Well splitting more hairs, the GTO was a relabeled Lemans you could get in a 4 door...the Sport Fury, a relabeled Fury, only came in a 2 door or convert. The RR, a relabeled Satellite, came in 4 doors. Well someone get's all the credit and all I've read on the start of the 'muscle car' goes to the '64 goat...my 1st car I talked my mother into co-signing when I was 17 was a '67 GTO convert, all optioned out, for the hefty price of $1000. If I could rewind the tape on keeping that one!The first time I heard the expression was in 1976. A good 4-5 years after the "Muscle car" era. I still believe the first muscle car was the 64 GTO. It was marketed as "Working man's sports car." And the era began. Ending eruptly in 72.
The reason I believe cars before the first GTO are not muscle cars. But family coupes with big motors? Is because the GTO along with a handful of other did not have low performance options. No 4 door option for GTO, Chevelle SS, Roadrunner ect. No 6 cyl option for Buick GS, Superbee, 442 ect. It was muscle or bust! Purposefully built for one thing. Thrill!
I agree. Very argumentative. And Lemans you could get as 4-door. Not GTO. (That I know know of) We of course will not be able to settle this debate.Well splitting more hairs, the GTO was a relabeled Lemans you could get in a 4 door...the Sport Fury, a relabeled Fury, only came in a 2 door or convert. The RR, a relabeled Satellite, came in 4 doors. Well someone get's all the credit and all I've read on the start of the 'muscle car' goes to the '64 goat...my 1st car I talked my mother into co-signing when I was 17 was a '67 GTO convert, all optioned out, for the hefty price of $1000. If I could rewind the tape on keeping that one!
It's not a muscle. It's a Chevy.Three-years before GTO, Chevrolet released the mid-year 61 Impala SS 409.
View attachment 781621
Who owned GTO, Ford? I'm done.It's not a muscle. It's a Chevy.
Yes - could 'deebate' this all day. I liked the '57 Chrysler 300...imagine way back in '57 a 390hp motor from the factory. Course, it was a rich guy's ride. Remember a cop show that was out in the late 80's or early 90's maybe and the star detective drove a 'new' black '57 vert, someone said no way a cop could afford to have that car. lol More in line was Peter Gunn in his Plymouth Fury's or Mannix in his Cuda's...sorry guys...I'm getting off the point.I agree. Very argumentative. And Lemans you could get as 4-door. Not GTO. (That I know know of) We of course will not be able to settle this debate.
If you are 61 you would have been 6 in 1967If I remember correctly, I'm 61 so correct me if I'm wrong, in 1967 when I bought my 65 Grand Sport 401 4 speed, a buddy of mine coined it a street car. Anything stock was referred to as a stocker or a daddy's car. I don't recall the term muscle car being used until after the '73/74 gas crisis when everybody was trying to dump their gas guzzlers.
I remember referred as "Working man's sports car." I did not hear the term "Muscle Car" until mid 70s.Pontiac used the term for their 1964 GTO.