustang. The timing was just right as the Mustang took elements from the past incorporated into the V8 designs of the day. This helped reignite some of the muscle car market.
• The Mustang never featured a T-Top like the Camaro or Firebird, but stuck to a traditional convertible top throughout the years.
• The Mustang was kept fresh with constant special editions. The Bullitt, Mach 1, Saleen and Cobra kept the Mustang front of mind throughout its years. The Camaro in comparison relied on the long-standing Z/Z8 or the SS models which may have influenced the stop of production in 2002.
• The Mustang is a popular movie car. Having been around 50 years, it’s expected that the Mustang would have shown its face on the big screen at some time. Gone In Sixty Seconds and the remake being one of the most famous.
• The most expensive Mustang went for $1 million at auction known as The Vicious.

There is alot of history behind both of these fine pony cars and it’s expected that we can see both these models for another 50 years to come.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post 24 Facts About The Camaro + Mustang Muscle Car Rivalry appeared first on Muscle Car.

Al Oppenheiser, the lead engineer on the fifth and sixth generation Camaro is to now head up GM’s new electric vehicle division according to online reports. GM will as of now start to move some of their top guys over to work on zero emission vehicles it was announced recently.

Oppenheiser will oversee a variety of different electric vehicles and this may even include performance cars, which stands to sense with his background with the Camaro. As this is the last variation from this generation of Camaro, it was a perfect time to move and now the reins will be passed to Mark Dickens who is the existing executive director of Performance Variants, Parts, Accessories, and Motorsports Engineering to carry on the Camaro’s legacy.

As the Mustang has been clearly outselling the Camaro recently, there will be a greater emphasis on entry-level models which will include a Camaro Turbo 1LE.

As for us all seeing an electrified version of the Camaro in the future is anybody’s guess, but it’s clear GM like the other major carmakers are going to be focusing on Ev’s as the current climate moves to more eco-friendly vehicles.

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VIN: 242370B119923
Engine: Ram Air IV
Transmission: Manual Muncie M21
Exterior Color: Polar White
Mileage: 55653
Price: $125,000.00

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1970 was a good year for muscle cars. It helped that GM lifted its cubic inch limit with bigger engines from the likes of Buick, Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. Pontiac stuck to their guns with their lineup from 1969, but featured a better facelift which still looks classic today.

This rarity is said to be one of 3,629 hard-top Judges built, one of 627 RAM AIR 4 speed HT produced and one of only 325 RAM AIR IV Judge HT 4 speeds. A service replacement block for the original 400ci/370hp L-67 block is fitted, but it does have the original transmission it came with. The exterior is Polar White with a pristine, black interior.

The car has had a complete frame off restoration in 2010, with the rear end engine and transmission being rebuilt at different times in the past. All this seems to be documented along with the specifics of the car with a build sheet and PHS documentation. During the rebuild its had a few OEM parts, the only one specified is a Gardner exhaust. Original date correct replacements parts listed are the original Rochester quadrajet, distributor, starter and alternator. Original to the car is the Safe-T-Track rear end and power steering.

Clearly, this Ram Air IV is in excellent condition both inside and out and being in show condition. The question now is if you think it is worth the asking price.

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The post 1970 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV, 1 of 325 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

We were wondering who would be the first car maker out of the blocks with an electrified pony or muscle car. Now it seems to be Chevy with their eCOPO Camaro just ahead of the opening for the SEMA show, Las Vegas.

The car is completely electric powered and has been developed alongside Hancock and Lane Racing, who are behind the all electric Pontiac Firebird ‘Shock and Awe’ capable of an eight second quarter-mile time. The Camaro features a new 800 V battery from General Motors capable of 700 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque. This should equate to a possible nine second quarter mile time.

The motor (can we still say powertrain?) consists of two BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motors, linked to a regular automatic transmission and fixed rear axle as in conventional drag racers. The electric motor is powered by a battery pack with four 175 pounds, 200-volt modules, spread throughout the car for even weight distribution. One being near the rear seats, the other near the spare tire well and the other over the rear axle. The roll cage has also been adapted to cover the batteries. the weight distribution works out to a 44/56 ratio.

If the system works out, it looks likely that the electric motor setup could be an aftermarket crate engine. The bell housing and other features are similar to the LS line of V8 engines, which means it could in theory seamlessly be fitted to any GM transmission. Thus, it’s likely in the very near future anybody wanting to retrofit their GM built car with an electric engine may have a direct replacement to purchase.

Once SEMA is fully underway, it will be interesting to see if there any other electric engine/car offerings.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

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by Dave Ashton

Electric power seems to be on the horizon for our beloved pony and muscle cars according to the latest reports. Chevrolet have been testing out how well this will go down with consumers with surveys on a popular Chevy forum.

On the Camaro6 forum users were asked which engine options they would choose in a Chevrolet Camaro, specifically a turbo four-cylinder engine and a 6.2-liter hybrid V8 engine. There was also mention of a 2019 Chevy Silverado’s 2.7L turbo.

Specifically the two engine types would be a 2 L turbocharged hybrid with 335 hp, 30 mpg and 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, US$4,000 on top of a base Camaro. The second would is a 6.2-liter hybrid V8 engine with 545HP, 24 mpg, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and $8000 more. Both hybrids provide more power and economy than current equivalents if you consider the 6.2L LT1 V8 makes 450 hp and the Camaro SS 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder makes 275 hp. That’s 95 hp more for the V8 and 80Hp more for the four-cylinder.

At this point it seems that there are no specific planned models, its just gauging opinion at this time, but the hybrid and electric pony car is definitely on the horizon. Last October, GM patented a twin charged, high compression hybrid setup, which could easily be the start point for a hybrid Camaro. If there are plans to move the hybrid powertrain to the Corvette C8 are unlikely as the Corvette would be a mid-engined vehicle, but rule out a hybrid Corvette in the future.

The news comes after Ford teased possible hybrids and fully electric vehicles for the Mustang in a recent promotional video, possibly making an appearance in 2020. It’s a fine balancing act at the moment as muscle car manufacturers don’t want to be left behind in the hybrid and fully electric race, but they also want to keep V8 enthusiasts happy, who have bought into these vehicles for the last 40+ years.

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The post Are Two Camaro Hybrids In The Works? appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

This creation is definitely one that is going to ignite comments. It’s an image pulled from a Facebook post which is meant to be a Camaro turned into a Mustang, aptly named the Mustaro! People’s reaction to seeing Frankenstein for the first time comes to mind when you read some of the comments associated with the post.

The final look is neither one of the other. It also ends up looking more like a late 80’s or early 90’s design, unless that’s what they were going for.

It may have been a nice thought experiment to see what would happen if you turned a Camaro into a Mustang, but the reality is would you want to? It’s such an individual vehicle that neither Camaro or Mustang followers would buy into this vehicle. Then again, if you want something completely unique that is neither one nor the other, this could be the car.

This creation does start the debate of what would be the outcome of taking two different car designs and melding them together? Which designs would work well together and which would end up looking like a monstrosity. Again, nice thought experiment but stepping over the rivalry fence of different makes would probably be the hardest first step.

Read the comment here.

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The post Camaro Turned Into A Mustang: The Mustaro! appeared first on Muscle Car.

VIN: 2G1FP22G412106620
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: Manual
Mileage: 10034
Exterior Color: Light Pewter Metallic
Price: $19,997.00

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A 2001 Chevrolet Camaro SS Z28 is not going to win any prizes for being a classic or have the features of the newest muscle cars, but it’s in the age’s own where it doesn’t cost a fortune you still have tons of driving pleasure.

On the plus side, this is a SS Z/28, the lowest production year in 2001 with 29,009 units, the intake manifold from the LS6 in the same engine from the Corvette Z06 from 2001 to 2004 with 325-horsepower. This model also had ‘improved exhaust and intake systems, bigger wheels and tires, a slightly revised suspension for improved handling and grip while retaining ride comfort, an arc-shaped rear wing for downforce, and different gearing ratios for faster acceleration.’

Additional features include, ‘ Factory LS6 intake, 3:42 Posi traction differential, Chromed 17” Aluminum wheels, Removable T-Tops and Sun shades, every SS and Z28 Option, the GM licensed SLP Package, Dual stainless steel exhaust, cold air hood and SLP intake, SS Dash Badge, Camaro SS floor mats, Hurst Shifter with Leather H knob shifting the 6-Speed Manual Transmission with OD.’ When you stack things up, quite a nice little package. This example has been garage kept and very well maintained. Pretty low milage aswell.

It’s not in the zone of being a classic Z/28 as yet, but you are getting a very nice ride, in good condition and easily worth the money.

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By Dave Ashton

A 1969 Dodge Challenger (not the one shown here, it’s just as an example) was recently stolen in Phoenix, USA, but after a Facebook post spread the message of the theft, the thieves were soon apprehended and the car returned.

The owner of the Dodge Charger called Phoenix police after it was stolen, along with a GMC pickup truck and trailer. The owner of the vehicle’s luckily had surveillance cameras which captured the event to assist police in the recovery of both vehicles.

Although there was surveillance footage the vehicles were still missing, so the owner posted on Facebook in a hope to spread the message. Luckily, a local to the area spotted the vehicle, later identified as 43-year-old Geoffrey Lawrence Shea. The car was then tracked to a local parking lot where police were informed.

According to ABC57 news police then arrested Shea and his wife for vehicle theft and drug possession, then being held without bond as they were already on release from other charges. The two vehicles are now in the process of being returned to their rightful owners.

This is a great indication of how the spread of social media messages can really benefit, especially when your beloved muscle car is taken.

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The post Social Media Post Saves Muscle Car From Thieves appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

If your nickname is “The Mountain” then there are going to be times when you simply cannot fit into some regular spaces. This was the case when Icelandic strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the current world’s strongest man and Gregor Clegane in Game of Thrones, met with Ken Block and his Ford Mustang RTR ‘Hoonicorn.’

They both met up at the Forza Horizon 4 launch event where Mr. Block offered the Mountain a ride in the hyper, souped up Mustang. The problem was Hafþór’s 400 pound frame just couldn’t fit into the regular sized cabin of the Mustang. You have to feel sorry for the guy as being that huge to be world’s strongest man does have its downsides like in this case. Then again, it was probably for the best as that lowered suspension would probably have been dragging on the floor otherwise.

“Very cool to meet this extra large Icelandic human here at the Forza Horizon 4 launch event: “The Mountain”. Or to non-Game Of Thrones fans, @thorbjornsson, aka the current strongest man in the world,” Block wrote in an Instagram post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Very cool to meet this extra large Icelandic human here at the Forza Horizon 4 launch event: “The Mountain”. Or to non-Game Of Thrones fans, @thorbjornsson, aka the current strongest man in the world. I’m a big fan (pun intended) of his work on #GoT and I think he’s a fan of my Ford Mustang Hoonicorn V2; minus the fact he didn’t fit in it for a ride! #6foot9and400lbs #needabiggerGymkhanavehicle #FH4Goodwood #ForzaHorizon4

A post shared by Ken Block (@kblock43) on Sep 26, 2018 at 6:35am PDT

 

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BTS video from my @ForzaMotorsportOfficial Horizon4 shoot with “The Mountain” aka @ThorBjornsson and my Ford Mustang RTR Hoonicorn V2. As you can see, trying to jam 400 lbs of 6’ 9” world’s strongest man into this car was NOT happening. ?? #FH4Goodwood #GameOfRaceSeats #GOT

A post shared by Ken Block (@kblock43) on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:36pm PDT

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The post Mountain vs. Muscle: Fitting In The Hoonigan appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Finding vital statistics on any muscle car has never been easier since the birth of the Internet. Before that, people had to wade through countless magazines, a limited supply of books and still some of the information may not be verified. We’ve got a much easier time today, but it’s still a good idea to have a few bookmarks of ways you can start an investigation for any type of muscle car at your fingertips.

Generic knowledge sites like Wikipedia are a good starting point, but its specialist websites that usually have the best nitty-gritty bits of information that are missed elsewhere. Below a breakdown of some of the resources you can start with when researching your own makes and models. We’ve also added links to our own website for each make. Another port of call is social media groups. Joining a few on the likes of Facebook for your particular make and model and asking a few questions, may not just uncover the information you need, but also get you involved with many like-minded people.

As another general plug on one of our past posts, you could try out our ultimate list of American muscle cars which gives a link to the majority of the main types of muscle cars.

AMC
For AMC vehicles TheAMCForum.com is a great place to stop for any AMC car from 1968 to 1974. Although a lot of the forum still has participation, many people have moved over to social media for discussion. Making things like Facebook groups a good stop off point. The forum still has tons of information which wont go out of date.

Buick
From young to old, you can find a lot of things on Buicks at the Sloan Museum.  It’s mainly a centre for Buick information, but you can find other stuff for vehicles produced in Flint, Michigan. You’re going to have to pay for the information, but that should also mean more accurate research. Individual car listings are also quite good these days in giving you production numbers and engine starts, basically as it verifies how much a car is worth.

Chevrolet
Chevy and GM have a lot of information to wade through, but one first stop could be the GM Heritage Center. The National Corvette Restorers Society is also good for production numbers. Being such a big carmaker there is also plenty of museums – the Chevrolet Hall of Fame, the Corvette Museum and the California Automobile Museum.

Mopar
The Mopar name is everything from the Fiat Chrysler group. An all-inclusive name for Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Imperial and DeSoto vehicles. Galen Govier is one of the foremost experts. Darrell Davis series of books is good for Dodge and Plymouths. Mymopar.com is not as maintained as it used to be, but its still got lots of old threads of information as a start point. You also have Allpar.com which has literally tons of information on Mopars.

Ford and Mercury
You can find lots of examples of Fords and Cougars(the cars, not the…….) or anything in general by Mercury to wade through. Marti Reports are the top paid service for anything Ford, also standard for official verification for selling a Ford vehicle.

Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile comes under the GM banner, as with Buick, Chevrolet and Pontiac, but better to seek out info. for the individual models. The GM Heritage Center have levels of records for a fee, but there are some free documents as here on the 442. Like most of the vehicles listed on our website we try to get as much information as possible, from engine sizes to production stats., so supplement this information, with social media user groups.

Pontiac
There are quite a few resources online for Pontiacs. Jim Mattison’s PHS Automotive Services is again a paid for service but will give you everything for your particular model. The GM Heritage Center is again a the port of call, as is the Pontiac-Oakland Museum.

Like all these resources above, its a good idea to double check the information on a few different websites before concluding your search. Paid for services should be the most accurate and should give you the stamp of approval when selling a car, but free resources can be as good for your own research. The lists of information is growing all the time, so hopefully the ones above will give you good start point.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Muscle Car Statistics appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

VIN: 5F08F100241
Engine: 289 V8
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Exterior Color: Fleet White
Mileage: 3,376
Price:US $1,099,000.00

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Pace cars can sell for a variety of prices, most of them quite affordable, but this 1964 Ford Mustang Indy 500 Pace car is the top of the heap. The car was bought by its first private owner in 1991 a Mustang Club of America official who completed a thorough restoration. The description says that 95% of its parts were simply reconditioned and put back on the car, with the other 5% being either NOS or completely custom components. The frame was walnut-blasted to remove long-dead pigment.

The description in the ad. lists things the best – ‘Developed for the GT40 campaign, labeled “experimental” and, as far as anyone knows, the only factory-installed Mustang mill of its kind, this convertible’s 450 horsepower V8 is a literal fairy-tale of Ford performance. Behind that hot small block, an “experimental” Toploader 4-speed, which wears a familiar C3 bellhousing, turns a narrowed ’59 Galaxie limited-slip around 3.25 gears. At the ends of the car, a fully restored suspension employs a larger sway bar, shortened coils, de-arched leafs and original, mismatched Koni shocks. And power meets the pavement thanks to painted steel wheels, which spin NOS 7.75-14 Firestone 500 goldlines around faux stainless knock-offs.’

In all, you’re getting an extremely rare and beautiful Mustang, but you have to pay for this kind of exclusivity for an eye watering $1 million+.

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By Dave Ashton

Bowling Green, Kentucky is the designated home for Corvette fans. The cars are manufactured here, it is the home of the National Corvette Museum and also the host for the annual Holley LS Fest. Basically, if you have a GM LS engine, you’re allowed in.

Taking part the weekend after Labor Day the event takes up Beech Bend Raceway Park, with this year expanding to the NCM Motorsports Park. Due to the popularity of the event there is also LS Fest West, in Las Vegas.

As you’d expect from such huge events is plenty of action on offer to watch or take part in. QA1 Autocross, Lucas Oil Drift Challenge, Burnout competitions, 12 Different Drag Racing Classes, Tuning School Dyno Challenge to name but a few. Basically, its the event you need to be at if you have an LS engine.

Below are two videos to give you a taster of the event.

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The post Holley LS Fest Highlights East appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Giving the title to this video, ‘Weirdest and Most Forgotten Muscle Cars’ should be just, ‘muscle cars wagons’ as they are mostly a break from the norm, rarities, but that are not forgotten. We feature quite a few of these oddball muscle cars in other videos, but here’s a few that may have escaped you in the past.

The lineup starts with a Mustang sports wagon. Info-wise you don’t get much more than the engine size, in this case a 289CI. V8. This creation was originally thought of by Ford in 1965, but never came to fruition. However, some like this one have put the idea into reality. The rest of the video features a Studebaker Avanti R2, a Chevrolet Corvette wagon, a Chevrolet Laguna, a DeTomoaso Mangusta, a Chevelle station wagon, an Oldsmobile Toronado and a Chevy Monza Mirage.

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By Dave Ashton

Ok, The Batmobile can hardly be classed as a muscle car as in a mid-sized vehicle, with a large displacement engine available to the masses. Radar reflective black was probably the only color of choice for the caped Crusader, rather than Top Banana or Plum Crazy, but there are some muscle car similarities along the Batmobile’s history. This video gives you a quick rundown of all the Batmobiles starting from its first TV showing in 1943.

The first TV Batmobile was a 1939 Cadillac series 61 convertible. It also doubled as Bruce Wayne’s day car, but the audience had to kind of overlook that point. The next was a factory stock 1949 Mercury, still a bit sedate for Batman’s needs. A 1963 Batmobile was designed for promotional tours based on a 1956 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 chassis with a Oldsmoblle Rocket 324ci. V8 (that’s pretty muscle car like!).

It wasn’t until the 1966 TV series where the vehicle became very Bat like in appearance. It was based on a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept vehicle built by hand by the Ghia Body Works and became the most iconic Batmobile selling in 2013 for $4.2 million. It wasn’t until 1989 that the Batmobile made a return with a more up-to-date design and built at first on an Impala chassis.

The ‘Tumbler’ Batmobile from the The Dark Knight Trilogy onwards has different design inspirations, but you could argue the early Batmobiles took inspiration from the upcoming muscle car market. The question is would Batman have gone with a Hemi, GM big block or Ford engine back in the day?? Maybe he would have built his own in the form of a 427 Bat block……ahem.

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The post Every Batmobile in TV and Film appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

I’m guessing many of you will have to doubletake the supplied image. Its a……., no its not, its a……..part Mustang, part Dodge Daytona, this is the ‘Daytona Hemi Stang’ which should have Ford and Mopar people reacting like they’ve just been plugged into the mains supply.

Dan Dhondt has owned the car for 38 years making it into the creation you see here. An original 1966 1/2 Mustang fastback with a 1 of 50 Fiberfab front-end (Fiberfab made kit car parts), 1956 354-inch Hemi V8, Chrysler two-speed push button PowerFlite transmission and factory 8 inch Ford rear end, original leaf springs in the rear, parallel leaf springs up front and factory drum brakes.

When I found the car posted on Facebook, as you can imagine it triggered a slew of polarised comments from purists all round (link below). Firstly, the initial comments will give you an idea of what people thought of the original Dodge Daytona and the Plymouth Superbird when it first came out, back in the day. The looks were too extreme and it didn’t sell very well. It’s only in hindsight people appreciate what it was. however, mixing brands together in a hobby where owners support their brands and models harder than their favourite sports team is a very brave move.

Take a step back, forget about makes and models and just look at the design alone. It actually makes the overall design more sleek and elegant. No matter your opinion on this vehicle, it’s a very brave build. Find out more about the car from the links below.

Read more here – https://www.facebook.com/MoparStyleTheVisualArt/posts/1130811957066782
http://www.hemistang.com/

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The post The Mustang Winged Warrior: The Daytona Hemi Stang appeared first on Muscle Car.

Price: $280,000

The Buick Turbo Buick T-Type and Grand Nationals were arguably two of the most potent muscle cars of the 1980s. Before the cars came into existence, Engine builder Gale Banks of Banks Power collaborated with Hot Rod magazine editor C.J. Baker to build an engine for a Buick Regal Sport Coupe. The engine and transmission were built in collaboration with Jim Bell at Kenne Bell, Banks developed its twin turbocharger system, added a custom exhaust manifolds, modified Holley intake and custom Holley carburetor and hot cam.

Figures of the time, said the output was around 500 HP with a 0 – 60mph time in 5.3 seconds, quarter-mile in 13.25 seconds at nearly 108 mph. Buick took a fancy to the design, tested it at GM’s proving grounds in Mesa, Arizona, and later began work on the turbocharged Grand Nationals. Essentially, it was Buick borrowing developments from an aftermarket build. The original car was crushed, but the engine saved.

The prototype engine itself ist unstamped and has no emissions control, and is said to be only one to run and drive. There were 4 others built for trade show, but not built to run.

Now, this car named the ‘Sunday Driver’ has the prototype engine, but is almost a build of a build, as the original was a 1981 car, then into a 1984 model, then backing to a restored ’81 model. So, you essentially have a prototype/development engine which due to the original vehicle being crushed, has needed a donor vehicle which is as close to the original as possible.

This listing is a big grey area when it comes to pricing, as the engine is a clear development for the immense Buick T-Type and Grand Nationals, but not an exact Buick prototype as part of their own development cycle. The engine has to be housed somehow in a car, which can be seen as just a very good condition Buick Regal.

Clearly of historical significance, but asking $280,000 can be anybody’s guess.

The specs as per the advert are as below –

3.8 HD engine block without a serial number (casting flash never removed)
Kenne Bell Balanced crankshaft
Carrillo Rods
Gale Banks Engineering Aluminum pistons (custom for 7.75:1 compression)
Kenne Bell block girdle
Kenne Bell rocker arms, springs and valves
Holley blow through carburetor
Gale Banks Engineering alcohol injection
Gale Banks Engineering twin turbo kit featuring polished Roto Master turbos and intake box
Custom camshaft and lifters (3rd revision by Gale Banks)
Rossi TH350 transmission

heavy duty springs (with a coil cut off the front set)
4 new gas shocks
8.5″ posi rear axle
new brakes on all corners
larger front stabilizer bar
new polyurethane body bushings

Find out more here – https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/one-of-kind-buick-regal-twin/6659243621.html

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The post Buick Regal Twin Turbo Prototype Sunday Driver appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

There has always been this inextricable link between muscle cars and electric guitars. Maybe the links comes from them both hitting their popularity around the same time perods, but there are many parallels between electric guitars, the music they make and muscle cars.

This was all brought front of mind again for me when I recently received an email from Fender guitars advertising their latest guitar and amp package named the ‘Mustang GT’ with one of the packages called the ‘GT 40.’ Hmmmm, those words sounds familiar. Ok, the Mustang’s a pony car, but we are doing a bit of lumping in here category-wise.

We wrote about this in the past. ZZ Top Rides: Dirty Guitars And Hot Rods probably one of the most famous bands to associate cars and guitars. We also wrote about how guitars of the 60’s used the same paint as cars of the times. Look at any vintage Fender guitar from the 60’s and it reflects those popular car paint colors. This fashion carries on today with many car shows and custom vehicles showing off both cars and guitars together. Just check out the new Ibanez Joe Satriani JS2480 in ‘muscle car red or muscle car orange.’ G&L guitars released a line of instruments in vintage muscle car colors back in 2015 – Sublime Green, Go Mango, Plum Crazy and Panther Pink, straight from the Mopar catalogue. It’s one of the reasons why both sit so well visually together. Cars and guitars follow the same lines and colors, they almost changed together with the times and fashion.

Rock ‘n’ roll started to get very loud and brash in the 60’s just as muscle cars started to get ridiculous displacement and loud as thunder. By 1970 the arguable height of muscle cars, Jimi Hendrix had laid down his body of work, along with displaying a huge variety of Fender guitars to the world. Fender guitars arguably led the way with the Stratocaster started in 1954 with many early guitar catalogue showing teenagers with guitars next to the likes of a Thunderbird convertible, straight into the hot rod/car culture of the time.

Many other rock ‘n’ roll acts became the soundtracks of many a muscle car and the main weapon of choice on the songs was the electric guitar. Led Zepplin arguably produced their finest works in the classic muscle car era. By 1970 GM had the huge 454ci. V8 and Mopars had the 426ci. Hemi. Ford the FE 428ci. V8. Just like vintage guitars, these engines are still revered today. The sound and look of cars, guitars and rock and roll became inextricably linked.

Electric guitars can even mimic the sound of a muscle car revving up. Use heaps of distortion, dip that whammy bar, then and bring it slowly back up. It’s a trick used many a time by guitarists for decades.

Watch any muscle car video and it generally has a distorted, electric guitar soundtrack of some kind. The high-energy response fits so well together, the music, the instruments and the cars. Doing a quick search online for ‘muscle cars and guitars’ there are simpler loads of images of both standing together, which makes me think this could be a great addition to every cars and coffee event. Display your guitars, along with your cars.

If you check out Walt Grace vintage car museum, they have an equal amount of vintage electric guitars and cars on display . This article from guitar player magazine links up guitars and hot rods displayed very nicely.

The build and ongoing influence of both will have close ties forevermore. Cars and guitars just simply go together like cheese and onion or any other de-facto culinary combo. They are both functional works of art and have grown up with popular culture, being symbols of freedom and equality. Loud, brash and in your face, both have the ability to make you feel like you’re in your prime years, whatever your age. So, if you own one, try and get the other, it’s a match made in heaven.

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The post Electric Guitars And Muscle Cars appeared first on Muscle Car.

When it comes to rare muscle cars, ideally every last one of them should be saved and brought back to prime condition. This is definitely the case with Yenko vehicles, famed for mostly utilising the GM COPO system to produce some of the most potent vehicles of the time. This brings us to this story of the last 1967 Chevrolet Camaro built with the infamous 427ci. V8.

The original owner John Weaver knew what he had on his hands. He luckily lived just down the road from Grabiak Chevrolet and Yenko advertised 427 conversions in the local paper, so the Camaro order was straight from Yenko the man himself. high-performance options were the name of the game here and all in a rally Sport 1967 Camaro SS396 was given the full Yenko treatment costing $3,192.08 with a Chevelle trade in or $5,242.08 in total.

The car was given a red paint makeover, tried some upgrades like a bigger cam and heads, after blowing the automatic transmission . The car was stored and weaving also got round to putting the thing back together.

Fast forward to present day and after years of negotiation Doug Perry is now the new caretaker of this Camaro, which is now well on its way to a full restoration. Weaver will still be able to drive the car when he visits Ohio, as promised by Perry and the world gets to keep an original Yenko Camaro with as much documentation as you could ever want from a rarity like this one.

1967 Yenko Camaro
Owned by: Doug Perry
Restored by: Arone Restoration, Homer City, PA; engine work by Dave McGaffee
Engine: 427ci/410hp V-8
Transmission: Turbo 400 3-speed automatic
Rearend: 12-bolt with 3.73 gears and Positraction
Interior: Original red Deluxe vinyl
Wheels: 15×6 Rallye
Tires: G70-15 whitewall
Special parts: Cowl plenum BB air cleaner, power windows, rear defrost, Rally Sport equipment; Yenko Conversion stock number YS 760

The extensive story you can find in its entirety at hotrod.com

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The post The Last 1967 Chevrolet Camaro 427 by Don Yenko Uncovered appeared first on Muscle Car.

‘Don’t get left behind. See your Pontiac dealer and breakaway.’ This is the strapline from this old Pontiac commercial, but the main draw here is the famous actors of the time – Mike Mazurki, Elisa Cook Jr., Lon Chaney Jr., Robert Strauss, Broderick Crawford, Leo Gorcey, voiceover by Paul Richards and of course the trainload of classic Pontiacs, the whole 1969 lineup.

The commercial doesn’t just show Pontiac vehicles at the height of their powers, but it’s also a great way to see how vehicles were advertised back in the day. A much more fun viewpoint with a nice happy jingle over the top of it all. Obviously you have to gloss over the point of people digging holes and doing hard labour in the middle of the searing desert heat.

Wouldn’t it have been great if all the other car makers of the time copied this commercial. Even better, having Ford, Dodge and GM make their own modern interpretation. I wonder who they would get these days to play the modern day convicts??

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The post The Entire 1969 Pontiac Car Lineup On The Back of A Train appeared first on Muscle Car.

Asking someone to name a Chevy muscle car and they reply with Camaro is like asking someone to quickly name a vegetable and most reply with carrot…well most do. Ok, the Camaro is strictly a pony car, but doing the loose lumping them all in together thing, there are quite a few fantastic Chevy muscle car machines from the golden era which don’t get as much spotlight. For instance the Camaro pops up in 1967, but the mighty Chevelle started its journey in 1964.

Below is a taster of some of the other muscle cars Chevrolet produced which cemented their name in muscle car history.

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Z16

Chevy first dropped their code L78 396ci. Mark IV big block engine with 425HP into the Corvette for $292.70. The Chevelle version got the code L37 with a slightly less 375 hp at 5600 rpm and 420 lb-ft torque at 3600 rpm. 201 were produced, 1 convertible(sadly passed), the rest with hard tops and four-speed transmissions.

1966 Chevy ll L79

327ci. engine 350hp, 11.0:1 compression, Muncie 4 speed, straight into a lightweight pony car turned a lot of heads in the likes of A/Stock racing. Its the simple formula of a small, lightweight car with loads of power.

1968 Chevy Impala SS427 L72

If you want a ‘big’ muscle car in every sense, you can’t go wrong with an Impala SS. In 1968 it was treated to a iron block L72 427ci. with 425HP and costing $542.45. Optional transmissions were a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three speed automatic or a Muncie four speed. Out of the 711,000 Impalas built in 1968 only 568 included the L72 engine.

1968 Chevy Nova SS396 L78

The Nova could definitely be a David in Goliath’s clothing. From basic grocery getter to big performer, the likes of Bill Grumpy Jenkins back in the day proved that a smaller unit could still handle a load of power. In 1968 it got the L78 396ci. V8 with 375HP as in the Chevelle and the Camaro with either a Turbo 400 automatic or a Muncie four-speed. Only 667 produced in 1968.

1969 Chevy Chevelle COPO 9561

The COPO scheme stands for Central Office Production Order. Chevy’s way to order the best performance bits they had at the time, countering their own ban on engines bigger than 400ci. These special orders had 427ci. V8s with no external badging to make them stand out from the rest. 323 were produced (COPO 9562) with the most famous from Don Yenko with 99 (COPO 9561), which you can spot a mile away with the Yenko S/C badging.

1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 LS6

Just like an athlete that hits their performance years, Chevy did so in 1970 with the Chevelle SS equipped with a LS6 454ci. V8. GM got rid of their own ban on mid-sized vehicles having no more than 400 cubic inches and the big-block 427 grew to 454. The Chevelle was also re-designed this year with more muscular body and racing stripes. Cowl induction, 450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, four-bolt, 11.5:1 compression, aluminum intake manifold, rectangle port heads and 800-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetor all added up to most potent engine of the muscle car era. The only other possible heavyweight engine contender was the Hemi. The engine also came in a LS5 454 V8 360bhp@5400rpm, 500lb-ft@3200rpm. 4475 were built in 1970.

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The post The Best Chevy Muscle Cars, Not Camaros appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

It’s that time of year again when the muscle car owners of Finland gather together to show off their rides, both classic and contemporary. The cruise night was held in Market Square, Helsinki, Finland and features a bit of everything here from old classic muscle cars, new ponies, trucks and a few other performance cars thrown into the mix.

Muscle and pony cars may have their centre in the US, but in nearly every other country in the world there are enthusiasts and Finland proves the point very well. The video gives a nice cross-section of the many vehicles from the event, many being straight originals – fords, Gm’s, Mopars, but there are some custom creations thrown in there for good measure. It’s only a short video so well worth checking out to see how muscle car fans from the rest of the world gather together and enjoy each other’s rides.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Helsinki Muscle Car Cruising Night appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Mike Hall is the owner of a 340 vintage car collection currently up for sale, which also includes a 900-square-foot restoration shop, 5 acres of land with plenty of vintage muscle cars thrown into the mix. The listing is for the full collection at around $1.45 million and is said to be ‘Zoned ALR but grandfathered for auto wrecking business.’ There is also a 1,200-square-foot steel building and enough materials to build another ‘8,000 square feet of covered space.’

Mike sells the cars online individually, but now the whole lot is going at once. The collection on the current property started 40 years ago after his wife protested at the amount of Dodge and Fords building up. Like any keen car collector, it gets the point where there are too many vehicles to possibly restore, so some eventually have to go.

There is clearly a bit of everything here especially in classic muscle car territory, ranging from total wrecks to almost restored vehicles. There are plenty of images to wade through via the official listing link below, but to get a better of idea of what’s available it’s better to jump over to his website, where he lists for sale many of the vehicles you see in the images. There are complete and partial restorations, Dodge, Ford, GM, AMCs, loads of trucks and plenty of parts and plenty of ‘others’ in the mix.

It looks like individual cars and parts are still available for sale on their website, along with the total sale of the yard. If you fancy relocating up to Tappen, Canada, amongst acres of vintage cars, this could be the listing for you.

Find out more here about the yard listing.
Rust Bros website – http://www.rustbrosrestos.com

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By Dave Ashton

This is a great bunch of GM vehicles just waiting for someone to come along and rehabilitate them back to life. The listing seems to be for a bunch of Camaros, Chevelles, Pontiac Firebirds, Pontiac Lemans and maybe a few others wanting between $500-$2,000 located in Bristol, Vermont.

From the brief listing it seems that the vehicles are from between 1967 – 1971, which is the prime muscle car time period and from the looks of the images, there could be a few other bits and bobs dotted around in the shape of other cars and parts. The cars seem to range from things that are barely a shell to what looks like a late 60s Chevelle which still has all its own panels and glass.

All cars are said to be ‘non-running’ and ‘good for parts,’ which means no engines or transmissions. If any interiors come with the cars or any other parts you’d only find out on closer inspection.

There are enough vehicles here to whet the appetite of somebody wanting to start a restoration, needing a donor body shell or willing to just get down there and see if they can find a diamond in the rough. With such a brief description, it’s hard to tell if any of these vehicles have any rare options or if any paperwork comes with them at all. All of them have the potential to be sweet muscle cars in prime condition, but they all have a long road to get back to top health. Like any collections such as this one and so few details, you don’t really know what’s available until you get there in person.

Check out the listing yourself and see if anything take your fancy.

Find out more here – https://barnfinds.com/gm-collection-of-field-finds-for-sale/

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The post Camaros, Chevelles And Pontiacs Field Find appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The ideal field find of cars scenario would be be one with enough vehicles so you can spend all day hunting around, in great weather and always finding diamonds in the rough wherever you went. This is not too far from what Rocky Mountain relics have to offer in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Nearly all the vehicles here span from the 1920s to the 1960s and not exactly muscle cars per se, but there are so many vehicles here that could be brought back to life and turned into anything from a Rat Rod to a Hotrod classic, that it’s hard to ignore for any car enthusiast. Its like the ideal play ground for the likes of Vegas Hotrods .

The great thing about this treaure trove is its accompanying website which gives a great breakdown of the majority of the vehicles or at least gives you a substantial taster of the variety of vehicles and parts. There’s plenty of Chevys, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Plymouths, Buick, Chryler, Buick, Desoto, Pontiac, Hudson, Studbaker to name but a few. The website isn’t a complete list, but it will at least give you a taster of what’s available. Some of the vehicles listed on the website do have additional pictures, but it seems you’ll have to contact them directly for any individual prices.

Find out more here – http://www.rockymountainrelics.net/

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By Dave Ashton

Anybody who’s taking at least a passing glance at the Plymouth Superbird and the Dodge Daytona may think that nose cone and rear wing were slapped on for vanities sake, not having any practical use. On top of that, the cars really only raced and produced in the ’70 NASCAR season, as the rules were changed in 1971, banning wing cars. These videos hope to rectify these points giving insight into the car’s aerodynamics and potential ‘what if’ models as they may have been for the 1971 season.

These cars were built ‘based upon results from a secret wind tunnel test report Chrysler had conducted in early 1970 on the new 71 Dodge and Plymouth B-bodies.’ This along with Chryslers notes and data from the 3/8 model tests from the Wing Warriors Car Club by Chrysler producing hypothetical 1971 models of both the Superbird and Daytona. After being built they were tested at the AeroDyn & A2 windtunnel with Gary Romberg, one of the original aerodynamicists who worked on the wing cars at Chrysler.

The video is fascinating to watch for anybody who has even a slight interest in how these winged warriors actually worked aerodynamically.
The second video shows a test with the ‘air grabber’ open on the hood, with the other videos showing the airstream over the complete body and the rear wing. No wonder these cars are designed to run at 200 mph.

In some ways, it’s a shame all this information wasn’t available back in the day to the public. Winged Warrior sales were dreadful back in the day, being seen as way to out of the norm. even for the most ardent muscle car fan of the day. If we only knew how well the cars worked and their future worth, they would have been snapped up far quicker rather than being the oddities of the car sales lot.

Wind Tunnel Test: “43” 1971 Petty Superbird

71 Superbird concept car

1971 Dodge Daytona Tribute Car Wind Tunnel Test

You can find out more about the cars here – http://www.71wingcars.com/

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The post 1971 Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Daytona Wind Tunnel Tests appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

VIN: F100042
Engine: L34 396ci. V8
Transmission: Turbo 400 Automatic
Exterior Color: Cranbury Red
Rearend: 12-bolt with 3.31 gears and Positraction
Price:US $390,000.00

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While looking around for reasonably priced 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS vehicles, I was going to list this 396 Chevelle SS, which is going for a touch over $40k all original. A reasonable price these days for a 1970’s Chevelle SS. At the same time I stumbled across what could possibly be the most valuable 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 around in the form of a Pre-Production Assembly Prototype.

The bulk of the description of the car comes down to a linked page which gives you a write-up of much of the information which is in the video below. Essentially, the car was part of a Pilot Drivetrain program and this example still carries many if not all the parts which are marked, Pilot” and “Advanced.”

A Pre-Production/prototype/pilot order/pilot job vehicle can be a complicated definition as it can be stuck onto a car which has anything from a test part to a complete new test vehicle. To qualify, the car must be Pre-Production, most of the parts being hand built into the car and documented ownership from birth. They say this example, ‘was in possession of virtually every example of prototypical parts that we had experienced.’ Hotrod do a fine job of documenting the car and any of its parts.

The Chevelle was lovingly restored when bought back in 2007. When the owners realised the potential historical significance of the car, all the parts were restored to be added back to the car. Pilot Car Registry did a very thorough job matching up all the production numbers on every aspect of the car to make sure it was a surefire preproduction vehicle. It’s best to watch the video below to get a better handle on this.

They conclude, ‘we would like to formally recognize F100042 as one of the single most historically significant surviving examples of the car known as the Chevrolet Chevelle. At the time of this research, it is the only known surviving Chevelle Pilot Prototype configured as a coupe….period.’ You can check out the private car registry website to find further information on the vehicle.

Playing devil’s advocate, this Chevelle still needs factory or dealer verification or even a possible nod from GM themselves. On the Pilot Car Registry website they show a certificate from the National Corvette restorers society showing the vehicle identification number of 136370F100042 having an original delivery dealer code of 512 in zone 44 – Ver Hoven Chevrolet inc., Detroit Michigan. As preproduction vehicle is always going to be a bit of this and that part wise, it’s going to be far harder time verifying its authenticity than any other vehicle around.

Putting a price on a vehicle like this is going to be extremely hard, but clearly the present owners have evaluated the price at $390,000.00. For this reason, possibly Ebay isn’t the best marketplace for this type of unique vehicle, as it really should go to some form of museum or similar, simply for historical purposes and preservation. For any 1970 Chevelle SS fan it’s definitely worth bookmarking this car.

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The post 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Pre-Production Pilot Prototype! appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

VIN: 1G4GJ1177HP460204
Engine: 3.8L SFI Turbo
Transmission: Automatic
Mileage: 49
Interior Color: GM Trim Code 583 – Grey Cloth
Trim: (Full Option Package)
Current bid:US $70,100.00

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The 1980’s wasn’t exactly the standout decade for muscle cars for either design or performance in general. Most designs and engine sizes tried to follow European sensibilities, but that also meant weaker power ratings. Some still stand out today such as the 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2, 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z, 1983 Chevy Monte Carlo SS, but the top of the heap was definitely the Buick Grand National and the Buick GNX with only 547 of the GNX produced. As Dudley Moore said in the movie Crazy People, ‘it’s boxy but it’s good,’ really did’t just apply to the Volvo, it also applied to the Grand National.

This 1987 Buick Grand National has only 49 miles on the clock and has spent most of its life indoors. It still has the dealer transport protections, tags, and stickers. Basically, it’s like it just rolled from the showroom from 1987 into 2018.

The car is fully optioned and has the Factory Hatch Roof (T-Tops), 342 Posi rear end option, Concert Sound option, Factory gauges, Passenger side rear mirror controller option, Rear Defrost option, Power windows and locks and Power seats. Everything that a mullet wearing man with shoulder pads and rolled up sleeves in the 80s could ever want (….don’t mock, everyone looked like that back then.)

Clearly this is a time capsule of a vehicle from one of the best of the decade, with even the interior still bagged up in plastic like it just came from the factory. It’s a shame that in many of the images the car is very dusty, especially when they are asking more than $70k. Clearly this is an ultralow mileage rarity, but it seems that the highest price Grand National I can find at the moment is for $45k, with many going around the mid- $25k mark but with far higher mileage.

It will be very interesting to see what the final sell price is for this Grand National as it surely is the most pristine example of its breed, but is it worth the extra cost? I would like to think so.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

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The post 1987 Buick Grand National, Only 49 Miles appeared first on Muscle Car.

VIN: 0F91M530662
Engine: 351 Cleveland 4v V8
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual Toploader
Exterior Color: Competition Green
Mileage: 88,464
Price:US $69,900.00

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The Mercury Cougar may have sat in the shadow of the Mustang and Thunderbird, but the car has a long history from 1967-1997, then 1999-2002. The first-generation models from 1967 to 1970 gave the most in the form of a classic muscle car, with models like the XR-7, GT package, XR7-G and Eliminator package. Although engine options, went up to the 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE V8, it was the 351ci. Cleveland V8 that was the most popular.

The Eliminator package brought a bunch of options above the basic models, – ‘blacked-out grille, special side stripes, front and rear spoilers, an optional Ram Air induction system, a full gauge package including tachometer, upgraded “Decor” interior trim, special high-back bucket seats, rally wheels, raised white letter tires, and a performance-tuned suspension and handling package.’

This example is just 1 of 17 Competition Green Eliminators still around built in 1970 out of the original 291, 56 of these with the 351C-4V and manual transmissions. the cars had a full rotisserie restoration over two years with all original parts, but with added electronic ignition, larger cam. and radial tires.

Mercury Cougars may not be the first choice for a classic muscle car, but the blacked out grille and overall design makes the Cougar as classic as any other muscle car. You’re probably paying top dollar here for a showroom restored vehicle, but it is as good as anything else out there.

Mechanics:
351ci Cleveland 4v Engine (#DOAE-J)
-290hp
-11.1 Flat Top Pistons W/ 11.1 Compression
Autolite 4350 4 Barrel Carburetor (#DOOF A B A 9h 11)
-Automatic Choke
Toploader 4-Speed Manual (#RUG AV 01979 1)
– Factory Installed Hurst Shifter & Rare Hurst 4-Speed T-Handle
-Date Code: K200
-C8ar 7006-Do W1
-Wide Ratio 28 Spline
Front Suspension: Coil Spring
Rear Suspension: Leaf Spring
Ford 9″ Rear End
-Ratio: 3.30:1
-Open Differential
-Date Code: C5aw 4668a 9l20
Brakes:
Front Power Disc
-Rear Power Drum
Exhaust: Dual Exhaust with Original Type Mufflers

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The post 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, 1 of 17 appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

Richard Petty may have more of an association with Mopars and Pontiacs on the track, but he’s definitely had links with GM over the years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that somewhere down the line he has bumped shoulders with Camaros. This 1969 Camaro was produced in association with Continental tires and West Coast Customs to produce the following vehicle you see here.

The subdued black with yellow stripes adds a cool, but sinister look to the car with a custom air dam, custom wheels and Continental tires, sat on a LS-based engine. The video is more of a handing over of the car, rather than small specific details being described, but it does show how beautifully subdued this Camaro really is.

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post Richard Petty’s New 1969 Camaro appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

While checking out this video which features a Roadster Shop built 1300 HP Dodge Charger Custom, the whole argument of should you keep vintage muscle cars all original or customise them debate came up as usual. No matter which side of the fence you sit on, it’s hard to argue that when a vintage ride’s end result is as good as the one featured here, it’s definitely improving on a classic. If you take a rare optioned classic and start making big changes that’s one thing, but with base models where there’s plenty about, it should be down to your creativity.

This 1968 Dodge Charger was an ongoing project in the Roadster Shop and was built completely from the ground up, addressing every single inch of the car. It seems every inch of this Charger has had some form of tweaking with only the middle of the roof skin being unmodified according to the video.

The front of the roof has been lowered 1-1/2 inches, the front wheel openings moved forward 4 inches and the front and rear openings stretched. New door skins were added, aluminium hood and bumpers, a shortened cowl, new front and rear valances and bulging the front fenders and rear quarter panels to exaggerate the Coke bottle effect and that’s just for starters.

The powerplant is a 488 ci. Gen II Viper V10 built by Nelson Racing Engines with two 67mm Precision turbos producing 1,300 hp at 6,200 rpm and 1,100 lb-ft of torque at 5,100 rpm, running through a Legends five-speed transmission. Brembo Gran Turismo 14-inch discs brakes all round, with Roadster Shop suspension. The rest of the rundown of the vehicle you can find from the video, but it’s enough to say if you had a base model Dodge Charger and the money to do so, this wouldn’t be far off the ideal Charger custom build.

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The post 1300 HP 1968 Dodge Charger Custom Build appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The UK may not be the first place you would think of as a haven for muscle cars, but you don’t have to dig too deep to find lovers of the breed and their fair share of muscle car clubs and events. The American Auto Club International (AACI) have just had their own show at Billing Aquadrome which features tons of classics along with prizes for Best in show, loads of entertainment and plenty of other types of Americana vehicles.

The video below shows many of the vehicles exiting the event, with a nice selection from prime classics to modern American sports, pony and muscle cars. Like any good American car show you get to view everyone from GM, Ford and Mopars with a few other ripe classics thrown into the mix. The second video give you a nice look around the event to give you a nice idea what’s on offer.

The V8 rumble of the American classics is also a stark contrast to all the modern vehicles, which just like everywhere now follows more standardised, conservative lines nowhere near as creative looking as the vehicles of old.

Find out more here on their website – https://www.aac-int.com/april
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAutoClubInternational/

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The post American Muscle Cars Leaving The American Auto Club International AACI Car Show, UK appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

VIN: 124379L520475
Engine: Twin Turbo SBC 389ci.
Transmission: 6 speed Viper
Exterior Color: Silver
Art Rasmussen subframe
Currie aluminum 9 inch rear end
custom 4-link rear suspension

This iconic 1969 Camaro was built by Mark Stielow (the manager of Program Engineering for General Motors) who arguably kicked off the Pro Touring term as we know it, along with Car Craft magazine’s Tech Editor Jeff Smith going back to the early 90’s. Apparently, the pro-touring term came from Jeff Smith asking Mark to come up with a name for the movement, so he borrowed the ‘Tour’ from the Power Tour of the time and ‘Pro’ from the Pro Street movement.

The ‘Mule’ naming came from GM’s lineage for naming a test model a ‘Mule’ for trying out new ideas with parts and bits coming from many vehicles. The term “Pro Touring” refers to a muscle car with upgraded parts such as suspension, brakes and drivetrain, while keeping the basic original external design of the vehicle.

The Mule was built in 2001, starting where the old leaf spring setup was replaced with a four link axle with coil over springs, Art Rasmussen subframe and a Currie aluminum 9-inch rear end. The engine comes in the form of a Chevy 389cid aluminum small block Twin Turbo producing 1,021hp at 6,800 rpm and 471 lb/ft. of torque at 6,800 rpm. This links up to a 6 speed Viper transmission. The interior features a very discreet roll cage, with the rest of the interior mostly left in stock condition, but with 5-point bucket seats and a custom gauge cluster. Lights on the tachometer light up when the driver needs to upshift.

Drive train upgrades included an intake manifold knob allowing the turbocharger boost to be reduced, allowing it to be run on 87 octane pump fuel.

The car even has its own book written and dedicated to the build of the machine by Mark Stielow and Will Handzel called ‘Pro Touring: engineered performance‘. Popular Hot Rodding Magazine covered the car’s build over 22 consecutive issues, giving you an idea of its importance. When the fifth-generation Camaros were being designed by GM, the Mule was parked in the studio for inspiration.

Here it is being sold at the Barrett Jackson auction in 2014 for an eye watering $198,000.

Another link is to Detroit speed’s website showing the Mule being worked on and giving you a nice close and personal breakdown of the vehicle.

Mark has also built many other standout custom Camaros over the years, such was the ‘Tri-Tip’ featured in the One Lap of America in 1993, the ‘Red Devil’, ‘Jackass’, ‘Hellfire’ and ‘Mayhem.’

The beauty of Pro Tourers is that they are mainly based on pony cars and with a total of 842,731 first-generation Camaros built and absolutely tons of first-generation Mustangs still around, there are plenty of vehicles to get creative with and upgrade in any permutation you wish. The general love of vintage muscle car design with upgraded parts all round results in arguably the ideal mix of modern motoring.

The Mule is currently on display at the Audrain Auto Museum – http://audrainautomuseum.org/cars/1969-chevrolet-camaro-custom-2-door-hardtop/

Audrain Auto Museum | Car Profile: “The Mule” Iconic 1969 Chevrolet Camaro from Collective Thought Media on Vimeo.

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The post 1969 Twin Turbo ‘Mule’ Camaro by Mark Stielow – The Birth Of Pro Touring appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

If you want a one-stop shop to see every variety of rare muscle car in existence, the closest you can possibly get is the Mark Pieloch American Muscle Car Museum, 3500 Sarno Road, Melbourne, Florida 32934. There are over 250 vehicles amongst other collectables all brought together by Mark Pieloch who made his mark in the veterinary pharmaceuticals arena. The whole collection is reported to be worth over $32 million and growing every year.

All the vehicles are housed in a 123,000 square-foot, open plan warehouse with 90,000 sqft dedicated to the vehicle displays, the rest being showrooms, maintenance and restoration areas. The collection includes over 24 Yenko Camaros one for every make and model produced, 42 Indy 500 pace cars, more than 30 Shelby’s, Ford GT 40s and plenty of Mustangs amongst others.

GM vehicles are here in numbers spanning the whole vintage muscle car range from Buicks to Oldsmobile, with many rarities like a Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet. There are also many rare Mopars covering everything that can house a 426 Hemi or a 440 6-Pak, like Charger Daytonas up to a recent Challenger SRT Demon. Basically, if you can think of a rare muscle car, it’s probably under this roof. It’s probably easier to list what isn’t there.

Checking out their website you will be literally drooling over the amount of rare muscle cars, many with a breakdown of their specs. with images and some videos. There is an on-site restoration crew who specialise in finding the best examples of the breed to restore for the collection.

There’s plenty of other non-muscle car vehicles here, along with other collectables adorning the walls and other areas, but the catch is that it’s not completely open to the public. The collection operates on an appointment and invitation basis. Instead the facility operates for nonprofit fundraisers and mostly educational purposes, but checking out their website they do have an events calendar throughout the year if you’re lucky enough to be invited. If you’re in any way a muscle car fan, this should surely be on your bucket list.

Find out more here – https://www.americanmusclecarmuseum.com/
Their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/americanmusclecarmuseum/

More Muscle Cars For Sale – http://fastmusclecar.com/muscle-car-for-sale/

The post The Largest American Muscle Car Museum appeared first on Muscle Car.

By Dave Ashton

The new hot numbers when it comes to horse power in modern muscle cars seem to be between 800-1000hp and the new kids on the block is Specialty Vehicle Engineering’s new ‘Yenko’ Camaro. They already have a 825Hp version, now the 2018 edition has been ramped up to 1000hp. This means they are joining the likes of Hennessey in topping the 1,000HP mark and obvious comparisons against the Dodge Demon in the horsepower wars.

Checking out their contents page for the car, you’ll see that it has many yummy ingredients which include a 6.8L/416c.i. and 875 pound-feet of torque, custom-built aluminium V8 with ported LT-4 cylinder heads, forged 4340 steel crankshaft, H-beam rods, upgraded fuel system and injectors, custom stainless steel dual-mode exhaust and supercharger with 1000HP badging all-round to remind you how much this beast can kick out.

The car at its base is a 2018 Camaro SS 1LE, with upgrades all around which include the GM Magnetic Ride Control, suspension upgrades, electronic limited-slip differential, all sat on 20-inch wheels and Michelin PS4S tyres. The exterior get a carbon fibre hood, stripes in seven different colors. To get one yourself you need to donate a 2018 Camaro 1SS with 1LE options and the Yenco/SC Stage II package then starts at $66,995. Additional costs will be custom colours and a a General Motors big brake kit which then cost over $110,000+. They are limited to only 25 models and need to be ordered through a Chevrolet Dealer. This that makes them highly exclusive, custom vehicles.

The Don Yenko association helps make the car even more exclusive, with the ‘SYC’ and Yenko/SC badging. At least it is in the spirit of Yenko, taking a base model and added exclusive parts, even if not a direct lineage link, but does make for a more sellable linkage. Mr. Don Yenko made some of the best high-performance GM vehicles back in the day, taking the best parts from the GM COPO (Central Office Production Order) system to make some of the most wicked Camaros around at the time. Due to their high-end parts and arguably high-prices, they didn’t sell in great numbers and are thus highly collectable and revered today. Interestingly, the original Yenko Camaros had a L72 427ci. iron block V8 engine rated at around 450 HP and 460lbs. of torque capable of 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds and a quarter mile time of 13.5 seconds at 105 mph.

Is this Camaro a comparison to the Dodge Demon as with all modern American vehicles now topping the 700Hp+ mark? Not really, it’s a low numbered edition, speciality vehicle for those with enough money to buy something out of the ordinary and quite custom. However, it does show that the 1,000HP mark is very possible from a custom outfit.

In a world where the amount of horses you have is still king no matter if it is a production vehicle or a one-off still counts. A super or hyper car may be seen as more exclusive and refined, but these muscle machines have more power at half the price, with arguably more raw fun…and at the very least, you can see out the rear window.

2018 1000HP Stage2 Yenko Camaro delivered! This 1000HP Yenko is done in Nightfall Grey with Matte Red Graphics. Enjoy the music! #SVE_CARS #YenkoSC #Camaro #Chevrolet @TeamChevy pic.twitter.com/pjEpUxLYMK

— SVE Cars (@SVE_CARS) February 8, 2018

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By Dave Ashton

VIN : 344878Z118512
Engine: 400ci.
Transmission: M-21 Hurst 4 Speed
Exterior Color: Garnet Red
Mileage: 70,000
Current bid: $25,100.00

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

When it comes the classic muscle car era, the standout Oldsmobile is the 442 based on the GM A platform. The 442 option package comes from the 4-barrel carb., 4 speed transmission and dual exhaust, but in 1965 also referred to the 400ci. engine rated at 350hp with a four speed and 325hp with the automatic.

This example is very clean inside and out and if you like a vintage interior that screams ‘red’, then this is the car for you. The interior clearly shows that the car was aimed at those wanting a bit of luxury, along with some heft in the engine department. Luckily, here the seats and carpeting are in very good condition. There are no specifics about the engine apart from its mileage and there are no leaks and issues. The engine bay looks relatively clean probably just needs a thorough going through and cleanup.

You don’t get a lot of information with this listing, apart from it’s had one repaint in its life, has no major issues, is numbers matching, new factory correct headliner from SMS, a two owner car and is good to go. The pricing is about right with examples in prime condition going for around $52k.

BUY NOW ON EBAY.

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By Mark Weisseg

Cartechbooks.com has released another great book on the second generation Firebirds and Trans Am’s. It is written by the well known author Rocky Rotella. The book is 224 pages and over 500 photos. With those numbers alone you know this book is packed full of information.
Pontiac is no more obviously but these cars live on all over the world. The popularity began day one and continues on as strong as ever. I can assure you that the Trans Am and Firebird of that era was huge. At the time we called them the poor mans Corvette. Why? Well, back then only wealthy people could swing a Vette. That meant the next group down would be the Pontiac’s. And did they ever perform! By far we all know the Smokey and the Bandit cars were monsters. The movie made the car and if you were a guy that had one- well, you had all the moves if you get my drift. The car did not ride well but nobody cared. At the time they were pretty fast, super cool looking, and offered all the amenities.

Even today these cars are hot. When you go to any show in this here United States you are bound to see them. Some guys like them original but the current trend is about change. Resto Mods are in. Better brakes, better suspensions, more horsepower, better fit and finish and so on. The engineers back in the day never could have imagined what is going on now.
Just look at the beginning of the cars life. Little six cylinders or a small block. Only when the competition stiffened up did Pontiac really get serious. The 68 to about 72 were the big guns. After 72 the pollution control watch dogs made the cars cleaner, but slower. Looking back most of the cars has a 350 engine but the horsepower is puny. Yes, the Super Duty has a 455 but heck today’s family car could blow its doors off.

When you read one of the many great books from Cartechbooks.com you must put yourself back in time. It’s a time machine for those of us that lived in that period. For all you newbies the books provide you with the blue prints. When they were built, Why, where, and how. It’s a wonderful history lesson to all. I have said it before and it’s worth saying again. These were truly the best of times for the muscle cars. Some would argue right after World War Two but those were jalopies. Yes, they are important in the big scheme but the 60’s and 70’s were the top of the mountain. It just peaked too fast. But when something dies another life begins. I mean that because look at what is going on today with the muscle cars.

The roots are in cars like the Firebirds and Trans Am models. These cars were fast, fun, and easy to repair. That is one of the many reasons they live yet again. The book will fill your head with facts and figures- not junk. Trust me, I was driving these cars and loving every minute. Yes, even after the horsepower declined these cars were still fun.
Facts and figures do not lie. These birds as we called them are Collector cars for a very good reason. Buy the book and learn.

So, what’s in it for the reader? Well, the author had access to the archives at GM. This access provided him with detailed information on; engineering blueprints, option codes, production numbers, and everything else you can imagine. How many of you recall the Super Duty 455 engine in the Pontiac? Remember some were Oldsmobile engines! Hmmm, now you can see how important this book is.

What I liked about the book is it’s attention to detail. It’s another fantastic reference guide for the millions of us out here that crave a complete reference guide. It’s easy to read and follow along. The book pays homage to the cars roots and popularity even today.

So, if you need a great book to read and one to add to your collection this would be it.
Order by; www.cartechbooks.com or by calling 1-800-551-4754

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