Muscle cars?

[moparnation74]

Good question? Not sure. I would assume there was that option. But maybe not. Maybe 440-6 was the only RB wedge option?

The 383, 440 six and Hemi were the only BB options in a bird.........There was a clear reason as to "why" they were the only options....

To understand muscle cars one has to know the simple basics IMHO.....

 

[moparnation74]

You don't need to be a name calling turd! With that argument we can go back to flatheads. Motors progressed. I'm sorry. But for my taste the early 60s cars were ugly as sin. The "Savoy" was not purposefully built to be a factory hot rod. Roadrunner was. That's the difference. Most Savoy's had 6 cylinders.

To each is own.....and a matter of personal choice.....In reality keep your opinion to yourself on the early Mopars...."ugly as Sin" thats pretty messed up to say and we have A LOT of members that own pre 68 Mopars........

If it wasn't for the early Mopars with the Wedge stages that is what led to the birth of the Hemi and the Golden Commandos.......When they won 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Daytona in the "ugly as Sin" cars. That paved they way for you to have a GTX and a Cuda......

Never, never, forget the past and where it took our hobby.......Also, never forget the guys behind the scenes.......We are stuck on a term here and we never focus on the people that brought that term to fruition.....

THESE ARE ONE BEAUTIFUL MACHINES.....THAT'S "MUSCLE".......

 

[BeatersRus]

sometimes whats ugly to you is quirky and quite beautiful to others.....

 

[mmissile]

Opinions.....always entertaining.

 

[Ironbuilt]

early 60s cars were ugly as sin

 

[moparnation74]

Opinions.....always entertaining.

Almost entertaining as big Mike!

View attachment 730983

View attachment 730984

I would be proud to own that "ugly as Sin" ride...........Love the look and paint scheme.......Whats missing is me driving that, lol...

 

[44070dart]

WoW this got ugly.. sign of the times I guess.. Here I go ..IMHO when we were young we thought that you took the lightest/cheapest body design and stuck the largest engine in it... no mustangs or other pony cars, no corvettes .. Hemi GTX have muscle, NO doubt .. 427 Galaxie XL 500 have muscle, No doubt, 427 Impala SS have muscle, No doubt .. referred to as muscle car (by us), nope .

IF GTO is the start ( I know debatable to some) than the concept and TERM muscle car is large engine in small body. There may be faster cars, and I don't know how to refer to a GTX , Galaxie, Impala etc. maybe the term used "gentlemen muscle cars" fits (that will surly piss some off). They are not the smallest, lightest, cheapest body style offered by the manufacturer. IF the GTO was the first, then that idea of large in small holds true for all.

Where does a Roadrunner come in ? Got me. Cheap 3k in '68, lightest b body, Biscayne big block, Ford custom 300 big block, but not the smallest offered with a "big block"

Sure I missed some AND it will be pointed out, but you get where i'm going.
Now, they may not be the first if you want to go back to the 30's, but the muscle car era sure seemed to start in '64 to a lot of us boomers....... again "IMHO"

 

[BeatersRus]

If it wasn't for the early Mopars with the Wedge stages that is what led to the birth of the Hemi and the Golden Commandos.......

Never, never, forget the past and where it took our hobby.......Also, never forget the guys behind the scenes.......We are stuck on a term here and we never focus on the people that brought that term to fruition.....
View attachment 730972

that last pic,that brings back memories.
bitd,i was cruising around looking for cars.
i found this junkyard,the guy was a chevy freak,
he had a bit of everything.full blown race cars to stockers.
i wandered the whole yard but kept coming back to this faded green 2 door plymouth.
it was stuck way off on one side of the yard close to the fence with no cars nearby.
it looked stock and only had mild mods,w tires n such,no cage nothing.
big honking dual carbed big block under the hood,looked very plain tho.
when i asked about it,the mechanic told me i couldnt buy that car for all the money in the world.
when i asked him why,he laughed and said,
that car used to belong to a guy in town,he couldnt be beaten
the boss/chevy guy had thrown thousands of dollars at his cars and not one of them had Ever beaten the plymouth guy,sooooo
he bought the car off him and stuck it in his yard

 

[Hey-O]

Remember one thing, it's a name that was started after it started. imo. My car is a half breed, but it's mine!!

 

[gdrill]

It's the same body and frame as a Satellite. And both my GTX titles said Belvedere special. RS23.

I think, with this statement, you should agree that your GTX is simply a variation of a base that had a 4 door option. Belvedere - GTX, Chevelle - SS, Cutlass - 442, road runner as well.. All are 2 door Models of a 4 door base car.
And I could be wrong, but I think you could order a big block in a Belvedere Satellite just the same a the road runner. Maybe even the 4 door. I know I've seen a 4 door Hemi 66 Coronet in an article.


How's that? ^^^^^^

I believe if the car had a 4-door option? It's a family car that may at one time been "Muscled up." Muscle cars were purposefully built. And did not have family or more efficient options. If you have a counter? Please, by all means?

 

[dadsbee]

So you could buy a hemi Belvedere and only a 440 Satellite in 66 and the Belvedere is not a muscle car?

Nope. Belvedere was full size. Like I said. It's argumentative. And very subjective. But stuffing a bigger motor doesn't make it a Muscle car. Otherwise? Everything could be?

So your FULL SIZE '69 GTX is a Muscle car and the '66 Belvedere with a Hemi is not ! Put away the Purple koolaid !

GTX is Midsized.

I believe Belvedere did switch to b-body (65?). But most it's life as Full size.

Is the GTX not a Belvedere / Satellite platform? Am I missing something here?

It's the same body and frame as a Satellite. And both my GTX titles said Belvedere special. RS23.

Like I said last night, you should put down the purple koolaid and lose the narcissist act. Even you can't decide if a Belvedere is a mid size or full size car, are damn certain that your GTX is and then tell everyone your GTX IS just a Belvedere dressed in different clothes.

 

[HT413]

It is fun. Taking it too serious is your problem. I posted an opinion. That's all. The point of my opinion is that the term "Muscle car" is used too often. I believe if the car had a 4-door option? It's a family car that may at one time been "Muscled up." Muscle cars were purposefully built. And did not have family or more efficient options. If you have a counter? Please, by all means?

Lol nah, you’ll just come up with a half baked reason it’s not a muscle car.

 

[moparnation74]

There may be faster cars, and I don't know how to refer to a GTX , Galaxie, Impala etc. maybe the term used "gentlemen muscle cars" fits (that will surly piss some off). ]

Well, that was named by Ma Mopar in 67......Ma Mopar nailed the phrase in relation to the X.....Why would that piss of anyone?....They would be pissed at the manufacturer....

I take pride being the curator of a "Gentleman Muscle" GTX......I exhibit both

Most people dont know but the GTX almost got referred to as the "Boss".....Of course that took off with Ford....This is a very Iconic video where Plymouth was toying with the words "gentleman" and "Boss"......

 

[Photon440]

It is fun. Taking it too serious is your problem. I posted an opinion. That's all. The point of my opinion is that the term "Muscle car" is used too often. I believe if the car had a 4-door option? It's a family car that may at one time been "Muscled up." Muscle cars were purposefully built. And did not have family or more efficient options. If you have a counter? Please, by all means?

There certainly were family versions - the 1964 GTO was merely an option package on the LeMans. Same as the Max Wedge package was optional on a '63 Belevedere or Fury (both midsized b-bodies). They were only 'purpose built' as far as ticking an option package at the dealership. GTO wasn't its own car model until two years later. How about the 1957 Rambler Rebel? With a high compression 327 and 4:10 gears as standard, it was the quickest sedan you could buy that year (7.5 second 0-60) but, being a four door I guess it won't count either.

 

[polywideblock]

a few aussie cars
Holden

these toranas won are the big race numeral times

ford

just a few

 

[69roadr]

I still run mine hard!!!

I run mine like the bitch that it is!

 

[Cojohnso1]

To each is own.....and a matter of personal choice.....In reality keep your opinion to yourself on the early Mopars...."ugly as Sin" thats pretty messed up to say and we have A LOT of members that own pre 68 Mopars........

If it wasn't for the early Mopars with the Wedge stages that is what led to the birth of the Hemi and the Golden Commandos.......When they won 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Daytona in the "ugly as Sin" cars. That paved they way for you to have a GTX and a Cuda......

Never, never, forget the past and where it took our hobby.......Also, never forget the guys behind the scenes.......We are stuck on a term here and we never focus on the people that brought that term to fruition.....

View attachment 730970


THESE ARE ONE BEAUTIFUL MACHINES.....THAT'S "MUSCLE".......

View attachment 730971 View attachment 730972

I was thinking earlier than 63. There was a post I saw. Pick your favorite car from the year you were born. I was born in '61. And I still have a problem picking any 1961 American automobile I would say is my favorite? I'm sure there are those who have a beloved '61. But one has to agree that some years are not the best for US automotive. 1983 was another. That year was so bad corvette took the year off?

 

[dadsbee]

When I was 17 (1979) a guy with his wife and 3 little girls always came in for gas where my buddy worked pumping same. We certainly considered his car a muscle car and almost sold lottery tickets to see whom would check the oil. 1969 Chevy Impala FOUR door, sporting a 409 and 4 gear. Every much a muscle car as my Bee... oh yah, my Bee doesn't qualify here with it's little 383....

 

[Cojohnso1]

Well, that was named by Ma Mopar in 67......Ma Mopar nailed the phrase in relation to the X.....Why would that piss of anyone?....They would be pissed at the manufacturer....

I take pride being the curator of a "Gentleman Muscle" GTX......I exhibit both

Most people dont know but the GTX almost got referred to as the "Boss".....Of course that took off with Ford....This is a very Iconic video where Plymouth was toying with the words "gentleman" and "Boss"......

a few aussie cars
Holden
View attachment 731031
these toranas won are the big race numeral times

View attachment 731032
ford
View attachment 731033
View attachment 731034View attachment 731035 just a few

I was probably referring more to what was available to American consumer. One can go to Mexico where it got really crazy. Chrysler produced a (I believe it was in 77) a Volare Superbee. When asked. "Is this a Dodge or a Plymouth? Chrysler would not commit. Thus the car had neither badging. Not sure if it's legal to register here in the States. But when I visit Mexico, I do keep an eye out for that and a couple other odd ball cars. I guess no one rule is ever "Always"

 

[Cojohnso1]

Well, that was named by Ma Mopar in 67......Ma Mopar nailed the phrase in relation to the X.....Why would that piss of anyone?....They would be pissed at the manufacturer....

I take pride being the curator of a "Gentleman Muscle" GTX......I exhibit both

Most people dont know but the GTX almost got referred to as the "Boss".....Of course that took off with Ford....This is a very Iconic video where Plymouth was toying with the words "gentleman" and "Boss"......

Very interesting. I have a '69 GTX. And just sold my '69 Roadrunner. (Base white 383 automatic. So not a totally fair comparison) So I had them side by side in the garage. And I still don't know why GTX didn't dominate Roadrunner in sales? It couldn't be because of the "Beep Beep" horn? Because the GTX was clearly a better car. Better interior, better suspension. Obviously the Dana rear superior to the 8 3/4. I know you can get Roadrunner with the updates. But why? Most were standard to GTX.